Date: Mon, 15 Sep 2003 08:31:32 -0700
From: Lauren Weinstein <lauren@xxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: VeriSign/NSI and "typosquatting" (was: "Profits in Mixed Exits...")
To: dave@xxxxxxxxxx
Cc: lauren@xxxxxxxx, neumann@xxxxxxxx
X-Spam-Status: No, hits=-1.8 required=7.5
tests=IN_REP_TO,MSG_ID_ADDED_BY_MTA_2
version=2.31
X-Spam-Level:
X-Spam-Filtered-At: eList eXpress <http://www.elistx.com/>
> From: Rich Kulawiec <rsk@xxxxxxx>
> Subject: Re: [IP] Profits in Missed Exits on Information Highway
> ...
> This is, of course, the despicable practice known as "typosquatting",
> several particularly egregious examples of which are documented here:
> ...
> Given Network Solutions' very long history of sleazy behavior, it's not at
> all surprising that they want to engage in this on an unprecedented scale.
Dave,
On its face, this would appear to be outside the bounds of the intended
operating rights with which VeriSign/NSI (or other domain registration
entities) have been vested. To extract revenue from typos in this manner
means that they must effectively register each of the misspellings of
interest to point at their servers, presumably in vast numbers and at what
amounts to zero internal cost in real dollars (regardless of their internal
accounting).
I am unable to find an interpretation of any enabling agreements that would
validate such activities as a revenue stream. Their actions in this regard
appear to be taking inappropriate advantage of their position in a manner
that even the phone companies haven't had the guts to try (yet!)
This looks like a clear case for reevaluation of VeriSign/NSI's
operating authority.
--Lauren--
Lauren Weinstein
lauren@xxxxxxxx or lauren@xxxxxxxxxx or lauren@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
http://www.pfir.org/lauren
Tel: +1 (818) 225-2800
Co-Founder, PFIR - People For Internet Responsibility - http://www.pfir.org
Co-Founder, Fact Squad - http://www.factsquad.org
Co-Founder, URIICA - Union for Representative International Internet
Cooperation and Analysis - http://www.uriica.org
Moderator, PRIVACY Forum - http://www.vortex.com
Member, ACM Committee on Computers and Public Policy