[IP] VeriSign prepares to relaunch "Site Finder" -- calls technologists "biased"
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A25819-2004Feb9_2.html
VeriSign Reconsiders Search Service
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"Site Finder was not controversial with users, 84 percent of whom said they
liked it as a helpful navigation service," said Tom Galvin, VeriSign's vice
president of government relations. "We continue to look at ways we can
offer the service while addressing the concerns that were raised by a
segment of the technical community."
Galvin said that the continued opposition stems from "an ideological belief
by a narrow section of the technological community who don't believe you
should innovate the core infrastructure of the Internet."
Critics also claim that VeriSign must run the domains as a public trust,
not a profit-making opportunity. VeriSign is the sole operator of the
dot-com and dot-net registries under a contract with ICANN.
"I don't begrudge them their profit, but someone in an effectively
regulated monopoly position shouldn't use their power for their own profit,
beyond the terms under which the community gave it to them," said Steven
Bellovin, co-director of the Internet Engineering Task Force's Security Area.
Paul Rothstein a law professor at Georgetown University and a paid VeriSign
consultant, said that the critics have some legitimate objections but
others are motivated by the scientific and technology communities' "bias on
policy."
Still, he added, it would be tough for VeriSign to win the public relations
war because its opponents are highly regarded technologists.
ICANN will reserve judgment until VeriSign decides to relaunch Site Finder,
said General Counsel John Jeffrey. VeriSign assured ICANN that it would
give 60 to 90 days' warning to resolve any remaining technological
problems, Jeffrey said.
In the meantime, ICANN is waiting for a final report on Site Finder from
its Security and Stability Advisory Committee. Committee Chairman Steve
Crocker said he doubts that Site Finder can be changed enough that it won't
threaten the Internet's underlying infrastructure.
"I thought people were relieved that they took it down and it's hard to
believe that there would be any quietness if they brought it back," Crocker
said.
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