[mdlug] [Fwd: [opensuse-offtopic] NetSol abuses the domain name, registration system.]

[Aaron Kulkis]

Robert Adkins wrote:
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: mdlug-bounces at mdlug.org 
>> [mailto:mdlug-bounces at mdlug.org] On Behalf Of Aaron Kulkis
>> Sent: Friday, January 11, 2008 1:03 PM
>> To: MDLUG's Main discussion list
>> Subject: Re: [mdlug] [Fwd: [opensuse-offtopic] NetSol abuses 
>> the domain name, registration system.]
>>
>> David Relson wrote:
>>> On Fri, 11 Jan 2008 00:28:10 -0500
>>> Aaron Kulkis wrote:
>>>
>>>> In short:
>>>> 1. You want a domain name
>>>> 2. you look up a domain name to see if it's taken.
>>>> 3. NetSol (or other) detects the search, and
>>>>     registers the domain name before you do.
>>>> 4. Netsol then hopes to sell you the domain name
>>>>     at some outrageous price, hoping you'll assume
>>>>     that they intend to use it.
>>>> 5. After some time, if the domain isn't bought,
>>>>     then they release the domain name.
>>>>
>>>> ICANN has conducted an investigation.
>>> Is #4 accurate?  
>>>
>>> If I recall, some years back NetSol charged approx $35 to 
>> register a 
>>> domain for a year.  At present other registrars seem to 
>> charge $8 or 
>>> $10 or more.  The difference of $25 (or so) doesn't seem outrageous.
>>>
>> A 200-300% increase for doing the same electronic paperwork 
>> as everyone else doesn't seem outrageous?
>>
> 
> 	Come now Aaron, I thought were a Libertarian.
> 
> 	If it is an outrageous markup, surely the invisible hand of the
> market will correct their fatal mistake.

This is a betrayal of trust.

And nobody said that Libertarians don't believe
in no laws.  What's at issue here is NOT a
free-market issue.

> 
> 	Also, why even be concerned with this, obviously they came up with
> an excellent business plan for which to extor-- er, I mean increase
> shareholder value. They should be applauded as an excellent example of how
> business is supposed to work.

This is no different than Microsoft's market
place extortion practices against OEMs...which
was ruled illegal by a Reagan-appointed judge.

The free market ONLY WORKS when rules are in place
to prevent some players from having undue advantage.

Cases like this are an example, just like the
SEC regulation barring traders from acting on
knowledge that a large institutional decision
is about to be released to the public, for which
this domain-name heisting practice is named.