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When
you think of British domain names
you
think of .co.uk, a widely used,
globally recognized extension that
enjoys high registration rates (more
than 10 million have been
registered) and commands very
respectable prices on the domain
aftermarket. Nominet, |
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the
governing body for the .UK ccTLD,
has used .UK efficiently and effectively
in the past by sub-dividing it into
second level domains .co.uk, .net.uk,
.org.uk and several others (with
consumers then registering third level
names like internet.co.uk).
Apparently not a believer in the old
axiom, "if it's not broke, don't
fix it," Nominet is now
considering opening up second level
registrations (such as internet.uk)
under a program they are calling
direct.uk. |
Image
from Bigstock |
Naturally,
such a development would immediately devalue
the millions of .co.uk domains held by
British businesses and individuals who would
need to try to acquire the .uk version to
protect their online identities. Unfortunately
the Nominet proposal
(.pdf file) provides no grandfather clause
to protect those registrants - and, oh yes, even
if they were successful in getting the .uk
version of their .co.uk domain, they would have
to pay 800% more annually for the UK
version (about £20 for the .uk compared
to around £2.50 for the tried and true .co.uk).
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Image
from Bigstock |
Nominet's
Director of Operations, Eleanor
Bradley, told the BBC
the idea was "not a money making
exercise" (perhaps the 800%
rate hike just makes it look that way).
Bradley said, "any additional
earnings derived would be passed onto an
independent trust to invest in improving
internet access and
security."
Despite
the high cost and necessity
for so many to buy the .uk version of
their names, the word "any"
would seem to incredulously infer that
there may not be any additional
earnings from what the BBC described as
"The scheme" in the
first two words of their article about
the proposal. |
Now
the word "Scheme" may not have the
pejorative connotation in the Queen's English
that it is does in America's admittedly
adulterated version but it's not a compliment
on this side of the pond where the dictionary
defines scheme as "a plan for achieving something, especially something illegal or dishonest."
I am certainly not saying it is either of those
but I do question the wisdom and fairness
of the idea.
If
you are so disposed, you can question it too
as Nominet has opened a public comment
("consultation") period on the
proposal that is open until January 7, 2013.
You can respond to the consultation either by
completing an online
form, by downloading
the consultation and emailing your
comments to [email protected]
or by requesting a hard copy of the
consultation from [email protected].
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You
can also view a video of Ms. Bradley
explaining more about the proposal here.
It is Nominet's position that
offering .UK would come with several security
benefits including verification to
check a registrant has a UK address,
daily monitoring for malicious
software |
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and
viruses, and a digital signature which
minimizes the risks of a domain name
being hijacked. These measures would be
supported by a trustmark to give
consumers a clear sign that it was a
verified domain name. Nominet said the
features would be expected to "help
guard against cybercrime...and play an
important part in creating a trusted
space for businesses and consumers." |
I'm
sure they will get an earful on the proposal
over the next three months. I just hope their
consultation doesn't follow the model we have
seen so often in ICANN public commentary
exercises where the public comes out
overwhelmingly opposed to something, only
to have ICANN go ahead and implement it
anyhow. That will quickly earn you an F
in Credibility 101.
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