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Dubai last week
proved to be false. ICANN Media Adviser Jason Keenan
dropped me a note today saying "I have discussed
the Gulf News report with Paul Twomey and he has
asked me to clarify that the article incorrectly
suggested that he has concerns with domainers.
Keenan wrote, "As Paul
said to me: "When asked to look ahead at what might
happen on the Internet, I did say it was likely
domainers would move increasingly into the ccTLD
space. In no way did I say or suggest that
domainers were a negative force in any way and
certainly did not refer to them as "a
downside." The many domainers I have met and
chatted with at meetings across the globe will know I
would never say such a thing. As I noted in my
closing remarks at the Dubai meeting, the marketplace
has evolved and domainers are a part of the robust
domain name market that exists today." |
Dr.
Paul Twomey
ICANN CEO & President |
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That
statement is consistent with everything I have heard
from Dr. Twomey in the past, which is why I did not
believe what I read in the article. His comment that
domainers would increasingly move into the ccTLD space
is a valid observation and certainly not one that should
surprise anyone. Just as land investors will put
their money where they sense good opportunities for
growth, those who think domains have a strong future
will invest their money in areas they expect to expand.
Domains are no different than any other kind of
proven asset. People will invest their money where
they see value. The idea that there is something
somehow wrong with this - especially since it is the
very basis of free world economics - has always baffled
me. My belief is that this odd prejudice against
domain owners that is not directed at those who invest
in other asset classes stems primarily from jealousy.
Critics don't want to
acknowledge that domain owners put a lot of capital
at risk (especially years ago when registration fees
were far higher than they are today) buying assets that
everyone else told them they were idiots to buy.
Now that those people have proven to be not as
stupid as a lot of people thought
those who missed the boat are trying to
rewrite the rule book and get their hands on the
assets they ridiculed a decade ago. Part of their
hijacking strategy is to constantly demonize
domain investors. Whenever this happens the offending
parties should be called on it as the facts
clearly speak for themselves.
(Posted
April 9,
2008) |
