|
All
of this positive attention is why I think
it is possible that in the long run, a
recession in the general economy could be
beneficial to our business. Sure, many
mainstream articles have been written
about domains in recent years, but if this
industry is able to continue thriving in
bad times reporters will flock to the
story like bees to honey. The upcoming T.R.A.F.F.I.C.
West conference is likely to accelerate
this trend as they have a live auction
scheduled that is loaded with powerhouse
names that are sure to generate sales that
will turn even more heads. |
|
Real
world real estate has tanked but buyers
are
still flocking to live domain auctions
to buy virtual real estate. Scene above is
from this month's SnapNames Live
auction at at DOMAINfest in Hollywood,
CA |
As these
mainstream articles start popping up everywhere, the
man on the street will finally learn what domains are
all about. They will learn what we have known for
years - that good domains have been phenomenal
investments, that as ecommerce platforms they
strip away much of the high cost of doing business,
that they are the cornerstones of new media
enterprises that are turning the traditional media
world upside down, that those with targeted traffic
are unparalleled tools for converting sales and
bestowing mind share "ownership" of entire
classes of good and services (a la Hotels.com, Cars.com,
etc.). I could go on, but you get the idea. |
Certainly
we may see some hiccups along the way in 2008 and
there are a lot of forces still in play that could
impact this business negatively, but at this early
stage in the new year, I am feeling optimistic about
the near term future and certainly feel blessed to
have my boat docked in what may be one of the few
safe harbors out there right now. Just a few years
ago who could have ever dreamed that the speculative
world of domain names would come to be viewed as a safe
haven when other investments are turning sour?
That is how the outside world is starting to view us
and that is a very exciting turn of events that
bodes well for those who have invested their time
and money in this space.
The
Flip Side of Coin: Those Who Are Getting Hurt Will
Want To Take What You Have
| As
domains continue to display their muscle
a lot of people who missed the opportunity
domain investors saw and acted on years ago
are now bent on getting their hands on those
assets and if they think they can do it without
paying fair market value for them,
they will certainly try. In fact, in
a recessionary economy they will
try harder than ever as they will have a
greater need for new income streams.
Whether it
be reverse hijackers, over-reaching
trademark interests or common
cyber-criminals, a lot of eyes are on the
prize - domain names. Organizations like CADNA
(The Coalition Against Domain Name
Abuse) are lobbying right now to try to
get laws changed to make it |
|
| easier
to take away domain names. A favorite tactic
being used by those who covet your assets
has been demonizing all domain owners,
not just those who are guilty of TM
infringement. There are also efforts afoot
to change the UDRP process - whatever
it takes to put you at a disadvantage in
the battle that is looming ahead. |
As I
noted in last
month's newsletter when I detailed how
the Internet
Commerce Association was formed and who
was involved, it is fortunate that a handful of
people in our industry recognized the threat at hand
and helped organize a viable trade group to
represent the industry (in the interests of full
disclosure, I am currently on the ICA's board of
directors but was not one of the founders). The ICA
has a full-time Legal Counsel and experienced Washington
D.C. lobbyist in Phil Corwin and a
well-known and respected Executive Director in Michael
Collins. They are the only paid employees of the
non-profit ICA and they are keeping an eye on and
acting to try to counter any proposed measures in
the U.S. Congress and before ICANN
that are harmful to domain owners.
|
ICA
Executive Director Michael Collins
and
Legal Counsel Phil Corwin seek support
for the
industry's trade association at DOMAINfest
Global earlier this month. |
However,
without broad based participation and
financial support from everyone in the domain
community the ICA will not have the clout and
resources it is going to need to stand toe to
toe with the much better financed and
organized opposition. It may not even have the
resources it needs to continue beyond
this year because the original founders (who
have donated more than half a million
dollars out of their own pockets to get
the ICA off the ground) are not going to be
able to continue paying the freight for
everyone else - nor should they be expected
to.
Corwin and
Collins talked honestly about the need to act
now during a |
| session
at DOMAINfest Global last week and
they will appear again at T.R.A.F.F.I.C.
West in Las Vegas in February
(they will be arriving there fresh off a
trip to the ICANN meeting in India where
they will make sure your interests are being
looked after with the web's governing body).
If you haven't done it already, I hope you
will give them your support at T.R.A.F.F.I.C.
West or, if you can't be there, by
contacting Michael through the ICA website
at InternetCommerce.org.
This is not
a closed organization for industry insiders.
It was founded to give everyone a way
to get involved and work together to
collectively defend the rights and assets of
domain owners. Anyone can join and if you
are so inclined, run for president or
another office in the association.
Regardless of the role you wish to play, the
critical need is for us to all play -
otherwise the game will surely be lost and
quite possibly many livelihoods along with
it. |
Those
who know me know that I am a natural optimist,
but unless we band together and collectively fight
to preserve our rights and assets we could be undone
by threats that in my opinion are far greater than
any recession could be. |
