.nz news & views

	Wednesday, 23 November 2005

ComputerWorld: Right of Reply Paul Brislen, Chief Arm Waver Editor of ComputerWorld, emailed me last night about what I said about the ComputerWorld article on the .nz disputes draft. I said I would reply to his comments and asked if I could publish his email. He welcomed both. Email as follows: I have to disagree (respectfully or otherwise). Debbie did email Steve about this story and I called her back and left a message but she hasn't called me back so we're in phone limbo over it. As I read the draft (and yes, I've read it. Call me old fashioned, etc) the old policy of "first come, first served and if you have any disputes take them up with your lawyers, we don't want to hear about it, pass the asprin it gives us a headache" will be replaced (all things considered) with "first come, first served but if you have a dispute we have a process that you might like to look at if you want to avoid going to court". I particularly like this paragraph: "Parties disputing domain-name rights have always been free to negotiate between themselves and to have recourse to the courts, and there have been a number of legal decions in this regard. But the proposed procedure is the first step into the fray by InternetNZ itself and its operational arm, the Domain Name Commissioner." which I think sets out the position accurately and fairly. InternetNZ is stepping "into the fray" by introducing a new policy. It does not imply that IntNZ will be deciding the outcome of any dispute, simply saying the dispute resolution process is changing. Can't use the DRS term though. Oh the humanity. So I stand by our headline "First come, first served up for review" because it is. And I still like the standfirst "Being first may no longer guarantee a domain under proposed new InternetNZ rules" although I realise now that being first wasn't any guarantee at all, but that the process was dependent on the courts seeing the light rather than the society dictating, but that doesn't fit in a singe sentence unless you run it on a bit like this one. This does not imply that IntNZ itself was ever guaranteeing a registration, simply that the process gave first dibs to the first person to register the name. As for the tone, I just don't see any. Steve isn't saying "big corporates can grab any name they think they should have off poor little registrants" implied or otherwise. Far from it - he quotes from the report itself. Hardly implicit - it's highly explicit, listing some of the terms under which a dispute might arise. Or am I misreading the daft report? 9:46:26 AM      Like to comment? []

	Tuesday, 22 November 2005

Chesley Rafferty's luck runs out I meant to post about this a few weeks ago but it slipped my mind. Chesley Rafferty Director and Head Scumbag of Domain Names Australia has been declared bankrupt after two creditors filed petitions against him. The amusing part is the petitions were from the ACCC and Auda. The Age has a short write up on the Chesely Rafferty bankruptcy. I like the use of the word 'shonky'. In a 'final parting shot' Chesley posted to the Australian DNS mail list with this comment. Please note that the content may not pass any web filtering software that you or your employer may be using. 1:52:48 PM      Like to comment? []

	Friday, 18 November 2005

ComputerWorld gets it wrong on .nz disputes process It's not common for me to pick apart a story from ComputerWorld now days... but here goes. On Tuesday a story was placed online called "'First come first served’ up for review at InternetNZ" and with a lead sentence of "Being first may no longer guarantee a domain under proposed new InternetNZ rules". This story is in fact about the disputes process that is being put in place by the DNC. The 'first come, first served' has nothing to do with the disputes process (I can not bring myself to refer to is as the DRS... the flash backs still occur :-). The 'first come, first served' is not being changed, nor does the dispute process change or impact it. This is just a more cost effective and more agile approach than resulting to the legal process that exists in New Zealand. A High Court has always had jurisdiction over .nz names and that is not changing. However, a level between 'nothing' and 'the High Court' is being added based on a very long public consultation process. InternetNZ has never been able to 'guarantee' a domain name and nor would it want to. The entire tone of the story implies that 'big corporates can grab any name they think they should have off poor little registrants'. Well, thats not the case. Read the draft policy and make up your own mind. 2:35:50 PM      Like to comment? []

.nz disputes process Last week the DNC issued the draft policy for the Disputes Resolution Service for .nz. I have not had a good read of it yet but after talking to several people on the working group it seems to follow all the things they have been talking about for the last 6 months. I do find it ironic that this is being referred to as 'DRS'. Lets hope they are not tempting fate and it does not go as disastrous as the previous DRS project. 2:17:49 PM      Like to comment? []

WSIS round up As the publishing issue took so long to fix I have not blogged on the WSIS issue. The following is a round up of stories that I think cover the issue: Michael Geist - WSIS Deal NZ ComputerWorld - US, EU remain at odds over net governance NZ ComputerWorld - InternetNZ chief raises internet governance issues CNET - US reaches Net detente with UN CNET - UN says its plans are misunderstood The Register - US wins net governance battle 2:10:41 PM      Like to comment? []

webdrive and this site The small virtual host I have been using since I started this site sold its web hosting business to Web Drive about a month ago. The issue came up as it was pointed out to me the blog had not been updated since October. I went 'no way, I have done several posts this week'. That lead into me swearing, initially at my blog software and then at Web Drive and then realising that when I was told 'don't worry, its all the same server, things will be fine' didn't actually mean that. The end result is the Web Drive support has been pretty good once they and I read their email with their perspective and with my perspective and they went 'oh, I can see why you thought that'. For those with RSS reader I think you might have get alot of updates going back to 2002. Sowwy, nothing I could do. 1:04:44 PM      Like to comment? []

	Thursday, 17 November 2005

kiwiblog has text of agreement David Farrar has the text of the draft agreement. I only looked on his site after I saw the BBC headline. 12:11:24 AM      Like to comment? []

Agreement reached pre Tunis meeting BBC is reporting that an agreement has been reached before the Tunis WSIS meeting regarding the recent Internet Governance 'issue'. Have to wait for more detail but do you really think David Gross said "anything that will create any problems for the private sector"? Further information at Dutch site called ComputerPartner. Looks like this is just hitting the news wires now. In the morning should be lots of coverage. 12:00:26 AM      Like to comment? []

	Wednesday, 16 November 2005

Some people must be really confused You search on what the Maoris' did with water in 1600 and you find my blog in the top ten results and you follow the link? PS I think the answer might not have been related to a domain name... just a guess on my part. 1:02:19 PM      Like to comment? []

Been Busy I have been busy at work, yes for those that know me can stop laughing now at this unfortunate turn of events :-) I need to catch up on some stuff such has updates about Disputes Process, ocker domain name scammers and bunch of other stuff. I will start on that this evening. 12:56:50 PM      Like to comment? []

Phone converstation This is a summary of a conversation I just had with a co worker in Australia: Them: I noticed you had the last week of March blocked out in your calender, its great that you did that for Linux World already. Me: Sorry? Them: You know Linux World, you are going to be the lead person at the conference for us. Me: I am? Them: Opps, must have forgotten to tell you last week. Me: Hang on, that week was not blocked off for Linux World. Them: Its not? Me: No, it's annual leave as I am attending a non work related conference that week in Wellington. Them: Well that's a shame. Me: Yeah, the Linux World conference in Sydney looked interesting... Them: Oh sorry, you misunderstood, it's a shame you wont be doing that other conference. You are key for this Linux one. Me: <Much swearing was heard in the office> I guess God does not like me, I wonder what I ever did to her to deserve this :-) 12:53:08 PM      Like to comment? []