.UK Announced

[Stephen]

9.3% + growth rate

No, I don't think that's necessarily the case.

AGreatPlaceToBe.co.uk has been running for a while - indeed, Nominet put a lot of effort/money behind it at Internet World last year.

I think it's more likely that different streams of activity at Nominet are continuing in parallel, i.e. planned marketing campaigns are ongoing while other parts of the organisation deal with collating and processing the direct.uk consultation results.

After all, IF they reject direct.uk entirely, they don't want to find themselves even further set back along the competitiveness road vs new GTLD etc. by having completely neglected their core .co.uk business which is the source of 93%+ of their revenue. It's hard to think of what is a reasonably large organisation simply saying "Ok, let's not do any marketing for 5 months while we figure out if we're going to launch something or not" and then giving their marketing team a 5-month sabbatical.

However, it's very obvious that the campaign can very easily be badly PERCEIVED given what's also going on around direct.uk - and that perception can turn into something worse should direct.uk go ahead because it's more AMMUNITION to use against Nominet.

Organizations have a pyramid structure, so different streams of activity shoulds not conflict and damage each other.

However when you read the release from March 2012 when the growth rate was a wave they wanted to continue with:
http://www.nominet.org.uk/news/press-releases/nominet-targets-offline-businesses-uk-brand-push

The campaign is targeted with increasing the annual growth rate of the .uk register - currently at 9.3%.

As they are now in negative territory in under a year, do you think Nominet might want to reflect on their actions and objectives?

 

[Stephen]

AGM date?

Does anybody have a date for next Nominet AGM please?

 

[Stephen]

Overseas Registrars

According to latest Nominet accounts ye 30 September 2011

26% of the turnover comes from outside the UK via overseas registries.

I know Godaddy (USA) seems to have made an impact on the UK domain registrations but didn't realize so much revenue came via outside Uk.

According to Nominet currently 9% of UK domains are registered to no UK residents.

I wonder if that would effect registrar voting?

 

[Stephen]

100,004 views

Number of views on this thread just reached 100,004!

 

[Nigel]

Number of views on this thread just reached 100,004!

slightly more than the number who attended Nominet's roundtable events. In fact 100,000 more than the number at Cardiff

 

[Nigel]

There might be a debate in Parliament

Just heard back from Stephen McPartland's office. It says he is meeting Nominet shortly and:

"Stephen has also put in for a debate in Parliament and is waiting for to hear back."

If he can secure this debate - then I think direct.uk will finally get the airing and media coverage it deserves. Whatever happens - you've got to hand it to Mr McPartland for all his efforts and tenacity. Well done again to Monaghan for involving his MP and getting the ball rolling.

 

[websaway]

Just heard back from Stephen McPartland's office. It says he is meeting Nominet shortly and:

"Stephen has also put in for a debate in Parliament and is waiting for to hear back."

If he can secure this debate - then I think direct.uk will finally get the airing and media coverage it deserves. Whatever happens - you've got to hand it to Mr McPartland for all his efforts and tenacity. Well done again to Monaghan for involving his MP and getting the ball rolling.

Has he made his views known anywhere ?

 

[Nigel]

Has he made his views known anywhere ?

This gives information on the question Stephen McPartland asked in Parliament:

On Tuesday 8th January 2013 Stephen McPartland MP asked a Parliamentary question regarding .uk:

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps she plans to take to ensure that small businesses with .co.uk addresses are not put at a disadvantage by the creation of the .uk domain name.

The response by the Minister Ed Vaizey MP was:

Nominet is recognised by the Government as the registry with responsibility for oversight of the “uk” top level internet domain. It is a private sector, not for profit, public purpose company. Its day-to-day operations are not subject to regulation by the Government. Nominet welcomes suggestions about “.uk” policy development. It is currently carrying out a public consultation on proposals to create a new shorter “.uk” domain with enhanced security features which would allow for the first time registrations at the second level immediately before the dot (e.g. “culture.uk”).

Nominet has informed Government that its consultation is gathering perspectives from a broad range of stakeholders—including small businesses and their representatives—to inform their decision-making. Nominet has stated that it will be carefully considering that feedback in line with the company’s public purpose.

Hansard source (Citation: HC Deb, 8 January 2013, c213W)


So he asked the question on behalf of 'small businesses with .co.uk addresses' and, whilst he is asking this on behalf of his constituent, it appears that he is concerned that they are not disadvantaged by the introduction of direct.uk. Of course his question wasn't directly answered by Mr Vaizey and Mr Vaizey doesn't mention that Nominet hadn't, in fact, written to any 'small businesses with .co.uk addresses' when they launched the consultation.

 

[websaway]

This gives information on the question Stephen McPartland asked in Parliament:

On Tuesday 8th January 2013 Stephen McPartland MP asked a Parliamentary question regarding .uk:

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps she plans to take to ensure that small businesses with .co.uk addresses are not put at a disadvantage by the creation of the .uk domain name.

The response by the Minister Ed Vaizey MP was:

Nominet is recognised by the Government as the registry with responsibility for oversight of the “uk” top level internet domain. It is a private sector, not for profit, public purpose company. Its day-to-day operations are not subject to regulation by the Government. Nominet welcomes suggestions about “.uk” policy development. It is currently carrying out a public consultation on proposals to create a new shorter “.uk” domain with enhanced security features which would allow for the first time registrations at the second level immediately before the dot (e.g. “culture.uk”).

Nominet has informed Government that its consultation is gathering perspectives from a broad range of stakeholders—including small businesses and their representatives—to inform their decision-making. Nominet has stated that it will be carefully considering that feedback in line with the company’s public purpose.

Hansard source (Citation: HC Deb, 8 January 2013, c213W)


So he asked the question on behalf of 'small businesses with .co.uk addresses' and, whilst he is asking this on behalf of his constituent, it appears that he is concerned that they are not disadvantaged by the introduction of direct.uk. Of course his question wasn't directly answered by Mr Vaizey and Mr Vaizey doesn't mention that Nominet hadn't, in fact, written to any 'small businesses with .co.uk addresses' when they launched the consultation.

Helpful, thanks

 

[DarrenTSO]

According to latest Nominet accounts ye 30 September 2011

26% of the turnover comes from outside the UK via overseas registries.

I know Godaddy (USA) seems to have made an impact on the UK domain registrations but didn't realize so much revenue came via outside Uk.

You have to bare in mind that the following registrars are overseas:-

1 & 1 Internet AG
Key-Systems GmbH
Register.com Inc
eNom, Inc.
TUCOWS Inc
Melbourne IT
One.com A/S
Gandi

Then you have GoDaddy and a few others.

 

[DarrenTSO]

Thanks, it's been a long day.

 

[Retired_member41]

Hey Invincible is back.

Asked someone a while back about .uk and it ruining peoples domain businesses and he sent me this. I cant see what he means. Can you?

https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&source=web&cd=2&ved=0CDkQFjAB&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.adminlaw.org.uk%2Fdocs%2FTom%2520de%2520la%2520Mare%2520July%25202009.pdf&ei=7tgKUYzDJYyo0AXqpoGADQ&usg=AFQjCNGprjIu5WUkhMcCG6TCduUt4L0Bpw

 

[WealdDomains]

Does anybody have a date for next Nominet AGM please?

I don't, Stephen, but based on the Articles of Association at http://www.nominet.org.uk/sites/default/files/articles_of_association.pdf I think the following two rules apply :

- within 15 months of the previous AGM (which appears to have been Wednesday 16 May 2012)
- 21 clear days' notice required

So, I think the next AGM must happen sometime between late February and mid August.

I'm not a member, but it looks like May seems to be a fairly common time in recent years although, based on http://vimeo.com/47683416 for example, it appears that it has been July on at least one fairly recent occasion.

 

[Stephen]

I don't, Stephen, but based on the Articles of Association at http://www.nominet.org.uk/sites/default/files/articles_of_association.pdf I think the following two rules apply :
- within 15 months of the previous AGM (which appears to have been Wednesday 16 May 2012)
- 21 clear days' notice required
So, I think the next AGM must happen sometime between late February and mid August...

Thank you.

 

[Stephen]

local MP progress

Some more progress with my local MP

Quote from letter received today.

I have passed your document "What is wrong with the Nominet .uk proposal?" over to the Minister with responsibility at the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, Ed Vaizey, asking for his comments and advise. As soon as I receive a reply I will, of course, be back in touch with you again but I do look forward to seeing you on the 8th February in my constituency office.

 

[markb]

Some more progress with my local MP

Quote from letter received today.

Don't hold your breath for a decent reply from Ed Vaizey, from the comments I have read about him, he either says the government has nothing to do with the day to day running of nominet, or he is happy with the way nominet or going ahead with their proposals for direct.uk. Basically, I don't think he can be bothered getting involved.

 

[TinkyWinky]

Don't hold your breath for a decent reply from Ed Vaizey, from the comments I have read about him, he either says the government has nothing to do with the day to day running of nominet, or he is happy with the way nominet or going ahead with their proposals for direct.uk. Basically, I don't think he can be bothered getting involved.

It will just take a few lines where it shows the Government or ministers have been compliant or mislead - he will lead.

He is as useless as Maria Miller who sent me a letter that completely missed the f**** point. She didn't answer any questions.

But the problem with politicians is they won't take any sides/work on unless either :

a. there is something that could implicate them or their government

or

b. they are trying to worm their way out of something

or

c. they can gain capital on their other parties

So just needs the oath lying with an implication the government knew about it or similar.

 

[Nigel]

Don't hold your breath for a decent reply from Ed Vaizey, from the comments I have read about him, he either says the government has nothing to do with the day to day running of nominet, or he is happy with the way nominet or going ahead with their proposals for direct.uk. Basically, I don't think he can be bothered getting involved.

I got an email about a week ago from his office saying the matter was being 'dealt with accordingly'. I think there is a lot going on behind the scenes.

 

[markb]

I got an email about a week ago from his office saying the matter was being 'dealt with accordingly'. I think there is a lot going on behind the scenes.

Lets hope that does mean they are doing something about it behind the scenes. It needs to be taken very seriously as the proposal has massive implications to every business that trades online or has an online presence.

 

[GreyWing]

I got an email about a week ago from his office saying the matter was being 'dealt with accordingly'. I think there is a lot going on behind the scenes.

Yes there is, they are also aware of some other stuff now. I don't think that they are accepting things at face value anymore, and put it this way they are aware of the fact "Nominet maintains a deception" sentence. amongst other stuff.