.UK Announced

[websaway]

But haven't they repeatedly said that direct.uk is a different product? If they're holding to that line then there's no reason not to promote .co.uk. You can't make any assertions from this.

I do see your point, in fact it galvanises their position in promoting that stance.

The main reservation I have though is that they are allowing specified unregistered rights and as I read it this would not extend to new registrants.




All those using existing .co.uk, .org.uk etc domain names would be granted unregistered rights under the proposed plans.

 

[Stephen]

We are a World Beating Internet Nation

Is there a question being asked today about .uk?

http://services.parliament.uk/calendar/ DMCS up at 09:30

I did watch the debate but no .uk mention or questions I'm afraid.

It was interesting watching Ed Vaizey (well some of it!), his best quote was when talking about UK broadband:

We are a World Beating Internet Nation.

 

[anthony]

...It was interesting watching Ed Vaizey (well some of it!), his best quote was when talking about UK broadband:

"We are a World Beating Internet Nation."

And he said it with such gusto, I think he actually believes such bullshit!

 

[Stephen]

The Truth?

As we are entering the phase nearing the release of the .uk consultation feedback and changes to the original plan.

I was speculating who will be credited with the feedback that helped them change direction, it will be the wide range of companies, business organizations, stakeholders, trademark holders, large registrars, government departments, small and big businesses, charities and ordinary people that would be effected all gave them the advise on what should be done.

No that's right, no mention of domainers!

 

[websaway]

Anyone got any predictions for after the 26th ?

 

[Edwin]

Anyone got any predictions for after the 26th ?

Nothing will happen for a while - I don't see Nominet being in any rush to annouce, and triply so if they push ahead with direct.uk in the face of overwhelming opinion.

 

[websaway]

info


http://www.nominet.org.uk/news/latest/registrants-warned-be-wary-pressured-selling-practices

 

[websaway]

There must be some speculative leaks.

It's eerily quiet.

 

[Edwin]

How can something that's not happened yet (Board meeting) be leaked?

 

[websaway]

I did say speculative leaks.

It's a little like a lull before a storm.

 

[Paullas]

I did say speculative leaks.

It's a little like a lull before a storm.

Where?

 

[websaway]

Where?

on this forum

 

[scooter]

.

 

[Bailey]

A chunk of you have already all but killed the market with misguided negativity so I don't suppose it matters what they announce because it can't get much worse.

I don't think you can call it "misguided negativity" It's no different to say a Power company having a planning application to build a power-station next to your local community. And you trying to sell your home at the same time. Or just living There

The fact is the vast majority, neither care or believe the build would affect them. But, then they don't live there.

There has been lots of comments in the past about the real state of the UK as a "leading internet economy" And the fact is we are a nation of 'Shopkeepers' who neither care or are concerned what colour our shop front is or indeed, sometimes, what is even in the 'shop window'

That is apart from the online 'shopbuilders' and they are rightly cautious because they live in the shadow of that new power station.

PS NOW compensate the local community with an 'Offer' of a free-power supply for not objecting to its build and everybody and it's dog is going to want to live there (if you pardon the analogy)

.UK = power station
.CO.UK local community

 

[Bailey]

Bailey, whether the decision to release direct.uk is the correct one wasn't my point.

I was actually pointing out that people on this forum telling us how they're not going to buy another .uk domain again or that Nominet have damaged the market forever, have done so much damage to the market that whatever Nominet announce it can't get much worse.

Personally I'm opposed to the proposal without reservation because it's an idea that is in no one but Nominet's best interests.

Neither was my comment a reflection on the right's or wrongs. But what is said here on Acorn and other UK domain focused sites is more a 'local community issue' The wider UK public don't care. Sure it's effecting sales between us a group. But, if you look at end-user sales they are still at the level (and prices) that they always were at (which isn't very impressive) for all this government talk about a leading on-line nation

 

[Bailey]

End user sales have always been the icing on the cake but we also had a healthy internal market that was fed from the top and filtered down to all levels and it's that market that's been all but killed off by a small group of doom mongers.

Point taken. But, I don't think the openness in opinion and discussion is the damage. If that kind-of talk wasn't out there. We/most would read it as being a conspiracy of silence, and the internal market still frozen.

I think most that operate in the domain arena are far to Savvy to be influenced by what is (or not) said on this and other boards

The current prices that uk domains are being offerered at here on Acorn (and their likely hood of selling) says far more than voiced opinions its not the other way around

 

[Nigel]

who are the 'key stakeholders' who helped Nominet 'refine' the draft document

I'm still trying to find out who the 'key stakeholders' were who were consulted on a 'secure .uk domain name service' as long ago as August 2012.

From a Freedom of Information Act release we know that Nominet's Head of Secretariat sent an email to a Government Department on 2 August 2012 marked 'confidential' with an attachment called 'PK Consultation on a secure .uk domain name service.doc'. The email shows that discussions had already been underway with the Government department and that 'key stakeholders' were being asked for feedback to help Nominet 'refine' the draft. The last paragraph of the email says 'As a preliminary stage, I am reaching out to a small number of our key stakeholders to seek initial thoughts and feedback with a view to further refining the draft'.

http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/139377/response/344123/attach/4/FOI 121635 emails.pdf

I wrote to Eleanor Bradley, COO of nominet 3 weeks ago, asking a number of questions, including confirmation on whether any of the 'key stakeholders' who helped 'refine' this document were registrars. I chased Eleanor a week ago and have still not had a reply.

 

[GreyWing]

Awesome work Nigel,

I have also asked several times for directors to give their backing individually for the CEO on Nominet's forum..... Silence, which is strange as they were able to come out within 24 hours and rubbish that barristers report.

 

[cm1975]

End user sales have always been the icing on the cake but we also had a healthy internal market that was fed from the top and filtered down to all levels and it's that market that's been all but killed off by a small group of doom mongers.

I could be wrong, but I got the impression that the sales on here were already heading south before the .UK announcement and it has just been the final nail in the coffin (.... okay probably the last few nails in the coffin). The poor state of the economy and Google changing the way sites were ranking was already having a negative effect on prices.

I think the current situation is similar to around 2011, when you had the short domain auctions (eg. 1 & 2 character .co.uk), which took money out of the "internal market". At that time I believe a number of domainers sat on their money to ensure they had funds to bid on auctions.

Okay the general opinion is perhaps negative, but whether .co.uk domains are talked up, down or sideways, as soon as you take money out of any economy, the market shrinks, sales dry up and prices quickly follow.

For what it's worth, I think the end user market is relatively unaffected by the .UK announcement.

 

[Nigel]

The end user market is relatively 'unaffected by the .uk announcement' only because they don't know about it. I have been receiving regular enquiries on .co.uk domains but getting very few sales. As soon as you tell them about nominet's proposals most never come back. I haven't got the heart to do what nominet does i.e. tell them 'it's a great place to be'. I had a nice email back from a prospective buyer yesterday. No sale but her comments were appreciated:

"Hi Nigel,

thanks a lot for your email and for getting back to me.

I was not aware of the information that you have given me about the .uk extension, so thanks a lot for informing me.

I will take a look at the link you have sent me.

Thanks again and have a lovely afternoon."