.uk V2.0 Questions to Nominet & their Answers

[Edwin]

as last time over 17% where email response in v1 .uk,
it seems odd to cut off this type of feedback?

I think that may be (at least partly) in response to all your emails. The indications Nominet were giving you suggested you were riling them up pretty effectively with your ongoing stream of questions.

 

[Retired_Member38]

Stephen I think what you're doing is a complete waste of your time and money.

If you don't like the current proposal then I would campaign for one that does suit your agenda, and is also likely to be acceptable to Nominet. I don't think what you are suggesting here is good for Nominet and they're not going to go for it.

 

[GreyWing]

It's not meant for Nominet though mate. I've been to enough meetings to know that if they don't know the rights and wrongs of it now then they are beyond reason or competence.

Stephen's documents are helpful so others can take them to their MP's, to the media and others to show them what is going on.

 

[Edwin]

Still filling in content, links and facts into my report on .uk.

Once document finished, it will need polishing (as many have pointed out my grammer is not good), checked by a lawyer to ensure I don't get a legal action from Nominet and then published here for any final comments and suggestions.

I intend to put a single advert in a major paper and have sourced and employed a PR company to get media coverage.

Anyway here is the draft finish to the report:

I think you have to take a much BIGGER step back.

The real question (which governs what would go in an ad, if anything) is this:

What does somebody who knows NOTHING about Nominet, direct.uk, the intricacies of the .uk namespace, indeed anything other than (if you're lucky) how to register/use a domain for their business have to understand about the current situation in order to:
A) Form an educated opinion
B) Grasp the ramifications for their own business
C) Understand how bad decisions by Nominet affect B)
D) Understand the problems with the proposed process, and its impact on all stakeholders with an interest in the outcome of the consultation
E) Formulate an intelligent, "useful" (in that it may actually help shape the consultation) response to the issue

I put it to you that it is quite literally impossible to "summarise" the issue into a compact space in such a way as to actually address the above points. It's not just that your particular summary has failed, it's that NO summary can possibly succeed.

The bottom line is the consultation and its background are very complex documents. Turning what would take several pages' worth of discussion (in order to establish full and proper understanding most of your points need reams of background info that you cannot provide and that nobody reading the ad will bother to go hunting for) into a single bullet is not going to communicate anything at all.

As such, Monkey is spot on when he pointed out you'll just be wasting your money.

 

[Edwin]

If you really want to spend your money on an ad (which I'd advise against) then I'd go for something like this:

BUSINESS ADVISORY

Nominet is planning to allow domain registrations directly under .uk for the very first time.

This means that domain names such as "example.uk" would be available to register.

However, not all existing .co.uk domain owners will be able to get their matching .uk domain name.

To find out how your business may be impacted, and have your say in the consultation that's running until 23 September 2013, visit -----------

And that's IT. Obviously someone with more PR know-how than me can sharpen it up further, but hopefully you get the gist of it. That's probably the maximum you can expect any business owner or relevant employee idly flicking through the newspaper to take on board.

 

[Stephen]

Advert Design

If you really want to spend your money on an ad (which I'd advise against) then I'd go for something like this:
....And that's IT. Obviously someone with more PR know-how than me can sharpen it up further, but hopefully you get the gist of it. That's probably the maximum you can expect any business owner or relevant employee idly flicking through the newspaper to take on board.

Thanks as always for your suggestions, the conclusion posted was not meant to be the advert, only the thrust of were the report leads.

Agree an advert is like a poster design in this case, less is more.

"Something to grab, something to make it relevant to them and an easy call to action"

The advert itself will not create a massive surge in interest but I hope to use the PR to capitalize on it, in addition to the importance of the issue.

 

[Stephen]

Agenda?

Stephen I think what you're doing is a complete waste of your time and money.

If you don't like the current proposal then I would campaign for one that does suit your agenda, and is also likely to be acceptable to Nominet. I don't think what you are suggesting here is good for Nominet and they're not going to go for it.

Thanks - me as a domainer are fine with the proposal, I will as many here protect the vast majority of my current UK portfolio and get 2 sales from 1 domain and be able to catch a few quality generic .uk names.

My agenda is I'm fighting for what I believe is good for the UK namespace and business in general.

As you and several people have pointed out over .uk debates, it may not be good for Nominet's aims of growing and making more money, however I do not see that as a reason to stop.

 

[Stephen]

Long report (boring to most)

....I put it to you that it is quite literally impossible to "summarise" the issue into a compact space in such a way as to actually address the above points. It's not just that your particular summary has failed, it's that NO summary can possibly succeed.

The bottom line is the consultation and its background are very complex documents. Turning what would take several pages' worth of discussion (in order to establish full and proper understanding most of your points need reams of background info that you cannot provide and that nobody reading the ad will bother to go hunting for) into a single bullet is not going to communicate anything at all.

As such, Monkey is spot on when he pointed out you'll just be wasting your money.

The document I'm working on is over 30 pages long and deals with background and explains lots of the issues as impartially as I can.

However as you correctly pointed out in v1 not many read the whole thing and you are trying to have one document appeal to many different readers all with a different level of knowledge about domains.

So I have sections of easy to absorb lists to try and get the point through, that the reader needs to get involved with links to lots of further reading and backing up the numbers used.

I found last time going through it with my MP, she needed short easy to understand arguments but agreed as the report was long and had lots of work put into it, their must be something to it!

p.s. I'm not keen to spend the money but with the time scale involved and the lack of effort by Nominet and the media not covering the story as is, I don't see I have any other choice!

 

[Stephen]

Purpose of Report

It's not meant for Nominet though mate. I've been to enough meetings to know that if they don't know the rights and wrongs of it now then they are beyond reason or competence.

Stephen's documents are helpful so others can take them to their MP's, to the media and others to show them what is going on.

Thanks, that is why it comes out as report rather than a few posts at Acorn.

Do you have list of all UK registrars that may be interested in a report on .uk?

 

[Stephen]

why no email

I think that may be (at least partly) in response to all your emails. The indications Nominet were giving you suggested you were riling them up pretty effectively with your ongoing stream of questions.

Yes I might be partly responsible but I'm still emailing Nominet questions as I still have the email addresses.

The reason for the questions, was to make any document that went into the public domain more complete, if Nominet fail to answer questions about .uk, they in my opinion are failing the process.

I think it is more likely they did not want somebody to do a anti .uk template email as last time, which people just copy and send, anyway that is my suggestion why.

I wonder if Nominet would let us know why?

 

[Stephen]

Nominet and Research?

Just found the new post on Nominet tweet account

https://twitter.com/nominet 14 August

Nominet looking for a Research team, pity they didn't employ them before the .uk V1 proposals, they would have saved Edwin a lot of time on his published research papers.

It would also be useful now, so somebody at Nominet could answer the questions about .uk, with researched data.

http://apply.jobs.nominet.org.uk/vacancy/senior-researcher-169955.html

Senior Researcher​

The Researcher will research, develop, evaluate
and test new products and technologies as serves Nominet’s technical and
business strategies. The job will involve generating innovative new ideas and
taking them through modelling, proof-of-concept and prototyping either
individually or as part of a larger team. The role will look to identify new
products and services that may benefit Nominet as well as advancing the safety,
security and reliability of the UK and global internet. The job will involve
managing large projects to realise these new ideas

• Track, evaluate, develop and influence emerging and existing technologies, tools, products, protocols and standards.
• Proactively record and disseminate relevant knowledge, results, ideas and other information to the Research Team.
• Produce creative and innovative research plans in order to deliver a body of research or development work to suit a specific goal.
• Lead large projects teams in the development of new technologies.
• Provide quick prototyping skills (including building mock-ups, delivering proof of concepts), using a variety of programming languages, methods and tools.
• Identify and research the potential for new services derived from new technologies.
• Understand the commercial impact of new ideas, create and present market assessments for the Director of R&D and CTO.
• D• Works effectively as ‘part of the Company team’, communicates positively at all levels both internally and externally
• Works effectively as part of a department team, recognises areas where support is required and offers assistance
• Is flexible and adaptable in approach
• Takes an active role in personal development and frequently reviews individual objectives and attends training sessions as required
• Professionally manages communications
• Professionally manages workload and conflicting priorities
• Able to effectively problem solve and use initiative
• Abe to act as a role model to other members of the teamevelop and manage key relationships with external partners to deliver joint projects or research.

Department Technical


Salary Up to £61,000


Location Oxford

Closing Date 31/08/2013

Ref No 27

 

[Stephen]

.com.de

Come across something interesting whilst putting together my .uk report.

I wonder if this has anything to do with the rush on .uk by Nominet?

Germany offering:

.com.de

See http://com.de/ for details

How can I register a .COM.DE domain?

.COM.DE domains will become available to anyone through participating registrars or their resellers. Except where registered or applied for during the Sunrise or Landrush period or excluded by the Registry, .COM.DE domains are available to the public based on the chronological order of registrations on a first come, first served basis.

 

[aZooZa]

Come across something interesting whilst putting together my .uk report.

I wonder if this has anything to do with the rush on .uk by Nominet?

Germany offering:

.com.de

See http://com.de/ for details

You wouldn't need to swallow a test tube of iron filings to see the irony here...

Unbelievable.

 

[Edwin]

Come across something interesting whilst putting together my .uk report.

I wonder if this has anything to do with the rush on .uk by Nominet?

Germany offering:

.com.de

See http://com.de/ for details

It's one of those deceptive CentralNIC almost-but-not-quite-100%-lies, and as such has zero relevance to .uk.

It's not being offered by Denic (the German equivalent of Nominet) - they're not in the picture at all.

It's being offered by CentralNIC, presumably in a partnership with the owner of "com.de".

See, that's all it really is:

A) Person A owns com.de (a regular .de domain that just happens to look usefully like a certain popular GTLD)
B) CentralNIC comes along and says "Hey, person A, wanna make some cash?"
C) Person A agrees and CentralNIC set up their "thing"
D) CentralNIC market SUBdomains of the domain name com.de, but their marketing material makes it look like it's a new domain name. They're not the same thing, however many quintillion times their marketing team tries to make it so in extension after extension (UK.com, DE.com etc.)
E) Registrars go along with the deception, and add .com.de to the pulldown/checkbox of domain extensions that their bulk registration forms support (without distinguishing its status from a real cctld)
F) CentralNIC, registrars and person A all make money

If the .uk goes ahead and Nominet sells somebody the domain name "com.uk", I'm sure the CentralNIC team will beat a path to their door pronto to set up another pretend namespace.

 

[Stephen]

Thanks - for the sub domain

It's one of those deceptive CentralNIC almost-but-not-quite-100%-lies, and as such has zero relevance to .uk.

It's not being offered by Denic (the German equivalent of Nominet) - they're not in the picture at all.

It's being offered by CentralNIC, presumably in a partnership with the owner of "com.de".

Thanks for explaining but it might have been the catalyst to Nominet starting this whole .uk money grabbing exercise in 2012 as it was never explained what or who was the trigger that started it all.

....If the .uk goes ahead and Nominet sells somebody the domain name "com.uk", I'm sure the CentralNIC team will beat a path to their door pronto to set up another pretend namespace.

Nominet state in their documentation that they are reserving .com.uk specifically.

 

[Edwin]

Thanks for explaining but it might have been the catalyst to Nominet starting this whole .uk money grabbing exercise in 2012 as it was never explained what or who was the trigger that started it all

It wasn't. Nobody at Nominet would have been fooled for 10 seconds.

I'm 100% confident they know full well .com.de is a fake domain name (subdomain dressed up to look like a cctld)

I doubt anyone there gave it more than 2 minutes thought around the watercooler on a particularly dull, wet Friday afternoon. That's all it deserves, too!

It's all very well being unhappy with what Nominet's doing, but it's no good turning over every stone in a desperate search for a far-fetched conspiracy theory to pin on them.

 

[GreyWing]

It's all very well being unhappy with what Nominet's doing, but it's no good turning over every stone in a desperate search for a far-fetched conspiracy theory to pin on them.

I only think he is blue sky thinking mate, nothing more than that. I don't think Nominet were fooled by .com.de either. Nominet are a monopoly and CentralNic were commercial, so in that there is a lot of difference in that Nominet could just do what they want to raise revenue, in fact I'd argue that they already are.

The story behind com.de is almost industry famous about how they shafted the previous owners of that name. I can't confirm what actually happened so I won't repeat it here but it wasn't pretty by the sounds of it.

 

[Stephen]

It wasn't. Nobody at Nominet would have been fooled for 10 seconds.

I'm 100% confident they know full well .com.de is a fake domain name (subdomain dressed up to look like a cctld)

I doubt anyone there gave it more than 2 minutes thought around the watercooler on a particularly dull, wet Friday afternoon. That's all it deserves, too!

It's all very well being unhappy with what Nominet's doing, but it's no good turning over every stone in a desperate search for a far-fetched conspiracy theory to pin on them.

I'm not saying Nominet did not know, they certainly would have very quickly known, a few minutes more research on the subject and even I might have even noticed it was a sub domain sell off.

I'm stating what you, me and a lot of people enquired at V1 .uk what or who started off .uk. If Nominet saw .com.de make money, the short UK auction and ICANN 1,000 new gTLD's around the corner and you have a mix that might have started it off rather the Nominet story it was "anecdotal customer demand for .uk".

It is not a conspiracy and I'm not looking for one. It is like a jigsaw and I'm trying to see how the pieces fit together.

We are where we are with .uk, however we got here!

 

[Stephen]

Round Table meetings?

From Nominet website :

To date we have hosted three roundtable discussions to enable stakeholders to give us their comments. Our next event will be a stakeholder roundtable in Glasgow on Wednesday 11th September 2013. Register your interest in attending the meeting. Please note that priority will given to those stakeholders who have not already attended a roundtable meeting to discuss the proposals.

I know there was an Early London meeting 10th July, that I attended and another after the AGM 22nd July, can anybody please advise any details on the third round table meeting referred to and was Lesley Cowley present?

Although the CEO was not at the first London round table (she didn't attend any during V1) I assume she was at the Round table after the AGM, as it was scheduled together?

 

[Edwin]

Although the CEO was not at the first London round table (she didn't attend any during V1) I assume she was at the Round table after the AGM, as it was scheduled together?

No idea about the third round table.

Lesley Cowley and Baroness Fritchie were both at the round table after the AGM. They arrived a little late (not ridiculously so) and sat at the back, though not together. The Baroness left either immediately at the end or just before (I didn't notice) while Lesley stayed behind to talk to some of the attendees. Neither of them spoke to the audience.