IP: Sen. Abraham Pitches Legislative Fit

[David Farber <farber () cis upenn edu>]

> From: "Ronald J. Riley @ InventorEd.org" <rjriley () InventorEd org>
> To: "David Farber" <farber () cis upenn edu>
> Subject: Sen. Abraham Pitches Legislative Fit
> Date: Sat, 8 Apr 2000 22:42:14 -0500
> X-Priority: 3
>
> Are you aware that politicians are attempting to limit the use of their
> names in domain names through low profile rule  making?
>
> Namely, 180 days after being enacted, about May 2000, they could use this to
> have the DNS registration removed for dissident political web sites.  Just
> in time to stop the opposing view from being broadcast for the 2000
> election.  And while we would win this on first amendment grounds, it would
> not be until after the election is over.
>
> See:
>
> S.1948, signed into law in Nov 1999 as a part of Public Law No. 106-113.
>
> SEC. 3006. STUDY ON ABUSIVE DOMAIN NAME REGISTRATIONS INVOLVING PERSONAL
> NAMES.
>
> See www.SenatorAbraham.org/domain-names/ .
>
> Specifically the bill calls for:
>
> "(4) protecting the public from registration of domain names that include
> the personal names of government officials, official candidates, and
> potential official candidates for Federal, State, or local political office
> in the United States, and the use of such domain names in a manner that
> disrupts the electoral process or the public's ability to access accurate
> and reliable information regarding such individuals; "
>
> The intent appears to be to limit the use of politician's names through
> administrative rule making, and avoid the public backlash which legislation
> would cause, via:
>
> "(b) GUIDELINES AND PROCEDURES- The Secretary of Commerce shall, under its
> Memorandum of Understanding with the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names
> and Numbers, collaborate to develop guidelines and procedures for resolving
> disputes involving the registration or use by a person of a domain name that
> includes the personal name of another person, in whole or in part, or a name
> confusingly similar thereto."
>
> Ronald J. Riley (810) 655-8830  www.rjriley.com
> Personal Email: rjriley () rjriley com
> President, Professional Inventors Alliance
> http://www.rjriley.com/pia/
>
> Advisory Board President,
> Alliance for American Innovation, Inc., Wash, DC
> (202) 546-8700
> http://www.Alliance-DC.org/
> E-mail rjriley () Alliance-DC org
>
> Founder of InventorEd, Inc.
> www.InventorEd.org
> rjriley () InventorEd org
>
> Personal page: http://www.rjriley.com/about-rjriley/
> Views expressed are my own.