http://www.telecommunications.com/frmMainCurrentNews--Internet%20Daily.htm > Current News from > Washington Internet Daily > > Friday, November 24, 2000 > > Australian Barrister Accuses ICANN of Antitrust Violations > > An Australian lawyer asked regulators Monday to probe allegations that > ICANN and the .au Domain Administration (auDA), an industry self-regulatory > body for the .au country-code top-level domain name (TLD) space, violated > the country's antitrust laws. In his notification to the Australian > Competition & Consumer Commission (ACCC), Len Lindon, who identifies himself > as "barrister and human rights defender," said the current Domain Name > System "is capable of millions of domain names and there are many > 'alternative/open root server' operators and users. There could and should > be many more operators and users." Lindon said "ICANN has deliberately and > knowingly undermined, sabotaged and sought to destroy" competitors by > breaching 8 provisions of the Trade Practices Act of 1974. > > By giving the nod to only 7 new TLDs, Lindon charged, ICANN violated > laws barring: (1) Contracts that affect competition. (2) Secondary boycotts > for the purpose of causing damages and substantially cutting competition. > (3) Contracts that affect the supply or acquisition of goods and services. > (4) Misuse of market power. (5) Unconscionable conduct in business dealings. > (6) Contravention of industry codes. AuDA has close ties with ICANN, Lindon > said, and appears to be engaging in similar anticompetitive activities. > "Having read much of the available evidence, and having personally witnessed > some of these anticompetitive activities," he said, "I am satisfied that > each corporation is in breach of each section and I now submit this request > for immediate action..."
