>>Since Esther's at the global meeting for establishing mandatory net
>>content ratings, and seems to be chafing a bit over it, I'd like to
>>point something out:
>>
>>Domain names would probably have to be rated as well.
>>Since Esther *is* at this conference, and is the de facto face of ICANN,
>>shouldn't someone speak as an official representative of ICANN on these
>>issues?
>>
>>I certainly don't want the enforcement of ratings on any content on
>>the net, and I am certain I don't want it enforced based on domain names.
>>
>>Let's face it: The only reason anyone would want a global mandatory
>>rating system is to enact filtering based on those ratings.
>>
>>If ICANN allows this to occur (and they might -- quite a bit of the money
>>behind ICANN is also propping up this ratings effort), they will be in
>>a position to become the arbiters of content on the Net.
>>
>>Since WG-C is concerned with the introduction of new gTLDs, we should be
>>very wary of this effort. One could easily imagine a push to classify
>>content based on gTLD. If you think .com's diluted and confusing now,
>>you just wait until companies are told they must use a particular gTLD
>>for a particular type of content. Everywhere you turn, there will be
>>confusing, misleading, and/or meaningless .com entries, all in an effort
>>to avoid the gTLDs created specifically to be filtered out.
>
>This cannot be overstated. Content restrictions and "copyright"
>violations will likely be the new vehicles for "making the net safe
>for e-commerce." Look at the make up of the Intellectual Property
>Constituency and the demands that copyright and other intellectual
>property rights be included in domain name issues. (How copyright
>can be included in domain name issues and individual domain name
>holders excluded is beyond me.)
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