Re: [wg-c] Position paper: Commentary on three points.

[Joseph Friedman <josephf@touro.edu>]

At 09:01 AM 10/15/1999 -0700, Kent Crispin wrote:
>On Fri, Oct 15, 1999 at 11:09:51AM -0400, Joseph Friedman wrote:
> > I would like to comment on three (separate but somewhat related) points.
>
>I agree with all your points, except:
>
> > 2) ICANN as registry.
>
>ICANN is prohibited  from being a registry, either in the bylaws or
>in one of the agreements with the USG (I forget exactly where).

It says in the Memorandum of Understanding between ICANN and the U.S. 
Government:  <http://www.ntia.doc.gov/ntiahome/domainname/icann-memorandum.htm>

D. Prohibitions.

1. ICANN shall not act as a domain name Registry or Registrar or IP Address 
Registry in competition with entities affected by the plan developed under 
this Agreement.

I don't think that registries are competing with each other (in the sense 
that registrars are.)  Running a registry of a specific TLD is a function 
only one entity can perform.  There can be no competition in this 
arena.  So I don't believe it would be in violation of this agreement.  But 
I can foresee others who would disagree with this interpretation (and argue 
that it would compete with other registries.)

Is this agreement set in stone where it can never be modified?

--Joseph