By Polly Raymond, 2 June 1999 00:25
NEWS Global Web naming group, Icann (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers) is failing to account for the interests of end users in its domain name reorganisation, according to a leading Internet guru. Ivan Pope, founder and CEO of Web company, NetNames, said Icann has failed to include end user representatives in its Domain Name Supporting Organisation. Icann members from around the world met in Berlin last week to launch the organisation's 'new order' of domain name management. High on the agenda was the task of establishing a number of steering 'constituencies' - bodies representing different sectors of the industry involved in domain naming. Among those represented by constituencies were Internet service providers, domain name registrars and guardians of intellectual property rights - but not non-commercial organisations, such as end user bodies. Pope said: "It seems that again this is a reflection of Icann's closeted, closed, non-grassroots world view. It's sad, but it seems to be what Icann always manages to do." But Icann interim chairman, Esther Dyson, said the situation is not a result of oversight but infighting. "The organisations involved in the non-commercial constituency are fighting among themselves, which is why it wasn't finalised," she said. Dyson said that Icann will continue to try to bring the squabbling factions together.
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