Mr. Hansen,

Your article regarding Moniker auctioning domain names at CAC is a bit misinformed and misleading to the public. First off, the number of physical addresses and domains are BOTH finite. Domain names are limited to 63 characters maximum creating a finite number that could ever be registered. While this number IS enormous and will probably never be reached it IS finite nonetheless. What you should note is that some real estate, let's say downtown manhattan is worth a lot more than a similar sized piece out of a farm in the middle of the country. I think we could agree on that sentiment and if we do we can move to some domain names are more valuable than others, Poker.com (your example) is INHERENTLY worth more than BurkeHansenPoker.com (another example). While you don't mention the values of the domain names you hint that this logic might be flawed with your finite/infinite example.

Secondly, you lump domain tasting in with selling domain names. 'We can only assume domain tasting has been going well for Moniker' - this statement has NOTHING to do with the auction or sales. Moniker auctions off domains held by domain owners. These premium domains aren't being trawled through and found like gems. They were registered many years ago by people who either saw value in the name or got lucky along the way somewhere and bought it. Creation Date: 31-jul-1998 for poker.com this predates 'domain tasting' by a good 2 years.

In conclusion, you throw around a lot of buzz words without really understanding (perhaps you do and just sensationalize your articles for attention?) what you're saying. I am a long time fan of the reg and as a technology news source at LEAST get your facts straight. I can tell when people are making fun and people are ignorant, you fall in the second category.

Kevin Ohashi

Meanwhile, domain squatters are allowed to hold the rest of us off for ransom.

I just tried to register a domain name for a private website (which domain doesn't matter) only to find that someone had already registered it, slapped a "portal" on it with a "this domain up for sale" sign and was asking circa USD8000 for it.

This is ridiculous. It's not as if these people owned the domain name... they lease it - so why are they allowed to just sit on it, renew it, and extort huge amounts of cash from people who DO want to use it for a purpose?

Which just shows that ICANN can't get its head out of its a$$.

"This is ridiculous. It's not as if these people owned the domain name... they lease it - so why are they allowed to just sit on it, renew it, and extort huge amounts of cash from people who DO want to use it for a purpose?"

What gives you any right to decide what is or isn't using a domain name? What if I think your website is a waste and could do something better? Should I automatically have a right to it? Who decides what is best?

Why don't you take your own advice and think about what you're asking for.