Business
wants strong voice in new Internet domain name system
Paris, 28 August 1998
– As the biggest investor in the Internet, business today staked a claim
to be strongly represented on the not-for-profit corporation proposed by the
United States to run the domain name system.
A statement by the International Chamber of Commerce(ICC),
the world business organization, said the business representation should reflect
the trends towards predominantly commercial use of the Internet.
The US proposal is that the new corporation should
be run by private sector Internet stakeholders, an approach that is also supported
by the European Union and Japan. The new corporation has to be ready to take
over the functions of the existing administering organization on 30 September.
ICC Secretary General Maria Livanos Cattaui commented:
"It is essential that business participate fully in the creation and governance
of this new corporation as the future of the Internet domain names system will
have a significant impact on the development of the Internet as a medium for
electronic commerce."
ICC said that any proposals for apportioning representation
must recognize that business that will increasingly be the primary source of
future investment in the Internet. Business will comprise the most significant
market for domain names as companies seek to create an Internet identity and
on-line brand recognition.
In a series of recommendations, ICC said that under
the new domain name system, brand names and trading styles must be protected,
in particular to reduce the scope for fraud and misrepresentations and the risk
of confusion of the public.
"Consumers must have confidence in electronic
transactions through a secure infrastructure and the ability to rely on established
brand identities, trade marks, trade names and corporate reputations as guideposts
of trust and reliability."
As evidence of growing commercial applications
of Internet, ICC cited the growth of the .com domain from over 50% of domains
two years ago to well over 80% today. Maintaining the long-term stability and
utility of the Internet as a navigable medium for users is therefore a primary
goal for business, ICC said.
Principles
for an electronic commerce-friendly domain name system
28 July 1998
Observations
on the US "White Paper" – "Management of Internet Names
and Addresses"
28 August
1998
ICC Commission
on Intellectual Property
ICC
Commission on Telecommunications and Information Technologies
ICC
Roadmap for electronic commerce