Document Type
Article
Abstract
Network Solutions Inc. (“NSI”) and its respective policies are no longer capable of effectively and efficiently managing the Internet. Proper management must now be turned over to an international body that can fairly administer to the needs of Internet users worldwide. However, establishing this new administrative body, whose policies must be created through equal representation of global interest groups, will be no easy task. Not only will a global consensus be difficult to reach, but the element of time is of particular importance as well. With only four months remaining in NSI’s contract, the global Internet community must act expediently.
Accordingly, this essay seeks to address the policy concerns of a new administrative body. By focusing on the failures of NSI’s policies, goals for the new policies should become clear to all. Part I of this paper will provide a brief history on the creation of the Internet. Part II will discuss how the Internet is presently maintained by the U.S. government and its assignment of certain U.S. parties to facilitate this maintenance. Part III will explain the role of NSI and the effect of its ability to implement policy decisions. Part IV will discuss the Registration Policy and the impracticability of NSI’s continued monopolization over this registration process. Part V will provide examples of the various domestic disputes that are direct results of this policy. Part VI will examine the similar cases in the international arena. Part VII will then discuss the effect of NSI’s Dispute Resolution Policy and how it has been applied to Domain Name holders. Part VIII will share some of the recent commentary regarding possible replacements for NSI. Part IX will present the author’s opinion that NSI has proven to be a wholly inadequate service. NSI’s Registration Policy and Dispute Resolution Policy have failed to demonstrate that they can fairly and efficiently serve the needs of the Internet and Intellectual Property communities in the years ahead. These failures, however, should lend valuable insight into prospective policy changes that must be made soon.
Recommended Citation
Brian Berlandi,
"It's Our Way or the Highway": Americans Ruling Cyberspace - A Look Back at Bad Policy and a Look Ahead at New Policy,
3 J. Tech. L. & Pol'y
(1997).
Available at: https://scholarship.law.ufl.edu/jtlp/vol3/iss2/2