[process2-comments] RFC-1

 Name: Bill Callihan Organization: Mail Pro USA Position: Webmaster Tuesday, August 15, 2000 Dear WIPO, It was my understanding that the WIPO was formed to prevent the abuse of domain name possessing coined cybersquatting. This being individuals or companies purchasing domain names of large companies, famous trademarks, or famous celebrities or politicians, etc, for the sole purpose of selling the domain name back to the individual or company at an exorbitant price. I have some inherent problems with this seemingly "righteous purpose" as the objective of the WIPO. This is opposed to the fundamentals of "free enterprise". It would be the same thing as someone purchasing a large tract of land years prior to the land being developed and therefore being a demand for the land. However, a city's growth moves toward that tract of land and the market for it suddenly increases to great proportion. The owner then sells the tract for 500 to 1,000 times the price he paid for the property only to find out that an organization that feels the property is best suited for their needs files a petition for arbitration with an organization that was created to decide these very matters. The complaining company is allowed to choose the judge and the decision is made that the original land speculator must sell the property to the organization that needs are best suited for the property and further he must sell it at the price he paid! Than being said I see the decisions made on these different cases straying far a field from the original purpose. I see decisions made and domain names taken from people who in no way fit the WIPO's defination of "Cybersquatters"!! I see situations where small businesses who have been doing business on the internet and other wise for a substantial period of time having their domain revoked and given to another. They were operating in "good faith" with no intention of getting rich selling the domain name to another. How do you justify that? I do not see the decisions being directed toward their stated goal at all! However, I see another agenda a hidden agenda at work. The large and mighty coming into the game late and flexing their muscles and political influence to obtain the virtual real estate they want even though the come to apply at the 11th hour. They were not willing to risk the time, exposure, and risk that it took to be on the internet in it's infancy but when they are sure it is a gold mine, they are unwilling to play on level ground. This whole thing stinks and in no way renders anything close to fair decisions. Bill Callihan