ICANN Tethered
By Juliana Gruenwald and Rory J. O'Connor, Interactive Week
February 12, 2001 6:52 AM ET 

To millions of users around the globe, creation of the Internet
Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers two and a half years ago
signaled - for better or worse - a bold experiment in governing for the
Internet age. 

Its creator, Clinton adviser Ira Magaziner, proudly touted the private,
international nonprofit group as one that would take the government out
of the Internet business and put tough new policy and technical
decisions where they belonged - in the hands of Internet companies and
users around the world. 

http://www.zdnet.com/intweek/stories/news/0,4164,2684111,00.html

DOT-UK CONSIDERING REFORMS TO DOMAIN DISPUTE RESOLUTION
Nominet, the dot-uk administrator, is considering a number
of reforms to its domain name dispute resolution process.
The proposed rules would feature a two stage process in
which the parties would enter mediation for the two weeks.
If unsuccessful, the case would be referred to an
arbitrator.  Information on the proposals can be found at
http://www.nominet.org.uk/ref/drs-review.html
Media coverage at
http://www.newsbytes.com/news/01/161773.html


CHINA TO RESTRICT SALES OF CHINESE LANGUAGE DOMAINS
The Chinese government has issued a public notice
restricting the sale of Chinese language domain names to
authorized Chinese companies.  The move is an attempt to
counter registration of multi-lingual domains offered by
Verisign/NSI.
<http://australianit.news.com.au/common/storyPage/0,3811,1680684%255E442,00.html

Place names set to share the .au space
Melbourne IT is about to lift an unenforceable ban on generic and
geographic names.
http://www.it.fairfax.com.au/industry/20010212/A21460-2001Feb12.html