US Trade Office Wants ICANN and Governments To Help Stamp Out Online Counterfeit Goods
A report from the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) is critical of registrars that have allowed domain names to be registered and used in the distribution of unauthorised copyright-protected content. And it is urging governments and ICANN to get involved to address the problem.
According to the report, one respondent identified several registrars that have apparently refused requests to lock or suspend domain names used to sell suspected counterfeit pharmaceuticals to consumers worldwide. While this is conduct is a threat to brand owners, it also presents a public health challenge, and requires a coordinated response by governments and a variety of private sector stakeholders.
According to 2012 report from the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy, an estimated 96 percent of online pharmacies targeting US consumers are operating in violation of applicable US law and standards.
The report also cites a World Trade Organisation report estimating 50 percent of websites worldwide that hide their physical address are selling illicit pharmaceuticals, including those labelled with counterfeit trademarks. The website www.LegitScript.com has reviewed over 40,000 online drug sellers, but found fewer than 400 to be legitimate. Studies have found that counterfeit anti-cancer, anti-HIV/AIDS , and other medications are not only ineffective, but in some cases may contain toxic or deadly adulterants, such as rat poison.
With relatively few lawful sources amidst a sea of harmful ones, the public faces a substantial risk when navigating these online pharmaceutical markets. In addition to the public health and safety risks, there is also economic harm. Illegal online pharmaceutical sellers can generate significant revenues each month, diverting income from legitimate innovative and generic pharmaceutical manufacturers , and depriving governments of tax revenues from legitimate sales.
The USTR says registrars can play a critical public safety role in the internet ecosystem. Ignoring that role, or acting affirmatively to facilitate public harm, is of great concern. One of the registrars nominated in response to USTR’s Federal Register Request, Tucows.com, appears in the List of companies of concern and is an example of this concern. The USTR is urging trading partner governments and ICANN to investigate and address this very serious problem.
But Tucows denies it is implicated in the problem. The registrar told Reuters ‘it took down dozen of sites every day but unlike some competitors, it considered all complaints carefully to ensure they were justified.’
“We want to make sure that our registrants are protected and respected as well as making sure there are not bad actors on our system, and that requires striking a balance on a daily basis,” said Graeme Bunton, Tucows manager of public policy.
February 2015 Highest Reported Domain Name Sales
NL.com was the highest selling domain name in February 2015. The domain name changed hands for $575,000 via Heritage Auction.
Here are the 20 highest reported domain name sales in February 2015:
1. NL.com $575,000 Heritage Auctions
2. Rangers.com $375,000
3. Heika.com $300,000
4. Werk.com $250,000
5. ErectileDysfunction.com $241,000
6. Shisha.com $190,000
7. Amber.com $180,000
8. Classic.com $172,500
9. MyMeeting.com $164,100
10. HQB.com $160,000
11.tie Rapunzel.com $150,000
11.tie Timeless.com $150,000
11.tie Response.com $150,000
14.tie ClearCare.com $140,000
14.tie W8.com $140,000
16. Anker.com $130,000
17. 8.co $115,000
18. Move.org $120,000
19. Plethora.com $105,000
20. Gang.com $100,000
NL.COM Wins Weekly Sales List at $575,000
NL.COM,sold for $575,000,topped Domain Name Journal sales list of reported domain names for the week,ending March 1,2015.
NameJet had a great week in the sales chart,taking 150 of the top 20 positions .Correspondingly,HeritageAuctions took only six of the top 20 positions .
.COM dominated once again the list,with 18 of the top 20 positions.
Here are the top 20 positions for the week ending March 1,2015 :
1. NL.com $575,000
2. Classic.com $172,500
3. 8.co $115,000
4. Buying.com $69,200
5. SIE.com $27,600
6. YRY.com $25,022
7. Xixia.com $19,488
8. ZIC.com $18,400
9. EZPR.com $14,500
10. QUK.com $14,301
11. Legend.net $13,000
12. NewLogic.com $12,600
13. 0328.com $12,000
14. Yuchu.com $11,904
15. GQT.com $11,800
16. Boho.com $11,500
17. NDQ.com $11,209
18. FOJ.com $11,200
19. E-Comm.com $11,100
20. IUZ.com $11,001
ICANN : Upcoming ICG Calls
The IANA Stewardship Transition Coordination Group (ICG) has scheduled its thirteenth and fourteenth conference calls:
ICG Call # 13 – Wednesday, 11 March at 12:00-13:00 UTC (time converter here)
ICG Call # 14 – Wednesday, 25 March at 20:00-21:00 UTC (time converter here)
The community is welcome to attend by way of a listen-only mode Virtual Meeting Room through which audio of the call will be streamed. Translations will be available through relevant Adigo Bridge dial-in numbers and Conference ID codes.
A list of country dial-in numbers can be found here. Should there be no appropriate dial-in number for an interested participant, the ICG Secretariat in conjunction with ICANN will provide a dial-out service to that individual. Correspondingly, language service Conference ID numbers are listed below:
Français – Conference ID: 75929475
Español – Conference ID: 68385764
لعربية – Conference ID: 825702
Pусский – Conference ID: 345720
العربية – Conference ID: 82855066
Português – Conference ID: 759752
Participants who are interested in an English line but are unable to join by way of the Virtual Meeting Room may request a dial-out service.
For more information about the ICG and the IANA Stewardship Transition, please visit the IANA Stewardship Transition Coordination Group (ICG) Website.
The announcement was sourced from :
https://www.icann.org/news/announcement-2-2015-03-04-en
