Hmmmm... break the ISOC monopoly on ngo-oriented gTLDs? :) Besides, .org is not for NGOs only. Anyone with a valid international credit card can have it. It sounds as if the .ngo proposal is for a kind of sTLD (meaning that you have to prove your non-profit status in order to get it). frt rgds --c.a. Milton L Mueller wrote: > What does this domain do that .org doesn't? > >> -----Original Message----- >> From: Non-Commercial User Constituency [mailto:NCUC- >> [log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Rebecca MacKinnon >> Sent: Saturday, July 25, 2009 6:02 AM >> To: [log in to unmask] >> Subject: [NCUC-DISCUSS] New domain name .ngo would be for charities only >> >> FYI, see article below. After the London consultation, Abraxas >> Partners and Verisign held an invitation-only seminar for people in >> the NGO sector who might want to consider applying to run a new gTLD. >> They also appear to be helping Article 25 to set up a new .ngo domain. >> Some of their materials - in PDF and PPT - attached. Not sure if this >> list-serv does attachments to copying to Robin for further forwarding. >> >> Best, >> Rebecca >> >> ----- >> >> http://thirdsector.co.uk/news/Article/922487/New-domain-name-ngo- >> charities/ >> >> New domain name .ngo would be for charities only >> >> By Kaye Wiggins, Third Sector Online, 23 July 2009 >> >> Human rights charity Article 25 proposes internet scheme to be funded >> by philanthropists >> >> Human rights charity Article 25 has proposed a consortium of charities >> to run a new internet domain name that would be available only to >> not-for-profit groups. >> >> The charity wants the proposed consortium to raise $185,000 (£112,000) >> and bid for a .ngo domain because it says the .org address is open to >> abuse by fraudulent groups. >> >> Its suggestion follows an announcement from internet regulatory body >> Icann that from 2010 onwards any organisation will be allowed to bid >> to run new internet domains. >> >> Victoria Harris, chief executive of Article 25, toldThird Sector >> Online her organisation wanted to put together a consortium of >> charities that would ask philanthropists and corporate firms for >> funding to bid for and run the new domain. >> >> "Lack of regulation has meant that commercial entities, individuals >> and even professional criminals have been able to register websites >> with .org suffixes quite legally, with no check on their identities or >> intentions," she said. >> >> "In order to have a web address ending in .ngo, a group would have to >> prove to the consortium that it was a genuine charity. Once consumers >> realise that legitimate charitable organisations are regulated by the >> .ngo domain name, the battle against fraud will start to be won." >> >> Article 25 will hold meetings with interested charities and umbrella >> groups to discuss a framework for the scheme over the next few months. >> >> -- >> Rebecca MacKinnon >> Open Society Fellow | Co-founder, GlobalVoicesOnline.org >> Assistant Professor, Journalism & Media Studies Centre, University of Hong >> Kong >> >> UK: +44-7759-863406 >> USA: +1-617-939-3493 >> HK: +852-6334-8843 >> Mainland China: +86-13710820364 >> >> E-mail: [log in to unmask] >> Blog: http://RConversation.blogs.com >> Twitter: http://twitter.com/rmack >> Friendfeed: http://friendfeed.com/rebeccamack > >