[dns-operations] reserved names for gTLDs

[Jim Reid]

On 9 Dec 2014, at 17:12, Randy Bush <randy at psg.com> wrote:

> this is an amusing list.  i can understand EXAMPLE, LOCALHOST, and TEST.
> maybe even WHOIS and WWW.  but the rest sure look as if lawyers wanted
> and got what is in effect a super trademark.

Who cares? The names were ring-fenced some years ago and no doubt now have long had special powers or magic pixie dust associated with them. Whatever the intentions were at the time these strings were put on a reserved list or who put them there doesn't matter. IMO it's beyond pointless discussing that fact further.

AFAIK this list of reserved names has been in every gTLD contract ICANN issued: Appendix 6 IIRC. Anyone wanting to get that list modified is welcome to use the full weight of ICANN's policy making machinery. Knock yourself out. Feel free to form an orderly queue.

I'm somewhat taken aback Randy that you seem surprised that lawyers have somehow got involved in the business of domain name registrations. :-)