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Sounds like one of the students is about to get the ole' Drexel Shaft.

VeriSign has revoked the certificates, and they are listed in VeriSign's current Certificate Revocation List (CRL). However, because VeriSign's code-signing certificates do not specify a CRL Distribution Point (CDP), it is not possible for any browser's CRL-checking mechanism to download the VeriSign CRL and use it. Microsoft is developing an update that rectifies this problem. The update package includes a CRL containing the two certificates, and an installable revocation handler that consults the CRL on the local machine, rather than attempting to use the CDP mechanism.

It seems that VeriSign really dropped the ball here by first not properly verifying the submitter, then by not providing a way of getting a revokation out in the case they made a mistake. This is just poor planning overall.

Not that I'm surprised, they also own Network Solutions... birds of a feather.

What you're describing isn't infinite domains. What you're describing is similar in concept to the proposal by the gTLD-MoU, where you have such TLDs as .firm and .shop, and NSI's suggestion of .banc. What youre describing is a rigid system where you have to actually be doing a certain thing to get a certain domain (like selling cars in order to be eligible for a .cars) domain.

This is a more acceptable solution, IMHO.

Paul.

Paul.

I guess you could argue that "other use" prevents spamming, but that seems unneccessarily broad, especially when coupled with the repackaging and dissemination bit. Specifically dissemination - that means that no-one has the right to redistribute this information without NSI's permission.

Yeah, this license might have an effect on spam, but its effect on the availiabilty of the information in general is chilling.

Thinking this revised "license" will help stop spam is a pipe dream -- Network Solutions routinely sends spam to the contact e-mail addresses in its database. And since when has licensing or law stopped spammers?

Does anyone remember the last time Network Solutions tried acting in the customer's best interest? Information about domains' last-updated dates was removed from the whois database. Woo, that really stopped the domain hoarding, didn't it? Of course, they must have figured out it didn't do squat -- the information is back. If Network Solutions really wanted to help "the problem," they'd require payment before domain activation. That would at least curb hoarders who register a domain, sit on it for a month, let it be dropped for non-payment, and start the cycle over. That's akin to holding a domain hostage -- the hoarder hasn't paid for it, and it wastes NetSol's resources. You'd think they'd act in their own best interests on this one...

Anyway, my guesses about the new license:

1. Network Solutions figured out they have a vast database of e-mail addresses of people who have registered one or more domains and will probably register again. ("Hey, maybe if we spam our existing customers they won't defect to those rogue registrars! It's not like they like us, anyway...")
2. Network Solutions now has competition. It would really suck if one of those other registrars could freely use the information in Network Solutions' "proprietary" database, wouldn't it? ("We're not going to be outdone by these new guys... They're not even U.S. Government-sanctioned monopolies!")

The writing has been on the wall for a long time. The big change that should have tipped everyone off was when www.internic.net was essentially replaced with www.netsol.com, a site where Network Solutions can also peddle its domain parking/web hosting/e-mail services. I'm sure a bunch of clueless upper-management types go there to register a domain, see all the stuff about foreign terms like "nameservers," "DNS," "content hosting," etc., and then see where Network Solutions can handle it all for them! (For a fee, of course.) Just then, the sound of a cash register ding can be heard at Network Solutions' office, and an angel gets set on fire.

Just business as usual with "the dot screw-the-customer people."

Perhaps this is what you should expect a sample report to look like. All the information below is available at no charge, from public sources, over the Internet.

NETWORK SOLUTIONS INC.

Registered URL: http://www.netsol.com

Stock Ticker: NSOL

Address:
505 Huntmar Park Drive
Herndon, VA 20170

EXECUTIVES AND DIRECTORS:

Michael A. Daniels

Position: Chairman of the Board, Acting Chief Executive Officer

Age: 53

Class A Shares as of 3/12/1999: 29,560

Bio: Has served as Chairman of the Board of Network Solutions since 1995 and as Acting Chief Executive Officer of Network Solutions since November 1998. Since 1986, Mr. Daniels has served in various positions with SAIC and has served as a Sector Vice President and Sector Manager for the Technology Applications Sector of SAIC since 1993. Prior thereto, Mr. Daniels served as a Group Senior Vice President of SAIC from 1991 to 1993. Mr. Daniels received a B.S. and an M.A. from Northwestern University and received a J.D. from the University of Missouri School of Law.

Robert J. Korzeniewski

Position: Chief Financial Officer, Acting Chief Operating Officer

Age: 42

Class A Shares as of 3/12/1999: 25,842

1998 Sal: $165,462, Bon: $90,000, plus other compensation including options

Bio: Has served as Chief Financial Officer of Network Solutions since March 1996 and as Acting Chief Operating Officer of Network Solutions since November 1998. From 1987 until October 1997, Mr. Korzeniewski held a variety of senior financial positions with SAIC and served as a Corporate Vice President for Administration of SAIC from 1989 until 1997. Mr. Korzeniewski is a Certified Public Accountant and received a B.S. in Business Administration from Salem State College.

Bruce L. Chovnick

Position: Senior Vice President and General Manager, Internet Technology Services

Age: 39

Class A Shares as of 3/12/1999: 4,294

1998 Sal: $181,730, Bon: $65,000, plus other compensation including options

Resides: 19209 Autumn Maple Ln, Gaithersburg, MD 20879, MONTGOMERY CO
Residential Phone: 301-977-3776

Bio: Has served as Senior Vice President and General Manager, Internet Technology Services of Network Solutions since September 1997. From October 1993 until September 1997, Mr. Chovnick served in various executive leadership roles with General Electric Information Services, Inc., an electronic commerce company, and, most recently, he served as Vice President of its Global Internet Solutions business. Prior to that he was a Senior Manager of IBM Corporation, a computer systems, software, networking systems and storage devices manufacturer, from January 1984 to September 1993. Mr. Chovnick received a B.S. in Computer Science from the University of Florida.

Jonathan W. Emery

Position: Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary

Age: 47

Bio: has served as Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of Network Solutions since December 1997. From 1986 until 1997, Mr. Emery held a variety of positions with Tambrands Inc., a consumer products company, most recently as Vice President, Senior Counsel and Assistant Secretary. Prior thereto, from 1977 until 1986, Mr. Emery was an Associate with the law firm of Brown & Wood. Mr. Emery received a B.A. from Trinity College, Hartford, Connecticut, and a J.D. from Boston University School of Law.

David H. Holtzman

Position: Senior Vice President, Engineering

Age: 42

Class A Shares: 13,704

1998 Sal: $157,615, Bon: $70,000, plus other compensation including options

Resides: 904 Monroe St, Herndon, VA 20170, FAIRFAX CO
1/1/1999 Assessed Value: $270,660
Most Recent Sale Date: 6/11/1998 @ $313,500
Residential Phone: 703-481-9050

Bio: Has served as Senior Vice President, Engineering of Network Solutions since February 1997. From September 1995 until January 1997, he served as Business Development Manager, Development Manager and Chief Scientist, Internet Information Technology (InfoMarket) group of IBM Corporation, a computer systems, software, networking systems and storage devices manufacturer. Prior thereto, from May 1992 to 1994, he served as a Senior Associate at Booz-Allen & Hamilton, a management consulting firm. Mr. Holtzman received a B.A. in Philosophy from the University of Pittsburgh and a B.S. in Computer Science from the University of Maryland.

Donald N. Telage

Position: Senior Vice President, Internet Relations and Special Projects

Age: 54

Class A Shares: 39,488

1998 Sal: $188,999, Bon: $85,000, plus other compensation including options

Resides: 2110 Highcourt Ln UNIT 203, Herndon, VA 20170, FAIRFAX CO
Co-owned with TELAGE SUSAN M
1/1/1999 Assessed Value: $103,600
Most Recent Sale Date: 3/28/1995 @ $116,400
Residential Phone: 703-787-9438

Bio: Has served as a director of Network Solutions since May 1995 and as Senior Vice President, Internet Relations and Special Programs of Network Solutions since February 1997. Dr. Telage also served as President and Chief Operating Officer of Network Solutions from May 1995 to February 1997. Since 1986, Dr. Telage has served in various positions with SAIC and has served as a Group Senior Vice President of SAIC since 1993. Prior thereto, Dr. Telage served as a Corporate Vice President of SAIC from 1992 to 1993. Dr. Telage received his B.A. in Psychology from the University of Connecticut and received an M.A. and a Ph.D. in Mathematics from Clark University.

Douglas L. Wolford

Position: Senior Vice President, Marketing and Sales

Age: 37

Bio: Has served as Senior Vice President, Marketing and Sales of Network Solutions since December 1997. From December 1994 to November 1997, Mr. Wolford was employed by General Electric Information Services, Inc., an electronic commerce company, during which tenure he progressed to the position of General Manager Marketing (Americas). Prior thereto, he was employed from March 1989 to December 1994 by the National Academy of Engineering, most recently as Director, Development and Public Affairs. Mr. Wolford received a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from North Carolina State University, a Certificat de Langue Francaise from Sorbonne University and an M.B.A. in Marketing from the University of Maryland.

Charles A. Gomes

Position: Vice President, Customer Programs

Age: 52

Resides: 17307 Bighorn Ct, Round Hill, VA 20141, LOUDOUN CO
Residential Phone: 540-338-9292

Bio: Has served as Vice President, Customer Programs of Network Solutions since March 1998. Mr. Gomes has been part of Network Solutions' management team since 1984. From October 1995 to March 1998, Mr. Gomes served as Director of Customer Programs. Prior to assuming his current responsibilities, Mr. Gomes managed various programs and projects at Network Solutions involving delivery of technical services to various federal and state government agencies. Mr. Gomes received a B.A. in Mathematics from the University of California, Davis, and a Master's of Education from Boston University.

Michael G. Voslow

Position: Vice President, Finance and Treasurer

Age: 39

Resides: 1310 Alps Dr, Mc Lean, VA 22102, FAIRFAX CO
Co-owned with VOSLOW REBECCA A R
1/1/1999 Assessed Value: $398,765
Most Recent Sale Date: 12/3/1991 @ $431,000
Residential Phone: 703-442-7891

Bio: Has served as Vice President, Finance and Treasurer since March 1998 and as Treasurer of Network Solutions since January 1997. From January 1995 to January 1997, Mr. Voslow was Vice President and Corporate Controller for MAXM Systems Corporation, a worldwide provider of computer software and professional services. Prior to joining MAXM, Mr. Voslow was a Senior Manager at Price Waterhouse where he served from August 1983 to January 1995. Mr. Voslow is a Certified Public Accountant and received a B.S. in Business Administration from Miami University (Ohio) and an M.B.A. in Finance from Duke University.

Karla Leavelle

Position: Director, Human Resources

Resides: 4610 Gramlee Cir, Fairfax, VA 22032, FAIRFAX CO
Co-owned with GRIENDLING ROBERT J
1/1/1999 Assessed Value: $256,250
Most Recent Sale Date: 6/30/1995 @ $245,000
Residential Phone: 703-978-4468

I'm writing in regards to an article I've just read on news.com concerning your intention of selling business info from the InterNic database (http://www.news.com/News/Item/0,4,0-35228,00.html ?st.ne.fd.mdh).

I do not recall ever seeing any mention of this ability of yours to do this with the information I have supplied to you over the past few years. As it stands now, I am offically requesting for you to "Opt Out" my information from this planned availability as soon as possible.

In instances when I have found this practice occuring with other companies I've dealt with they've assured me that they would remove me from the databases of solicitaion lists they were using. I supplied my infomation to you with payment to obtain a service that I had no option but to use; meaning, I wasn't *giving* you my info for a free t-shirt or for the ability to win a prize. If I choose to do that I am aware of what the information is used for.

I am cc'ing a copy of this letter to my Representatives in Congress (you don't have to look it up...it's NY State) and hope that you reconsider not offering the ability to get removed from this proposed "service".

Just another A.C.