Premier may sue over domain name, January 8, 2008

Letter to the Editor published in the Edmonton Journal.

Premier may sue over domain name, January 8, 2008

I would like to clarify some points brought up in the article “Premier may sue over domain name”, January 8, 2008, regarding the registration of edstelmach.ca; specifically comments about Canadian Internet Registration Authority (CIRA) policy.

Dot-ca domains (web names) are issued on a first-come, first-served basis. This policy ensures dot-ca domain names are distributed in a fair, accessible manner to all Canadians. As there may be multiple people sharing the same name we are unable to make judgments about who has a more legitimate usage of the domain name than another. In cases where registered trademarks are at issue, CIRA has a specific policy designed to facilitate resolution of domain name disputes; as edstelmach.ca is a proper name it would not fall under this policy.

In addition, CIRA does not monitor or enforce standards on the content of dot-ca domains. This opens issues of censorship or defining what constitutes acceptable use. There are mechanisms within civil and criminal law, such as libel, slander, hate, or obscenity laws to allow plaintiffs or law enforcement to pursue action against domain holders.

We encourage people who feel their name or identity is of value, such as celebrities and political figures, to be proactive in registering and managing corresponding domain names to ensure that they are not registered by someone else.

For public inquiries, please contact:

Jennifer Austin
Senior Manager, Communications and Marketing
Phone: 613-237-5335 ext. 296
Email: jennifer.austin@cira.ca