BOOKMARK
PRINTI look forward to reading this in addition to the FairWinds Weekly News Brief.
Patrick Flaherty
Counsel - Trademarks & Copyrights
Verizon
Welcome to DomainNameStrategy.com
Wed, 10/15/2008 - 08:00 — Josh Bourne and Phil Lodico
When we founded FairWinds Partners in 2006, we were looking to create an objective platform from which we could use our years of industry expertise to advise companies on the best use of the domain name space. Our goal was to help our clients optimize their domain programs in a cost-effective way that would benefit their brands and ensure positive and safe online experiences for Internet users. We typically find that even today more than half of the domains that companies register and renew have no value to them or others.
Now, in addition to providing domain strategy consulting and execution for the world’s leading brands, FairWinds’ role as an industry leader has expanded to include advocacy for brand owner and consumer interests in the domain name space. FairWinds co-founded the nonprofit organization CADNA (the Coalition Against Domain Name Abuse) with several leading brand owners in 2007, and we run its daily operations. Complementary to our work in CADNA, FairWinds promotes awareness and discussion by conducting independent studies, writing informative papers and reporting on the Internet landscape.
In keeping with our mission to serve the best interests of the online community, we have launched this blog to act both as a resource for information and as a tool for discussion. Internet users can depend on domainnamestrategy.com for updates and opinions on the domain name space from FairWinds and other industry specialists, while also using it to post questions, comments and insights of their own.
In short, Domain Name Strategy is the place to find objective and expert discussion on what you need to know about critical subjects such as new TLDs and direct navigation. We hope you will bookmark it, visit it often, and most of all participate in making Domain Name Strategy a better resource for you and others.
The way to a safe and thriving Internet is through the active participation of those who have a vested interest in its development. Consider this blog your platform to discuss new and tested best practices, and proper use and governance of the domain name space.
- Josh and Phil
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Mon, 10/20/2008 - 09:46 — Patrick Flaherty
Congratulations!
Thu, 10/16/2008 - 18:51 — Lane Mortensen
Congrats!
Hey guys, looking forward to reading your posts. I've appreciated the insight I've received from you in the past.
Lane
Wells Fargo
Thu, 10/16/2008 - 17:45 — John Donald
Looking forward to your posts
Thanks, Fairwinds! You bring clarity to the increasingly murky field of domain names.
Thu, 10/16/2008 - 10:27 — Josh Bourne
Response to "Many of your ideas..."
Michelle-
We normally don't display anonymous posts, but yours raises some interesting points. I don’t know if you are a domainer—you don’t seem to be a brand owner—but if the domainer and registrar communities are confused about the same issues that you brought up in your post, we’d like to use this space to clarify a few things.
Let me assure you and the Internet community that FairWinds understands the difference between a domainer and a cybersquatter. FairWinds does not take a stand against legitimate domainers, but rather against cybersquatters who register domain names that are identical or confusingly similar to trademarks with the intention of reselling them at an inflated price or otherwise profiting from them in bad faith. FairWinds’ brokerage services are reserved strictly for unbranded domains, oftentimes sold by brand owners who find that they no longer have a use for them. We would never represent a cybersquatted domain.
As for the brand management services offered by registrars, the primary purpose of a registrar is to sell its products—domain names—meaning there is an inherent conflict of interest. FairWinds is completely independent and objective, which allows us to deliver practical solutions with the best interests of our clients in mind. In cases where the brand owner needs to triple their portfolio, we’ll be the first to point that out. Since our task is to answer the question, “what domain names matter to my brand?” we have the positioning and duty to answer that question accurately, based on fundamental and technical analyses, regardless of the upside or downside to the brand’s registrars.
Wed, 10/15/2008 - 15:11 — Michelle
Many of your ideas should (if
Many of your ideas should (if not are) offered by many brand management registrars. Not sure why trademark holders/brand owners would pay you fees for service they would receive from these registrars. You tend to take a stand that you are against domainers, when I am sure you do offer broker services to them for their generic domains?
ON a positive note, I am glad to see an organization like CADNA set up to reptresent the interests of the IP community.
I would like to you both at more domainer conferences if you are going to educate your clientele about the industry.
Wed, 10/15/2008 - 12:31 — Helen Stanwell-Smith
Great idea
Thanks to Fairwinds for setting this up - sounds like a great forum for brand owners.
Helen Stanwell-Smith
Legal Counsel
Orange Group
Wed, 10/15/2008 - 11:51 — Julie Allen
Kudos to FairWinds
I'm delighted you've added a blog to FairWinds services. I rely on your expert take on events in this rapidly changing arena. Keep up the splendid work!
Wed, 10/15/2008 - 10:44 — Trent Pulver
Congrats and Thank You!
I am looking forward to the daily read. Your insight on the issues we deal with in the domain industry is greatly appreciated.
Thanks!
Trent Pulver
Domain Portfolio Manager
AOL LLC
All comments must be approved before they are made available to the public. We will only approve comments that are directly related to the blog and use appropriate language.
More congrats and thank you.
I love reading the advisory briefs. Straight to the point and address the burning issues regarding Domain Name Management.