Re the domain aucition, Randy Bush writes:
My personal opinion is that the IANA should recommend that the InterNIC simply unregister the names.
A quick perusal of the Internic policy for domain names states that "... as an express condition and material inducement of the grant of an applicant's ('Applicant') request to register a Domain Name, Applicant represents and warrants as follows: . . (b) Applicant has a bona fide intention to use the Domain Name on a regular basis on the Internet; . . " Interpretation is left to the reader. I couldn't find much else that speaks to this issue. While I'm in agreement with the sentiment to unregister the names, unless there has actually been a violation of a formal agreement, I think it would be a grave mistake for the Internic to do so. It would be a quick ride to the bottom of a very slippery slope. mb