October 22, 2003 -- (WEB HOST INDUSTRY REVIEW) -- The lawsuit filed against ICANN (icann.org) over the implementation of VeriSign's (verisign.com) proposed Wait Listing Service (WLS) is set to go to trial on December 16, according to Internet and technology laywer Bret Fausett's icann.Blog (lextext.com/icann), a well-known destination for ICANN news and discussion.
The lawsuit was filed earlier this summer by domain name registrars Go Daddy (godaddy.com), Doster (dotster.com) and eNom (enom.com), who filed a complaint requesting a temporary restraining order and other relief against ICANN to block the implementation of the domain name Wait Listing Service. The WLS aims to create a single waiting list for expiring domain names.
Fausett reported that ICANN and VeriSign continued to have "significant issues separating them" in the negotiations over the WLS. According to Fausett, ICANN has been asked to consider putting off the implementation of WLS until after the trial date. ICANN is expected to respond the request. If it agrees, the preliminary injunction, currently under advisement, will not be necessary, and if it disagrees, an opinion on the preliminary injunction will be issued in the coming week.
Domain registrars allege the WLS is anti-competitive and will raise the cost and add bureaucracy to the acquiring of domain names.
