First for the good news. This is our last ICA post for a while.
We started several weeks ago appealing for funds. A week ago Friday we announced a fund matching program. A few days later we took a look to see who was on the ICA membership list, and then on Friday we posted the great results from our matching Fund program.
Now to complete the cycle, we look at the companies and indivudals, that are not on the ICA membership list published several days ago.
Let’s start with companies in the news this week.
In case you missed it, Skenzo.com, one of the largest domain parking companies, announced that they were receiving a “significant minority investment” from the Ashmore group. Although no figure was disclosed, the press release made it clear that the Ashmore Group has over 36.5 Billion under management, so we assume the amount Skenzo received was in the millions, if not the tens of millions.
Demand Media also got more funding this week. It was announced several days ago that Demand Media, owner of enom.com and part owner of NameJet.com and various other internet properties, got its fourth round of funding, this time for $35 Million, for a total of $355 Million since being launched in March 2006. Demand Media also announced it bought a social media tools site, Pluck, for around 67 Million.
Of course what both of these companies have in common, is not only that they were in the news this week for raising millions of dollars, but neither is a member of the ICA.
It is unfathomable to us how these companies, so heavily invested in the domain space, after receiving tens of millions in capital, can’t shake out $50K to become a board member of the ICA,
While our company that has received no millions in capital infusion, can find $35K to contribute.
If you were involved as a principal of these companies or as an investor, wouldn’t you want to be seen as a leader in the field? Wouldn’t you want a board seat in the only organization dedicated to defend the rights of domain owners??
Name Media, owner of buydomains.com and afternic.com, and owning well over 600,000 domains of their own, is also not a member of the ICA. This company filed last year, with the SEC, its intention to raise 172 Million in the public market, yet they have not contributed a dime to the ICA.
Marchex, a public company with hundreds of thousands of domain names, is not a member of the ICA. Marchex as of the close of the market on Friday has a market cap of 413 Million dollars, but has not helped fund the ICA.
Other public companies that make substantial revenue directly or indirectly from domains that are not on the membership roll include Google, Yahoo, VeriSign, Register.com, Dark Blue Sea, and Live Current.
Even banks.com, another public company, which owns IRS.com, which is no doubt one is one of the domains that gave impetuous for the Snowe Bill to be introduced, has not given anything to the ICA.
Now it could be that one or more of these companies is working on their own, through their own lobbyist(s) for the benefit of the industry, but they have not made it public. Actually I can’t remember seeing a public statement released from any of these companies concerning the Snowe Bill.
Many major domain Parking companies are also completely absent from the ICA list of members including Fabulous, which also owns over 500,000 domains, Namedrive, Premium Traffic, and Parked.com
Other major players in the domain industry also missing from the list are Pool.com, which operates drop domain auctions, Godaddy.com, the world’s largest registrar and Domaintools.com which hosts the domain roundtable show.
Speaking of domaintools.com, you may remember that Jay did a post in July of last year entitled “Millionaire Domainers”. The post was supposed to be a “list of everyone in this industry that has made a million dollars from domain names”
Now here is the disclaimer. This is not my list. I did not prepare it or participate in any way in it preparation. I do not know if all or for that matter if any of these people made a Million Dollars from Domains. I do not know many of the people on the list personally. However, I know the post has been up for some 8 months and if I was included on the list incorrectly, I would have notified domaintools.com by now and asked them to remove my name.
In any event, I have gone through this list and found these people listed, who are not a members of the ICA and whose company is not a member of the ICA. If in fact someone has become a millionaire through the domain name industry, it is inexcusable that they haven’t given back to protect the industry that made them a millionaire.
Bill Mushkin (Name.com)
Bob Parsons (GoDaddy)
Bruce Tonkin (Melbourne IT)
Chad Folkening (eCorp)
Chris Ambler (eNom)
Chris Maroney (Original Afternic)
Dan Warner (Fabulous)
Dean Shannon (Fabulous)
Eric Rice (Bulk Register)
George Decarlo (Dotster)
Gregory J. Manriquez (NameDrive)
Jay Westerdal (DomainTools)
John Kane (eNom)
Jon Whelan (Original Afternic)
Joyce Lin (007 Names)
Michael Arrington (Pool.com)
Michael Kovatch (IPhone.com)
Michelle Miller (BuyDomains)
Mike B (Weblog.com)
Mike Mann (BuyDomains)
Paul Stahura (eNom)
Peter Forman (Register.com)
Pinky Brand (idNames, Network Solutions, Arcemus)
Ray King (Snapnames)
Richard Forman (Register.com)
Rob Hall (Pool.com)
Roland Chemtob (Branded Holding Group)
Russ Goodwin (Naugus Limited)
Sean Muller (eNom)
Taryn Naidu (Pool.com)
Thunayan K. Alghanim (FMA.com)
Vern Jurovich (Proformainc.com)
Will Pemble (Web.com)
If all the people on this list joined at the level I joined and the companies listed in this post joined at the level that Frank, Rick, Sedo and Oversee did, the ICA funding problems would be substantially over.
If any company or person listed in this post want to take the time to explain why they are not a member of the ICA or what they are doing on their own to protect domainers and the industry, I will give them all the space they want to do so.
In the meantime if you know any of these people or do any business with them, please drop them a note an urge them to join the ICA at their appropriate level.
Let them know that there joining and participating in protecting all of our interests is important to you.
Very good post there.
However the problem is, I don’t have their personal contact, neither have I met any of them in real life, neither have I been for any TRAFFIC conference.
Thus I urge those who have met or know these people in real life to get the word out.
Jason
You can contact a lot of these companies directly
Here you go:
http://www.marchex.com/aboutus/contactus.html
http://namemedia.com/about-us/contact-us/
http://demandmedia.com/contactus.asp
http://www.livecurrent.com/contact.php
https://secure.fabulous.com/?formcode%5Bobjective%5D=contactus&formcode%5Bregistrytime%5D=1206920062&formcode%5Bcertificate%5D=a486caf08d7e31ce9e531402e6f1d32c
http://www.skenzo.com/contactus/?PHPSESSID=d09b7f4a8af043c6e7a9691eb4a25213
http://www.banks.com/site/banks/html/contact.html
http://parked.com/contact/
http://www.domaintools.com/info/
Name Drve:
2141 Wisconsin Ave., Suite C-2
Washington, DC 20007
585 672 5108
CEO: Gregory J. Manriquez
Premium Traffic:
http://www.ddc.com/contact.php
I noticed last week peeps saying they had joined but were not on the member list…I believe the list is being updated soon…still, a cool post here…a little pressure never hurt and I’m in your camp on this…if even half these type people/companies joined up it would a huge deal.
NOT your business- how dare you publish this list
Let me outline a few possible reasons why there was and perhaps is still some seeming reluctance to join the ICA.
First, ICA got off to a rocky start. On its board sat a company long known to have obvious trademark infringing names. That company since got sued. Such practice was EXACTLY the reason that brought on the corporate opposition to the domain name business in the first place. As a result, many individuals and companies were understandably angry and reluctant to be associated with a company like that on its board. That initial mistake in judgment had implications that cannot be ignored.
Second, neither individuals, nor companies are going to be brow beaten by some people who have either engaged trademark infringement or smeared pornography across branded domain names, another reason that brought on justifiable corporate anger and unity to fight domain name holders today. This audience has a longer memory, is more informed, more cautious, more skeptical, in many cases more ethical, and more independent than some give it credit for. The current tone is likely driving more people away from joining than it is driving people to join the ICA.
Third, capital infusion is not free money. Outside funding brings expectations and control by shareholders. Those shareholders are in part now responsible for a company’s decision and participation in any lobbying effort.
Fourth, the ICA list of members is not up-to-date so the individuals you scorn publicly may in fact be members or even donated as unlisted contributors.
The ICA has done very well lately, it appears to be very well led by very credible and honorable people. It has come a long way in establishing its credibility as a legitimate power to fight larger corporate greed and clearly we need to constructively focus on the main objective of preserving the integrity of current trademark law and the legitimacy of generic domain names. It needs our support, that is very clear. Objectively, the ICA should be supported by anyone who holds domain names. But outcasting non-joining individuals or corporations is counter-productive to your own objective. You owe your readers better and you owe many of them an apology.
Yun YE
Its all our business.
Our collective failure to have a trade group allowed VeriSign to push a rake hike down everyone necks, one we are all going to pay for the rest of our domain lives.
If the Snowe bill or some other similar legislation is allowed to pass because of non-support then I lose, we all lose.
I say to you sir, how dare you be involved in a business that put over 100+ million dollars in your pocket and not give the ICA one dime to protect this industry from attack.
Why do you think people give money to their schools well after they graduate?
To give back.
To give back to support the institutions who gave to them.
This is only right.
Yun Ye, Black, … You cannot come and complaint that Mike is not acting correctly publishing this list.
First this list of people who made a fortune domaining was already public.
No secret is revealed here.
Second, Mike is trying as better he can to shake up domainers about the ICA cause.
Maybe it’s not the better way but I think his heart is speaking here, after seeing how these millionaires don’t want to help the industry that build them.
When people act alone and egoistly things don’t change.
It’s sad that the ones that should show the example are simply acting egoistly.
You are not alone Mike, I endorse your post.
Mr. Black
I agree the ICA got off to a rocky start.
We are aware of the problems you state,
We did not join at the beginning.
We did not join until late last year until these problems were worked out.
That was then and this is now.
We cannot go on unrepresented because some questionable or bad decisions were made years ago.
The list of people who are included here as non-contributors was run through the ICA before publications.
Anyone who contributed funds, including those who asked not to been identified were removed, including late donors and anonymous donors.
I understand that capital infusion is not money that can be wasted and has to be accounted to the shareholders. However we are talking about contributing to the only organization which represents the domain industry,which these companies are a part of.
We are also taking about a 50K contribution compared to 355 million dollars raised in one case and tens of millions in other cases.
Mike,
Can you quickly clarify for all, even though I am sure it is in the ICA member agreement…are the “dues and contributions” a 1-time event or annual – for membership in particular? What is the “term” of each contribution?
It may make a difference in people’s minds. Thanks.
Many organizations get off to a rocky start. Associated Cities was one of them. I believe that Associated Cities is now one of the best domain organizations on the planet, but the AC my brother and I joined in 2004 was quite flawed and not the one it is today.
People evolve, businesses evolve. From where and when ICA started, it is today a necessary organization that has the capability to defend our interests and right many future wrongs. It deserves the support of any person or company involved in the business of domaining.
You will not Unite by alienating people. I wish you would have thought this out. Too late now.
Correct Jeff.
Mr Berkens, your objective is to get people to join and contribute to the ICA. Great. But your method to achieve that objective by trying to shame them into doing so is far less effective than courting, inviting, and cogently convincing them in a non-combative manner.
Mr Castello, agreed. One must understand the reason for past reluctance, that is all. Clearly, that reason is not there now, but its consequences are evident. The past cannot be undone, but must serve as a lesson to be peerless from this point on.
Jeff/ Mr. Black
We are not alienating anyone, they alienated themselves, but not joining the one group that represents our industry.
The ICA was not formed last week or last month or last year.
Fights we needed to take up as a united group also just did not arise last week, last month or last year.
There has been plenty of time given for people to step forward.
I am sure Michael Collins will tell you he has spend a couple of years “courting, inviting, and cogently convincing” all of the major corporations listed herein and that obviously has not worked.
Our objectives are the same–increase the potential and power of the ICA. My last post was merely intended to assuage the possibly now permanently alienated individuals and companies to join the ICA despite the tone of the initial post. Unfortunately, a “shame them into joining strategy” only reinforces the stubbornness status quo. Frustration and emotion detracted from your objective and needlessly sacrificed influence the blog could have on the industry.
Past attempts not worked? The answer is to continue to try, improve the rationale, etc, not suddenly adopt a mafia or Tonya Harding knee-cap approach. Industry professionals are certainly smart enough on that point so it needs no further explanation. For the called out individuals and companies, please consider supporting the ICA despite being unjustifiably cast in a negative light. Your support is gracioiusly requested by many and very much needed.
Thank you.
I’m also concerned about a sort of witch hunt that’s going on where folks are so concerned with who’s on and not on “The List” ™ as they get published over and over again. I’m going to just encourage people to support their industry, put a banner up on my blog and work on my business. In my opinion this is not the best face/attitude to show new(er) people, the newbs, etc. who are already on the fence about joining.
I am also going to request anonymity from the ICA, as soon as I join “The List” ™, because it’s really nobody’s business but mine and the ICA’s what my membership status is. I hope they will allow this.
Don’t read so much into the OP…sometimes a little guilt and peer pressure works…many high ups in society give to causes as PR for themselves…covering all bases here is no big deal.
Citrus
Yes you can contribute anonymously to the ICA.
This is the first time we have published a list or any name of someone who has not contributed, so I don’t know what you mean when you say they get published over and over again.
Greg
Membership dues are paid annually.
If you want to make a one time contribution like the 10K match we just offered, that would be a one time deal.
I want to donate but I don’t want to join. When I go to checkout I am told that I have to register to complete checkout.
My CC identifies who I am. I don’t see why I should have to join. I think a lot of people are in the same boat.
One reason we don’t want to join is because people are publishing lists of the members.
When the ICA fixes its website, I think a lot of people will donate.
Such a strange business where members dont want their identity know…always amazes me
Lad
You can write to ICA and do a donation without putting your name on the membership list.
Several people have done this.
You just have to write them:
http://www.internetcommerce.org/contact_us
We discussed their website in an earlier post, if you missed it, the additional features people want in the ICA site again depend on additional funding.
Or you can contribute your time to make improvements to the site if you are a programmer or web designer
I was shocked when I saw your list of people who didn’t contribute to ICA. I will vote with my dollars- I just removed 700 names from Afternic- I will NOT give them my business. Shame on you Name Media. Shame on you Dan Warner! Shame on you Adam Strong!
And demand is made for full-disclosure on the big contributors to ICA. In defending his own lack of contribution, Michael Mann says NO one is going to chime in until the domain holdings of the key board members are on the table. He wants Kevin Ham and Sahar’s full-disclosure!
Anyone that joined before Feb 2008 has to give Michael their permission to have their name published on the site, which may have something to do with it.
Justin
No this is not the case.
All names were checked with Michael BEFORE publication.
I would never publish such as list otherwise.
Those who gave and did not want there name published were accounting for and did not appear on the list at their request.
All others at the time of publication had not given a penny to the ICA.
I think it took incredible balls to print this list. This is even outside my hardcore take on this industry and those who suck up profits in their own world, yet turn their back on those coming up, or give sweet speeches to inspire.
I wasn’t a big fan of ICA at first because of some personal issues with one of the founders, that I feel we’ve resolved. The bottom line… these ICA FOUNDERS formed an organization to fight for the betterment of the domain industry.
For anyone who has made and is making big bucks in this industry to not give back by joining is pure arrogance and “we’ve made it, we don’t need you” attitude. Everyone on the list of domainer millionaires, and every single domain industry conglomerate who wants ALL OF US DOMAINERS TO BUY FROM THEM and participate in their moneymaking efforts should first SHOW US they’re supporting an organization that I believe it. I am a member, and it isn’t cheap. But guess what, this is my business.
Yun ye complaining? Oh please, that’s a smurf… his name points to Frank’s site. Frank is on the board of ICA.
I stand behind this post… if you’re making millions, or even over 100k a year selling domains or parking them, you NEED to be a member of ICA.
For those who use the angle that those members who haven’t supported the ICA yet are being “shamed”, tell the story exactly for all readers… they are in fact, being “shamed”. They should be ashamed. And most of these people are people I know. Maybe it’s an oversight, maybe the ICA is failing in contacting the right people to get the contributions.
I won’t point fingers to say those domainers and companies who’ve made millions and continue to do so don’t give a flying rat’s ass about the rest of us, or feel they’ve made enough to LOSE IT ALL because of some dumbshit congressional bill that passes and negatively affects us all, are just being greedy and selfish, and have short term expectations on this industry.
Domainers spend their life savings sometimes to invest in this business. We need a SINGLE ACTIVE ORGANIZATION to represent our interests. ICA i believe will and is doing this.
To post the names of individuals and companies who aren’t yet members is a ballsy but NEEDED wake up call to all domain industry players.
kudos to this post… I gave, and I’m not a millionaire, I make a decent living in domaining. The ICA will grow, but only with ALL OUR HELP.
I would like to make a more calm request for all domain companies and successful individuals, to support the ICA.
Some companies may not do it because they have bugs up their ass about some members on ICA, but I say, get over it. Put your money where your money source is protected.
peace please about all this… can’t we all just get along?
Stephen Douglas
Successful Domain Management™
BLOG: http://www.Successclick.com
DomainRelevance.com
“Own Your Competition™”
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Has anyone ever heard of standards being raised because of their presence or contribution? ,