Copyright Office Resurrects Troubling Plan To Strip Websites Of 512 Safe Harbor

[The-Gobbler]

Any reactions to this?  I wish I understood it better...
http://blog.ericgoldman.org/archives/2016/05/warning-copyright-office-resurrects-troubling-plan-to-strip-websites-of-512-safe-harbor.htm

[Robert Krausankas (BuddhaPi)]

Well the positives of this are pretty obvious...much lower cost, and streamlined automated process..where I see issues that should be addressed:

1. existing registered agents should be moved into the new system, hell they already paid the 105.00 or more, IMHO they should be grandfathered in and not have to renew.

2. An option should be offered to designate an agent for various time frames,much like registering domains, for example have a 3yr., 5y.r, 10yr., lifetime option, and adjust the cost accordingly. While offering the ability to change account info and assign a new agent if need be.

3.  There should be a "grace period" if the agent expires say 30, 60, or 90 days.

4. Each record should indicate when the initial registered agent was assigned, along with dates of renewals, including all current agents in the existing database, trolls will jump the ones, that go into the new system, which does not show the original dates, and claim that there was no valid agent at time of discovery.

Most of the general public don't even know about DMCA, registered agents, or other legal aspects, and most probably don't care, until it's too late, which is unfortunate. Ideally I would like to see domain registars, offer up the option to designate a registered agent up domain registration, but that will never happen, as it only applies to US companies/individuals. This way it can easily be renewed along with your domain in one shot..

[Greg Troy (KeepFighting)]

Robert,

I really like the idea of the domain registrars offering the option to designate an agent.  I like that idea a lot.