How do domain names restrict the freedom of expression?
Sandvig, C. (2004, May). Welcome to 1927: The Creation of Property Rights and Internet Domain Name Policy in Historical Perspective. IN: P. Day & D. Schuler (eds.), Community Practice in the Network Society: Local Action/Global Interaction. New York: Routledge.
The full text of this article is not available, but an earlier author's draft presented as a conference paper is available online. Note that the conference paper was revised for inclusion in the book. (buy the book from Amazon.)
Excerpt:
In the 1920s, property rights were constructed [for broadcasters] in the ether, and any policy debate about radio or television is now constrained to what these rights allow or do not allow. Today, property rights have been constructed in the domain name system of the Internet, with preference is being given to those that own another form of property--the trademark. Yet the grand hopes many have held out for the Internet's future do not seem compatible with a network where participation devolves quickly into a questions of what properties you own.
Tags: domain-names, history, internet (See all possible tags)