CADNA Membership Increased 80% in 2008

The Coalition Against Domain Name Abuse (CADNA) announced today that Goldman, Sachs & Co. and New York Life Insurance Company are its newest members.

CADNA also announced that their membership increased 80% in 2008.

“”””This is clear evidence that more businesses recognize the need to speak out about domain name abuse, including cybersquatting, phishing, and domain name tasting. With the support of its member companies, CADNA is eager to address domain name abuses in 2009.”””

“”””A major concern is that, based on conservative projections, the three-year cost to business of registering new domains in the proposed new TLDs to prevent loophole exploitations and combat significant harm caused by fraudsters could be more than $1,500,000,000.

If there was any doubt as to CADNA goals for 2009 this statement should clarify things:

“””””With a new government taking office in January, CADNA has begun increasing its efforts to bring attention to these problems and feels confident that, under the leadership of President-elect Obama and the 111th Congress, these concerns will be addressed as part of the country’s efforts to maintain leadership in areas related to technology and to protect its economy and national security. “””””

“”””The Coalition is confident that its plans will allow CADNA to continue to positively redefine the domain name space.”””

Interesting, CADNA wants to redefine the “domain name space”.

Certainly not good news for domain holders.

We know they want to redefine the space as being a place for “cybersquatting, phishing, and domain name tasting, continuing on their move for a Snowe Bill 2 and criminalizing certain actions which are now purely civil matters.

When you look at ICA’s annual statement and compare it to this announcement from CADNA, you will soon see how far behind domainers are from this group of trademark holders, in organization and funding.