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315 lines
9.6 KiB
315 lines
9.6 KiB
<HTML>
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<HEAD>
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<TITLE>webtechs.com falls victim to Network Solutions (March 1999)</TITLE>
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</HEAD>
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<BODY>
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<H1>
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The Sad Story of webtechs.com
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</H1>
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<P ALIGN=Center>
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<SMALL><A HREF="#Incident">Incident</A> ·
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<A HREF="#Response">Response</A> ·
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<A HREF="#coverage">Coverage</A></SMALL>
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<H2>
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<A NAME="Incident">Incident</A>
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</H2>
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<P>
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webtechs.com was the home of the HTML validation service from Dec 1994 until
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Network Solutions yanked it out from under us on 18 March 1999:
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<DL>
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<DT>
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13 Jul 1994
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<DD>
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<A HREF="http://lists.w3.org/Archives/Public/www-html/1994Jul/0015.html">ANNOUNCE:
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HaL Interactive HTML Validation Service</A><BR>
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Mark and Dan create the validation service and make it available via Hal
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Software Systems in Austin, TX
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<DT>
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16 Dec 1994
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<DD>
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Mark and Dan establish WebTechs.com and move the validation service there<BR>
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(c.f. <A HREF="http://www.networksolutions.com/cgi-bin/whois/whois?DWC4">DWC4
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entry in whois</A> which NSI moved from
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<A HREF="http://rs.internic.net/cgi-bin/whois?DWC4">this address</A> for
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no apparent reason @@when?) I think I'd better made a copy here just in case:
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<PRE>Connolly, Dan W. (DWC4) admin@WEBTECHS.COM
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Hal Software Systems
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3006 Longhorn, Suite 113
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Austin, TX 78758
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(512) 834-9962
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Record last updated on 16-Dec-94.
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Database last updated on 13-Apr-99 15:39:22 EDT.
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</PRE>
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<DT>
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1996/10/29 16:41:54Z
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<DD>
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at W3C, Dan adds a link from <A HREF="../../MarkUp/html-test/Overview.html">W3C
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HTML Testing page</A> to WebTechs validation service.
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<DT>
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28 Nov 1997
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<DD>
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Network Solutions sends <A HREF="9903webtechs/webt1.pdf">invoice 90749</A>
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for WEBTECHS.COM domain service for the period <STRONG>16-Dec-1997</STRONG>
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to <STRONG>16-Dec-1998</STRONG>.<BR>
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Mark paid it; service continues.
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<DT>
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24 Sep 1998
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<DD>
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Network Solutions sends <A HREF="9903webtechs/webt2.pdf">invoice 2590680</A>
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(<A HREF="9903webtechs/webt2s2.pdf">back</A>) for the same period:
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<STRONG>16-Dec-1997</STRONG> to <STRONG>16-Dec-1998</STRONG>.
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<DT>
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6 Oct 1998
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<DD>
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Network Solutions writes Mark <A HREF="9903webtechs/webt3.pdf">a letter</A>
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that seems to clarify:
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<BLOCKQUOTE>
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We have recently discovered that you were invoiced twice in September for
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the same subscription period for the domain name WEBTECHS.COM. You are only
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responsible for payment on ONE of the invoices. If you are remitting payment
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via check, either invoice stub can be submitted with the payment. However,
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if you are remitting payment via credit card please use the following invoice
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information.
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<P>
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<B>Invoice number: 2590680<BR>
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Domain Name: WEBTECHS.COM<BR>
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Amount: $35.00</B>
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<P>
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...
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</BLOCKQUOTE>
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<P>
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Mark pays the invoice.
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<DT>
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30 Nov 1998
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<DD>
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Mark learns from his <A HREF="9903webtechs/webt4.pdf">bank statement</A>
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that Network Solutions cashed his check, #1118 for $35 on 12 Nov.
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<DT>
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Dec 1998
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<DD>
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Mark and Dan turn their attention from the validation service to other endeavors
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for a time.
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<DT>
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18 March 1999
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<DD>
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Network Solutions sells webtechs.com to VDB
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<PRE>Registrant:
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VIRTUAL DOMAIN BUYERS - webtechs.com (WEBTECHS3-DOM)
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VIBORGVEJ 13, 1
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DK-7800 SKIVE, NA NA
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DENMARK
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Domain Name: WEBTECHS.COM
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Administrative Contact, Technical Contact, Zone Contact:
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Christensen Chabert, Tom Frank (TFC14) webmaster@JADER.COM
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+45 97512839 (FAX) +45 96140000
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Billing Contact:
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Christensen Chabert, Tom Frank (TFC14) webmaster@JADER.COM
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+45 97512839 (FAX) +45 96140000
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Record last updated on 18-Mar-99.
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Record created on 18-Mar-99.
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Database last updated on 3-Apr-99 21:42:11 EDT.
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Domain servers in listed order:
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NS1.SUPERB.NET 207.86.199.3
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NS2.SUPERB.NET 151.196.207.3
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</PRE>
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</DL>
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<H2>
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<A NAME="Response">Response</A>
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</H2>
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<P>
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Since then, we're doing everything we can think of to get the domain back:
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<DL>
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<DT>
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22 Mar 1999
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<DD>
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Mark reports the problem to NSI; a tracking number is assigned:
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<PRE>From mts@mts1.internic.net Mon Mar 22 11:56:38 1999
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Date: Mon, 22 Mar 1999 12:52:40 -0500 (EST)
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To: Mark Gaither <markg@activerse.com>
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From: hostmaster@internic.net
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Subject: Re: [NIC-990322.621d] Hijacked domain
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Reply-To: hostmaster@internic.net
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X-MTS-LoopDetect: InterNIC_Registration_Services
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This is an automatic reply from Network Solutions to acknowledge that
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your message has been received. This acknowledgement is NOT a
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confirmation that your request has been processed.
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If you need to correspond with us regarding this request, please be
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sure to reference the tracking number [[NIC-990322.621d]] in the subject
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of your message.
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Regards,
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InterNIC Registration Services
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</PRE>
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<DT>
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23 Mar 1999
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<DD>
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Dan and Mark receive numerous reports from WebTechs users that "Ack! The
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online HTML validation site I've been urging my users to go to for several
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years now has become -- get this -- a porn site." We begin to investigate
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and find that there are
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<A HREF="http://www.altavista.com/cgi-bin/query?pg=q&kl=XX&q=link%3Ahttp%3A%2F%2Fwww.webtechs.com%2F">over
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30,000 links to webtechs.com</A>, according to
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<A HREF="http://www.altavista.com/">AltaVista</A>.
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<DT>
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Mar 25 1999
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<DD>
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After phoning repeatedly, Mark finally reaches NSI (703-742-4777) at 6:28PM
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CST for a duration of 15 minutes. Mark requests a copy of a listing of all
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my transactions with NSI. They promised to fax the query results, but we
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haven't heard from them.
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<DT>
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Sun, 4 Apr 1999
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<DD>
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<A HREF="http://lists.w3.org/Archives/Public/www-talk/1999MarApr/0001.html">connolly
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writes to www-talk to update the community</A>
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<DT>
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14 Apr 1999
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<DD>
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Mark writes Vice President Gore <A HREF="9903webtechs/markg14apr.txt">a
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letter</A><BR>
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Dan Connolly forwards Mark's letter to representative
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<A HREF="http://www.house.gov/doggett/">Lloyd Doggett</A>
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<DT>
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26 May 1999
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<DD>
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Dan files <A HREF="9903webtechs/bbb990526.html">a complaint</A> with the
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Better Business Bureau (<A HREF="http://www.bbb.org/">BBB</A>).
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<DT>
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12 Jul 1999
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<DD>
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Dan receives a response, dated 1 July, from Network Solutions <BR>
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L. Johnson
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<P>
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Investigations
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<P>
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Business Affairs Office
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<P>
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tel:+1-703-742-4884<BR>
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<BR>
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He claims there was a fourth invoice:
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<TABLE BORDER CELLPADDING="2">
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<TR>
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<TH>invoice #</TH>
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<TH>service period </TH>
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<TH>sent </TH>
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<TH>paid</TH>
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</TR>
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<TR>
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<TD>960918.275 </TD>
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<TD>Dec'95-Dec'96 </TD>
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<TD>19 Sep 1996 </TD>
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<TD>19 Oct 1996</TD>
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</TR>
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<TR>
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<TD>90749 </TD>
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<TD>Dec'96-Dec'97 </TD>
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<TD>26 Nov 1997 </TD>
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<TD>22 Dec 1997</TD>
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</TR>
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<TR>
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<TD>2538481 </TD>
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<TD></TD>
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<TD>21 Sep 1998 </TD>
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<TD>(bogus/ignored)</TD>
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</TR>
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<TR>
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<TD>2590680 </TD>
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<TD>Dec'97-Dec'98 </TD>
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<TD>23 Sep 1998 </TD>
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<TD>9 Nov 1998</TD>
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</TR>
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<TR>
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<TD>3283176 </TD>
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<TD>Dec'98-Dec'99 </TD>
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<TD>20 Nov 1998</TD>
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<TD></TD>
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</TR>
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<TR>
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<TD>3283176 (2nd notice) </TD>
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<TD></TD>
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<TD>23 Dec 1998</TD>
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<TD></TD>
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</TR>
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<TR>
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<TD>3283176 (3rd notice) </TD>
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<TD></TD>
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<TD>7 Jan 1999</TD>
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<TD></TD>
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</TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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Mark never received the fourth invoice.
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<DT>
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15 Sep
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<DD>
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Mark asks Christensen Chabert, Tom Frank if they'd be willing to sell
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WEBTECHS.COM back to us. They agree, in principle, for $600.
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</DL>
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<H2>
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<A NAME="coverage">News Coverage and Related Discussion</A>
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</H2>
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<P>
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newest first...
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<DL>
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<DT>
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8 Apr 1999
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<DD>
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<A HREF="http://www.internetnews.com/wd-news/article/0,1087,10_94421,00.html">Web
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Service Hijacked By Domain Speculators</A><BR>
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By Brian McWilliams<BR>
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<A HREF="http://www.internetnews.com">InternetNews.com</A> Correspondent
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<BLOCKQUOTE>
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"Three weeks ago I couldn't access my site, and then I got a call from a
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lady at the Library of Congress wondering if I had changed it to a porn site,"
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said Gaither. "That really tarnishes WebTechs' and my name, so I'm
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flabbergasted."
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</BLOCKQUOTE>
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<DT>
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6 Apr 1999
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<DD>
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related story:
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<A HREF="http://www.aberdeen.com/ab_research/1999/04/0499internic/0499internic.htm">Network
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Solutions Dog Bites Aberdeen Group, Aberdeen Bites Back</A>
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<DT>
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Thu, 04 Mar 1999
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<DD>
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Mark and Dan look around to see if other folks are having similar problems
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and find:
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<BLOCKQUOTE>
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InterNIC did, indeed, drop over 18,000 domain names on the night of Sunday
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February 28. [...]
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<P>
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Again. This involves domains that were paid in full, and inspite of that
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fact InterNIC removed the domains in clear violation of their "contract."
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Their attitude toward most of those involved is one of, "Tough sh*t!" without
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even caring that they are in the wrong or that they are destroying people's
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lives and businesses.
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<P>
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<A HREF="http://www.merit.edu/mail.archives/html/nanog/msg04932.html">Mike
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Sandburg to nanog</A>
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</BLOCKQUOTE>
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<DT>
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March 2, 1999
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<DD>
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This sort of problem was common before it happened to us:<BR>
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<A HREF="http://www.internetnews.com/bus-news/article/0,1087,3_75171,00.html"><CITE>Network
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Solutions Angers Domain Holders</CITE></A><BR>
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By Brian McWilliams<BR>
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<A HREF="http://www.internetnews.com/">InternetNews.com</A> Correspondent
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</DL>
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<P>
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<HR>
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<ADDRESS>
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<A HREF="./">Dan Connolly</A><BR>
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Created April 1999<BR>
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$Revision: 1.18 $ $Date: 1999/09/29 04:04:06 $
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</ADDRESS>
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</BODY></HTML>
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