GoDaddy lost 72,354 domains this week. It’s not enough.
Despite a massive Twitter campaign and a blog post that claims “Go Daddy no longer supports SOPA legislation” the company and its CEO have dodged questions about opposing the bill. In essence, they are taking a lesser role by not showing support for the bill. They have not opposed it.
This week, they lost around 72,000 domain registrations. At a yearly discounted rate of $6.99 (most registrations are higher), that’s over half a million dollars per year. It is apparently not enough for them to speak out against the bill.
Everyone from large corporations like Google down to small startups like Oklahoma City Dodge are voicing concern about the legislation. “We are watching this subject very closely and looking at what domain changes will need to be made because of GoDaddy’s support of this legislation,” said Mike Chell.
How many domains is the company willing to lose before they oppose this abomination of legislation? Do they believe that when they “step back and let others take leadership roles” we are going to see it as something other than a “duck and cover” public relations move to try to get out of the spotlight and hope someone else takes the brunt of the attacks while they quietly support the bill?
Are 72,354 domains enough? Not even close. It’s a drop in the bucket. They have anywhere from 15,000 to 40,000 domains added daily. Despite cries from the internet, yesterday was a good day with over 32,000 added. Go Daddy has not felt much pain yet. The “PR nightmare” that many of us in the tech industry perceive is happening to them hasn’t hit their pocketbooks in any real form, yet.
Until the effect is more pronounced, they can afford to deflect questions and let the negative PR pass. More must be done.
It is in our right to go against a private company that does not hold its customers interest in mind. That is what is wonderful about a company, we as consumers can decide not to support them for doing something we deem wrong.
People standing against something they don’t believe in,in mass like they did with GoDaddy sends a message, and the message is that if your business relies on the support of those who use the internet. It is probably wise to back as far away from SOPA as possible.
I would have been happier if GoDaddy went out of business for their support. To set a precedent going forward.
1. No, I won’t. My self interest=/= to the best track for the country. Some of us are capable of realising that what’s best for the country is going to be better for us in the long run than bread and circuses. The rest of you have been voting for fake healthcare reform.
2. Possibly. I just happen to disagree with what it means to protect the little guy.
As for the rest, I find it likely you need to apply every bit of your post to yourself–the Dems are just as bad as the Repugs.
I can’t believe the power of the lobbyists in the US. This bill will kill the Internet as we use it today. How can anybody tell the truly original source of something? Internet is viral, it’s the most democratic medium people have in order to communicate. I am shocked to see this bill under a democrat government!
Unfortunatly, your pure idology does not exist any more, which, I believe, is @Tim Webster’s point.
The extreme right wants to keep it all and give themselves large bonuses, when the economy is at its worst. The extreme left wants to give it all away, screw our children and our future. The middle class is…stuck in the middle.
People, this isn’t a D vs R issue. This is a business/govt reaction to the ongoing power struggle. to control the general populous . (by control, I don’t me in some conspiracy sort of way, more so in a way to sedate and make max profit without objection). People, can’t you see its a trick? There are already laws to thwart piracy, copyright infringement, and the like. This bill is set to remove due process, and install power, not law. It would be like the govt installing cameras in EVERYONE’S home and acting on anything that looks to be illegal by means of the strictest form of the law without any judicial process.
In the end, it won’t work, because The internet has grown to become the voice of the world all to quick, that any censorship of it, will be quickly countered by those with the know-how.
The reason to oppose this bill, is to show those in charge, that we the people have a voice, and we’re free to speak now. There’s no need to censor us, no need to place restrictions on us. In the end, everyone will have a say. Fighting it, will only build resistance and make for a stronger outcome.