Click on a question to go directly
to the answer, or scroll through and read the lot:
Are
you trying to profiteer from the war?
Are
you trying to make a quick buck?
Are
you insiders in the US / UK Government, or close friends
of theirs?
Isn't
food aid more important?
Does
CITRI have any political affiliations?
What
about Domain names for Iraqi's?
How
to you work out your financial projections and estimates?
$10,000,000
Dollars is to high a figure to be achievable!
$10,000,000
Dollars is a drop in the ocean compared with all the
oil revenue!
How
will we protect against domain squatting?
What
partners are on board?
What
technology do you use?
What
are your credentials?
When
can I register / bid for my domain?
Shouldn't
the .IQ domain be held in Iraq and not by a foreign
organisation?
What
about corrupt officials / bribes you might have to
pay?
Are you trying
to profiteer from the war?
No - Members of CITRI are doing this on an
entirely non profit / fee basis. We believe in the
highest of ethics and are interested in doing our
bit for the development of the new Iraq. All accounts
will be held and administered in an independent legal
trust, and all transactions will be open for inspection.
Are you trying
to make a quick buck?
No - In fact, members of CITRI have, and continue
to invest a considerable amount of their own time,
funds and resources into the project. The only benefit
we wish to draw is establishing the development of
IT in Iraq to allow the country to grow.
Are you insiders
in the US / UK Government, or close friends of theirs?
No, CITRI is an independent NGO (Non Governmental
Organisation), made up from a group of like minded
companies, academic institutions and individuals.
We are entirely apolitical, and are neither for or
against war, we just believe in helping the people
of Iraq, through the use of the Information Technology,
and the Internet. We are however looking to win the
support of all parties in our effort to gather momentum.
Isn't food aid
more important?
Of course it is! We completely agree that food and
water should come first. This is what the Red Cross
/ US / UK / UN are doing right now, and will continue
to do. CITRI is a longer term plan to help the development
of the country through the use of IT.
Does CITRI have
any political affiliations?
No - we have no formal links to any political
organisations. We fully expect our members and supporters
to be active voters, and to hold their own opinions,
but CITRI addresses issues that transcend party politics.
What about Domain
names for Iraqi's?
We have & will reserve several domains for
Iraqi corporations, educational establishments etc.
For Iraqi non profit organisations, we plan to offer
free / at minimal cost registration of their domains.
How to you work
out your financial projections and estimates?
They are based upon financial models, but one key
thing to bear in mind is that traditionally registrars
have charged a flat fee for each domain. So that when
initially registered, sports.com is charged the same
as asdrgneofrnvg.com, although the former is considered
more desirable. Vast sums of money have passed hands
on domains after initial registration - we believe
that by conducting an open auction at the point of
initial registration, this premium goes where it should
- into CITRI projects. Whether the amount raised is
higher or lower than target, it would all make a difference.
$10,000,000
Dollars is too high a figure to be achievable!
As above, with the proceeds of the auction going
to the CITRI funds, rather than the first registrant,
the true value of domains, coupled with what we hope
will be a little auction fever will help to increase
the overall amount raised. At the close of the auction
process, whatever amount is raised will be sure to
make a very real difference.
$10,000,000 Dollars
is a drop in the ocean compared with all the oil revenue!
Indeed, this is true, but that's no reason for
us not to raise these targeted funds, and to do our
bit to help, as it does all make a difference.
How will we
protect against domain squatting?
As a model of best practice, we will work to
Nominet's Rules
for domain dispute resolutions and respect trademarks.
People should only bid for a domain if they believe
they are fully entitled to it. If anyone were to outbid,
say Microsoft for microsoft.iq - we would be very
thankful for their contribution, but the domain would
revert to its rightful owner. This is why we have
set the projected initial corporate registration price
higher than that of individuals (as there would be
less competition for trademarks). It is generally
accepted that Cyber squatting is now no longer tolerated,
nor an easy way to make a quick buck.
We may also opt to impose a 'stamp duty'
on transfers of a domain, whereby a % of the resale
price would be levied upon reregistration.
What partners
are on board?
We are at different stages of talking to partners
and potential partner companies. We will shortly publish
a list of organisations that have committed, or are
in the process of negotiation about their role within
CITRI. We have been engaging several of the big names
in the IT & related industries. If we haven't
called you (through limited resources), please do
email
us to let us know how you think you could help.
What technology
do you use?
CITRI members use everything from standard Microsoft
Windows based PCs through to Open source Linux, Unix,
and other systems appropriate for the task. It is
likely that CITRI projects will make wide use of all
available technologies, and as far as possible leverage
and develop skills locally.
What are your
credentials?
CITRI members include senior academics and technologists
able to command six figure salaries, and who have
years of experience of IT, along with specific experience
of regeneration projects valued at billions of dollars.
When we're not working with CITRI, we are busy looking
after the every day needs of our clients and their
IT systems. You will also find us to be regular contributors
to specialist technical publications such as Incisive
Media's Hedge Fund Technology magazine.
When can I register
/ bid for my domain?
Registrations & the auction process are not open
yet (and are not guaranteed ever at this early point)-
we are currently talking to IANA / the current controller
of the dead .IQ domain about redelegation. This process
can take a number of months, and may not be to ourselves
(Uncle Sam may already have a plan - if it is better
than ours, then we would back this). We have so far
received a great deal of goodwill, and thank everyone
for it, but we can not take pre registrations / bids
at this time.
Shouldn't the
.IQ domain be held in Iraq and not by a foreign organisation?
Yes it should - we intend to be only a temporary
custodian of the domain, in order to help reestablish
its use, raise funds for CITRI projects, and then
to hand it over into the safe hands of a local non
profit registrar once a new administration in Iraq
is appointed or elected. Prior to this event, we believe
that we would be best positioned to raise funds by
leveraging goodwill, and project managing the investment
projects.
What about corrupt
officials / bribes you might have to pay?
Sadly, we also have experience of developing
countries, and the propensity for funds to disappear
into the pockets of individuals (mainly officials)
rather than the intended destination. We are fully
committed to best practice, value, accountability
and transparency. As a matter of policy, we will not
pay bribes, bungs, backhanders, any form of non legitimate
payment or kidnap ransom demands. Members that do
not keep absolutely accurate & clear expense records
(where appropriate) forfeit the right to claim these
funds back.
