Abstract: This paper estimates the first constant quality price index for internet domain names. The index can serve as a benchmark for domain name traders and investors looking for information on price trends, historical returns and fundamental risk of internet domain names. It thereby increases transparency in the market for this newly emerged asset class. Furthermore, it can serve as a fever curve for the well-being of the internet economy, since the demand for domains is linked to online business opportunities in general. This proxy also includes small enterprises that are excluded by traditional stock-price indices. The quality of the domain names is controlled for by hedonic repeat sales regressions. The empirical work is based on a large dataset of real domain transactions spanning the years 2005-2011. To download this paper by Thies Lindenthal from the Social Science Research Network, go to: ssrn.com/abstract=1885465

Abstract: In 1998, ICANN started placing a high emphasis on the private sector-oriented decision-making process. The UN World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) in 2003 initially kicked off as a traditional government-oriented decision-making forum in 2003, and it concluded that the future global negotiation will be operated in a multi-stakeholder environment in 2005.

Abstract: This paper divides in two parts. The first part elaborates on the difference among categories of “legalities” that have developed on the globe, and considers their shapes and thickness as irreducible to the uniform notion of a “global law”. Different pictures and explanations affect sensibly in epistemic and pragmatic sense the understanding and the potential of the law in relation to global governance