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> How do you feel about registering hate speech in a domain name, or someone else's trademark? In the US, all kinds of speech is "awful but lawful", including
by timdev2 6y ago
> How do you feel about registering hate speech in a domain name, or someone else's trademark?
In the US, all kinds of speech is "awful but lawful", including hate speech. I don't think registrars should be policing legal speech.
If there's trademark infringement going on, there are legal processes to which the injured parties can avail themselves.
If there's more serious criminality afoot, law enforcement should generally lead.
I don't like the idea of unpopular but legal speech being scrubbed from the public internet because people object loudly to it. I think domain registrars (and other infrastructure vendors) are qualitatively different than social media properties, etc, in this regard.
- timcederman 6y agoIt's not a legal requirement for them (AFAIK) to make decisions on allowing someone to register a domain or not. They're a private business, so my argument is it's (probably) in their best interest to not upset their customers and partners. There are plenty of examples of limits on almost all registrars, and I was curious why they have such a hands-off stance on bulk registrations very clearly being used for illegal activities. Ted's answer gives me partial insight, but my takeaway is not enough damage, legal risk, or people complaining to say no to the money.