A Letter from the Director:
In the article by Andrew Clunis, published in The Jamaica Gleaner - 21.07.00
- "Cybersquatting
- Domains Under Siege", the author mentions that "a couple of local
entertainers" were having problems with cyber-squatters... But the problem is
actually
much worse, and far more wide-spread than the article portrays.
Since this article was published, the problem of domain piracy has grown
to become a major issue that
should be of great concern to ALL Jamaican artists, musicians, entertainers, and the entire
Jamaican music industry.
In addition to managing our company's web hosting, design, and domain
name registration services, I am also a member of the Jamaica Federation
of Musicians - with over 30
years experience in the music business prior to going "online".
About three years ago, we became official
Domain Registrars, with direct access to the domain name Registry Database.
About that same time, I began to realise the seriousness of the cyber-squatting
issue and after doing some research, I noticed the problem of domain piracy was
far worse than anyone had been led to believe. I also realised that we
were now in a
unique position to help out some of our friends and associates.
We quickly discovered that the majority of Jamaican artists and musicians
had not registered their own names yet, and were at the total mercy of these
cyber-bandits and thieves from places as far away as Hong Kong, Japan, and Australia.
Shortly after reading this article, we started the Jamaica Artist Assistance Association
website (in 2000) to help alert everyone to the seriousness of this issue.
We also began to reserve domain names for as many of the artists and musicians as
possible, to help prevent any of the domain-pirates from getting a chance to thief them.
This was the beginning of the Domain Reservation program, and as of this
writing, we have successfully registered more than 75 domains for their rightful
owners.
The Domain Reservation program is entirely funded by the Jamaica Artist Assistance
Association (in partnership with Jamaica Web Services), and is not affiliated with
any government agency or any other organisation.
We reserve and recover hijacked domains on behalf of Jamaican artists, and
although our free services can actually save the artists hundreds or thousands of dollars,
we only request that they re-imburse us for the actual cost of their domain registration
fees, nothing more.
If the artist has a website, web designer and/or web hosting account lined up already,
we will be glad to work with their webmaster to get them set up quickly, and provide them
with all the administration and log-in information for their domain.
If they haven't already made arrangements for web services, we are always happy to
provide them with any assistance or support they may need. We have made special
arrangements, through Jamaica Web Services, to offer the artists discount rates on
web hosting, web design, and website maintenance services - at the lowest prices in
Jamaica.
In addition to bringing public awareness to the cyber-squatting problem,
and more attention to this important issue, we also want to reassure the artists that this
is a legitimate effort on their behalf, and not an attempt to take advantage of them in any
way, as a few misinformed people have falsely suggested.
By bringing more attention to this situation, we also hope to gain support for the program
and attract some sponsors, since up to this point we have received no financial help of
any kind.
Although our work is entirely volunteer and non-profit, we still have to pay annual
expenses of over $50,000 to cover the cost of the domain registrations, renewal fees,
web hosting, maintenance, and Internet access. Hundreds of hours of time has been
donated to this effort, and we have already invested nearly $200,000 to set up and
maintain the JAAA Domain Reservation Program.
As the Reservation Program has developed and continues to grow, it is becoming increasingly difficult
to cover all the expenses, so we are desperately seeking support and financial assistance
- donations from fans, contributions from within the music community, and sponsors from
the business sector.
It is also our hope that some of the more righteous artists will appreciate the free
benefits they have already received, and will want to return the kindness and
give something back.
By sponsoring this program, they will also be supporting their fellow musicians and
helping to strengthen the future of the entire Jamaican music community.
The current situation is still far from good, and
will not improve without active participation and support, so we would like to
urge everyone to become involved and share in our vision, so in the words of the
late, great Delroy Wilson, "Better Must Come" !!!
