Regarding Esther Dyson's Aug. 30 Project Syndicate article, "'Protection racket' for Net domain names": It is not difficult to force Internet users to pay the huge and excessive prices demanded by "supposed" or "assumed" monopolies like the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), if Internet users continue to disregard the enormous influence they possesses to transform the World Wide Web.

ICANN and their associates are a part of an infinite and evolving universe, but they're certainly not the only choice. Alternatives are available, and at sites like Dashworlds.com, it is already possible to register new Dashcom (not Dotcom) domain names in any language, completely free (such as "business-com" or "social-network" or "domo-arigato").

ICANN's expansion program for Top-Level Domains (TLDs) is aimed specifically at causing maximum knee-jerk reaction by large corporations that — ICANN fervently hopes — won't miss a few million dollars, here or there, going into the pockets of a select group of ICANN salesmen.

If we sit back and do nothing, then we cannot complain. If we sit back and do nothing, we have only ourselves to blame. Note: Dashworlds.com provides new Dashcom domain names.

The opinions expressed in this letter to the editor are the writer's own and do not necessarily reflect the policies of The Japan Times.

brian retkin