Open Letter to the dotMobi Community from Trey Harvin, dotMobi CEO

[Scavenger]

We have been following the discussions surrounding the dotMobi online auction, hosted by Sedo, that was scheduled to end on 5 December 2007. We think that there are several key misperceptions in the community, and I would like to clear them up ...

More... (http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/dotmobi/~3/204268756/open-letter-to.html)

[Scandiman]

Comments should get interesting...

[Gerry]

Comments should get interesting...Yup!

And what is with the multiple choice Sedo BS?

Even if there was to be a third auction, unless there is an absolutely ironclade contract stating that Sedo is guaranteed three auctions, after that type of attitude I would tell them to take a long hike off a short pier.

[mediaadvantages]

could it be that sedo agreed to take less commission or no commission to run the third auction and thats why mtld is staying with them??

[Tim]

Of course I'm always concerned with what I think and that is mTLD would be foolhearty to let sedo run another auction.

I won't quote Don Rumsfild often but this one rings true here:

"when in a hole stop digging"

[coast]

I added my two cents as "Holly."

[Binaryman]

It worries me that there still has been no reply forthcoming from Mtld after the very balanced last 2 comments. (Holly and Chris )

[coast]

It worries me that there still has been no reply forthcoming from Mtld after the very balanced last 2 comments. (Holly and Chris )

I think they are going to wait until they have enough information and their lawyers run through different scenarios before they will say anything that can be held against them later. The fact that they are opening this up to comments and have provided an email address speaks positively imho that they are willing to listen. No news may be good news.

[The Bald One]

I also think that mTLD are waiting for their lawyer to look over the case again with the arguments and suggested resolutions. They would be foolish not to take this approach at this stage, they know that this is the last chance before court proceedings begin should they get it wrong.

The fact is that I doubt if the matter will be settled prior to the New Year, lawyers do like their holidays! But the unfortunate thing for mTLD is that the resolve of the plaintiffs will harden with the elapse of time.

[DomainTalker]

As the former CEO, myself, some of the following may well be dotmobi thinking on this:


My guess is that their lawyers may well have initially provided advice to dotmobi (mTLD) that, whilst their prime legal case is not all that strong, they could muddy the waters a bit by arguing 'unheard of server loads', 'Unregistered bids due to server problems', even 'implied' mTLD TOS (as opposed to Sedo TOS, which has clear provisions for covering the obligations of Seller & Bidder in exactly the circumstance of bids that don't show when an auction page becomes 'unavailable') etc etc.....but, mainly, I suspect, the advice was that mTLD could tough it out - burn off the anger....And, if that didn't work, offer a 'fairness' option (re-run auction, where all could bid again)....And, if that didn't work, then they'd use delaying tactics to drag out any lawsuits, and rack up the bills...


...But...its probably now becoming apparent to senior management that the damage to mTLD reputation is far worse - far earlier - than expected....And will get much worse, if they follow that strategy....And that dotmobi, itself, is going to get seriously hurt in the marketplace if this is not settled soon.....And that's not smart business


Also, my guess is that senior management now know that the very people that will drive the .mobi brand, are the very people that mTLD is in serious dispute with - And that is simply not smart business.


And, it is now apparent, that not only will these bidders not be burned off - there is a strong likliehood of legal action, soon, if this is not sorted.....And that is not smart business.


Further, Stakeholders - like Microsoft, Vodaphone, Samsung etc etc MUST also be asking hard questions now - or, will soon.....'WHY is dotmobi not finding a common sense solution to this problem that is eating .mobi alive.....?'....If I were a major stakeholder in dotmobi, I would not want my investment - and reputation - damaged by seeing my investment vehicle in a public war with its own core constituency....Its not smart business.


And, if I were senior dotmobi management, I would now sense that there IS a better way....a compromise course...

...Its called talking to your core constituents that have a genuine grievance....Listen to them...And work something out to mutual advantage with them....SOON.....Because, that is smart business, in this situation.


Its Christmas....they're entitled to take a few days to work out how to get a two-way dialogue going.....Its going to get very messy for all concerned, if they don't choose that dialogue - and do it with genuine good faith, looking for a fair & final outcome with us.

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