Neil's News

Sitefinder T&C

5 October 2003

VeriSign Inc
Legal Department
21355 Ridgetop Circle
Dulles, VA 20166
USA

Dear Sirs,

With regard to your new sitefinder website, I would like to know how to comply with the terms and conditions. The terms (http://sitefinder.verisign.com/terms.jsp) state in part:

10. Sole Remedy. YOUR USE OF THE VERISIGN SERVICES IS AT YOUR OWN RISK. IF YOU ARE DISSATISFIED WITH ANY OF THE MATERIALS, RESULTS OR OTHER CONTENTS OF THE VERISIGN SERVICES OR WITH THESE TERMS AND CONDITIONS, OUR PRIVACY STATEMENT, OR OTHER POLICIES, YOUR SOLE REMEDY IS TO DISCONTINUE USE OF THE VERISIGN SERVICES OR OUR SITE.

As I am dissatisfied with the sitefinder service, I would like to know how I can discontinue use of this site. How do I switch off your sitefinder so that it doesn't appear upon failed DNS lookups? I look forward to your response.

Sincerely,
Neil Fraser
Director

I must be building too many websites and software applications for lawyers. If I ever get a response to this letter which I sent them last week, I'll post it here.

I've also notified Thawte that we won't be renewing our cert with them if sitefinder continues to operate. They were apologetic and could only say that although wholly owned by Verisign, they don't have any influence on their parent company.

Had Verisign been smarter, they would have launched the sitefinder^[?] as a ruthlessly independent service without any advertising. Much like .museum. Sure, us old fogies would gripe, but most people would see it as a useful service and accept it. Six months later they could quietly start introducing their revenue-bringing advertising and paid links.

Update: Versign has 'temporarily' suspended sitefinder after an ultimatum from ICANN.

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