Pool.com recently notified its customers that their catch and release system will no longer attempt to register domains from customer request queues.I have personally used Pool’s Catch & Release service and was quite puzzled by this move. C&R provided a really easy way to taste names, with minimal risk. It was also a lot cheaper than other companies that provide domain tasting / refunds.
Why Did Pool Dropped C&R?
It all begins with ICANN. In October 2007, the ICANN GNSO Council launched a policy development process (PDP) on domain tasting. 
They produced an Initial Report for public comment that outlined the possible actions to be taken, and the arguments for and against such actions. Public comments were incorporated into a draft Final Report (posted 8 February) for GNSO Council review and action.
The GNSO Council approved a motion which effectively changes the
What Does Pool.com Think About This?
In an exclusive interview with DomainerIncome.com, Richard Schreier, CEO of Pool.com said the “decision to allow the $0.25 fee is a prudent business decision” and that “domain tasting will be far more selective and the economics of doing tasting
will change.”
So - what’s my take on this?
On the GNSO Council report; like anything masked under the guise of “security” these days, nobody is prepared to stand up and question it.
It’s obvious to me that ICANN has too many want-to-be, jet setting politicians and anti-business Internet purists who can’t stand “their Internet” being used to make money. That is, unless its for big American companies like Verisign.
Unfortunately, the Domain Name Industry is too fragmented and doesn’t have the funds in one single entity to hire a fleet of lobbyists and PR consultants to educate the market about such changes.
