Today, the Antiquarian Booksellers’ Association of America joined with the Authors Guild, the American Association of Publishers, and other organizations, objecting to the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN’s) plan to sell top-level domains to private companies.  Online retail giant Amazon has bid to be the exclusive custodian of .book, .author and .read domains.

ABAA President John Thomson called the move “anti-competitive” and a threat to the small businesses that make up the Association.

“We count on there being a fair and level playing field for all,” Thomson said. “Amazon's actions are like the 800-pound gorilla, using their muscle to try to monopolize a marketplace."

The ABAA is the largest and oldest association of antiquarian booksellers in the U.S., representing more than 450 member firms across the nation. The mission of the ABAA is to promote ethical standards and professionalism in the antiquarian book trade.

As antiquarian booksellers, we strive to preserve, protect and bring the past to light. So let’s look to our history and reflect on the wrongs corrected by The Sherman Antitrust Act of 1890, which was passed to prevent market domination by a single entity, ensure a level playing field and equal access to free markets.

Please consider doing one or all of the following:

• Send your own letter to ICANN objecting to Amazon’s application
• Although the comment period online officially closed in September, you can still submit comments online at the following link:
  • https://gtldcomment.icann.org/comments-feedback/applicationcomment/login#submit_a_comment

• Send a copy of your letter to your elected officials:
  • http://www.opencongress.org/people/zipcodelookup
    • This is for both federal U.S. Representatives and Senators
      • Type in your zip code
      • Click on their name
• Cross post your comments to social media such as Facebook and Twitter and ask your online community to take action

For further information, please contact Executive Director Susan Benne at ABAA Headquarters, hq@abaa.org or (212) 944-8291.