GeorgeK, who has been watching ICANN carefully for years, deserves the credit for spotting the danger in these contracts and blowing the whistle - as well as for staying on top of the tactics they are using to try to sneak this through. At another forum, George pointed out a post on the ICANN board from another veteran ICANN watcher, Bret Fausett, that noted another reason they are trying to rush this through so fast:
http://forum.icann.org/lists/alac/msg02455.html
It is also good to see some of the major domain companies have started funding a non profit group that has taken up the fight on behalf of domain owners, with it's own Washington, D.C. based legal counsel. It will take everyone working together to protect the rights of domain registrants. There are lots of people out there who want to take away what you have earned through your own hard work, research and investment over the years.