Competition is competition, that's something the last almost 2 years in the industry has taught me.

Personally, I used to be in full support of some sort of regulatory measure that would try and keep these fly by nighters and $1.00/month operations out of the picture. If you're doing what you're supposed to do and you stick at it, you won't even need to worry about these guys. Time will certainly see to that.

I think it also comes to a point where you police an industry too much - or at least here in the good ole United States. Such an 'association' would apply just fine to the country(ies) that implement it, but what about those that don't? Such regulation would require a fair effort IMHO to be fair all across the board - and that's just not something that can be fairly and economically done at this point IMHO.

As for some type of loose association, I for one might support that a bit. I think it could be offered as an optional method where a company could apply for membership and pay perhaps a small fee or even not one at all. You'd have a central *independent* panel to research any complaints and revoke membership at any time, although these days that might not work as intended. One would have to make certain the judges were nonbiased.

Anyways, enough of my ramblings. To sum it up, I don't think Government regulation is at all the way to go. The industry really isn't in horrible shape. As any other industry, it does have problems, but there are many diamonds out there as well. Perhaps some small volunteer agency would work, but I'd not step in any more than that. It's pretty clear to see Darwinism can be applied to business, so let 'nature' run its course in this one, and stick to your guns(and worry about them only). All the others will fade in time.