Domain prices will not rise in the .COM zone!

    We already wrote that VeriSign planned to conclude a new registration agreement with ICANN and the US government , according to which the company gets the right to increase the cost of registering domain names in the zone .COM by 7% over the next four years. The benefit of such a contract is, at least, that after its approval, ICANN would increase the annual revenue from domain registration in the .COM zone by $ 8 million. And ICANN has already approved this contract, despite protests from the general public.

    However, the US Department of Commerce expressed doubts about the legitimacy of such a price increase and launched an investigation that lasted more than a month. VeriSign Director Jim Bidzos shortly after appearing in the media open information about the conflict with the US governmentstated that there were no complaints against the company, and a new contract would be signed soon.

    But, as it turned out, these words were aimed only at reassuring VeriSign partners. Sensational news was announced on November 30: the US Department of Commerce forbids VeriSign to increase the cost of registration operations in the .COM zone, and the maximum price of a domain should not exceed $ 7.85. Now, according to the terms of the contract, VeriSign can increase the cost of domains only by special agreement with the US Department of Commerce and only in cases of force majeure (major problems with Internet security or dramatic changes in the economic situation).

    Thus, the company had to conclude a new agreement on domain registration in the .COM zone for a period of six years (until November 30, 2018), and it no longer contained a scandal point on increasing the cost of domains in the .COM zone by 7%.

    Head of the Department of Commerce Larry Strickling said that the new contract has become much more profitable for consumers, and at the same time does not pose a threat to the DNS security, as it stipulates that, if necessary, VeriSign will be able to agree on a temporary increase in domain prices in the event of a sharp increase in spending on protection needs. Recall that VeriSign justified the price increase with the cost of protection from cyber attacks and possible technical failures.

    Concluding a contract without raising prices is beneficial for all domain owners in the .COM zone, especially large companies that register many domains in order to protect their trademarks. For example, more than 91,000 names are registered in the Microsoft name, and most of them are in the .COM zone. Also, domain business entrepreneurs who also have hundreds and thousands of names in their portfolio will be delighted.

    ICANN spoiled its reputation somewhat with its desire for profit at all costs, but the US government did what ICANN itself had to do according to its own bylaws: manage domain name registration policies for the benefit of all Internet users.

    VeriSign and its partners will lose tens of millions of dollars, which, it would seem, were already in their hands. If the company plans to continue its development, it remains to invest all its efforts in advancing its developments in the field of Internet security and hope for the success of the new gTLDs: VeriSign has applied for registration of analogs of .COM and .NET domains in other types of letters.

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