ICANN races towards regulatory capture: the great .org heist (blogs.harvard.edu)

Article summary

The article discusses the sale of the .org domain registry from the non-profit Public Interest Registry (PIR) to the private equity firm Ethos Capital, which has raised concerns about the potential for price increases and the impact on non-profit organizations that rely on the .org domain. The sale was made possible by ICANN's decision to lift the price cap on .org registrations, despite widespread opposition. The article suggests that the sale may be a case of regulatory capture, where a private company is able to acquire a valuable asset at the expense of the public interest. The sale has been criticized for its potential to harm non-profit organizations and the internet community as a whole.

Main themes

• regulatory capture
• domain name system
• non-profit organizations
• internet governance
• private equity
• ICANN

What commenters say

• The sale of the .org domain registry to a private equity firm is a clear example of regulatory capture and a threat to the public interest.
• Decentralized domain name systems, such as Namecoin or Handshake, could provide an alternative to the current system and mitigate the risks of regulatory capture.
• The current system of domain name registration is flawed and vulnerable to abuse, and a new system is needed to protect the interests of non-profit organizations and the internet community.
• The sale of the .org domain registry is a legitimate business transaction that will not harm non-profit organizations or the internet community.
• ICANN's decision to lift the price cap on .org registrations was a mistake and will lead to price increases that will harm non-profit organizations.
• The use of blockchain technology could provide a more secure and decentralized way to manage domain name registration.
• The sale of the .org domain registry raises questions about the role of non-profit organizations and their relationship to private equity firms.
• The internet community needs to be more involved in the governance of the domain name system to prevent similar sales in the future.