ICANN approves.COM agreement renewal with Verisign

ICANN approves.

• ICANN renews the.COM Registry Agreement with Verisign, aligning it with modern domain management standards
• The updated agreement introduces DNS abuse mitigation, multilingual support, and a shift to the RDAP protocol for secure data access

What happened: ICANN renews.COM agreement with Verisign

The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) announced the renewal of its .COM Registry Agreement (RA) with Verisign on November 27. The new.COM RA reflects ICANN’s commitments to its mission to ensure the continued security, stability, and resilience of the Internet.

The deal introduces registry-level fixed fees, inflation-based fee adjustments, and stronger DNS abuse mitigation measures targeting malware, botnets, and phishing. Verisign has also committed to supporting a multilingual Internet, reflecting broader inclusivity goals. The new agreement mandates the use of the Registration Data Access Protocol (RDAP), replacing the WHOIS system to improve security and internationalization. Public comments were carefully considered before approval, emphasizing ICANN’s commitment to transparency and user protection.

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What it’s important

This agreement reflects ICANN’s role in safeguarding the Internet’s stability while addressing modern challenges like cybersecurity and inclusivity. The adoption of RDAP for secure and standardized domain registration data aligns with global trends, such as the European Union’s GDPR, which prioritizes user privacy and data protection. Verisign’s support for a multilingual Internet is critical as small businesses increasingly target global audiences. For instance, startups in regions like Africa or Southeast Asia benefit from multilingual domain names that cater to diverse markets. Such as DotConnectAfrica, a nonprofit supporting tech startups across Africa. Accessible, localized domain names help these enterprises reach regional audiences and expand globally.

However, concerns remain about Verisign’s long-standing monopoly over.COM registrations. This could hinder smaller registrars from offering competitive pricing or innovative services. Additionally, inflation-adjusted fees could increase costs for small enterprises relying on affordable domain names. ICANN’s efforts are a step forward, but balancing modernization with equitable access is crucial to ensuring the Internet remains inclusive and competitive for all stakeholders.