news .Org Buyout

[SirDrago]

A private equity firm is buying all of the .org domains. Here's what that means
In a move that could shake up the internet, private equity firm Ethos Capital is buying the company that owns every .org domain on the web.

Ethos, which was founded in May 2019, is expected to close its deal to acquire the Public Interest Registry (PIR) during the first quarter of 2020. The sale price has not been released.

Now, nonprofits, which make up the majority of the .org domains, are panicking about the purchase, scampering to sign a petition spearheaded by the National Council of Nonprofits that calls for blocking the deal.

Full story Here

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[Jurgen Wolf]

Already posted: https://www.namepros.com/threads/girl-scouts-join-protest-over-sale-of-the-org-domain.1165179/

 

[Grilled]

Full story Here

Share your thoughts?

Already posted: https://www.namepros.com/threads/girl-scouts-join-protest-over-sale-of-the-org-domain.1165179/

Yeah, but this thread is a bit different. SirDrago links the CNN article

But he added it's a bigger hit for "domainers," or people who own website domains as an investment. "If you have 50,000 domains and you're sitting on them, then that is a bigger hit to your annual costs," Nevett said.

.e.g. Now it's reaching more national news.

...

I mean, this has been covered on Harvard.edu blog (11/23/2019), and a lot of other niche websites, but not sure how much national coverage it's received until now. Curious to see if anything, when, and what televised news has to say about this.

 

[oskaaay]

It a dis-heartening sale I wish (like many holders) will never come to reality

 

[Jv1999]

exactly why is it so bad? we'll still get to own the domains, right?

 

[bmugford]

exactly why is it so bad? we'll still get to own the domains, right?

Sure. For any arbitrary price the registry decides.

If they want a million dollars a year. There is nothing to stop them from charging it.

There are absolutely no protections in place for the millions of registrants.

Brad

 

[Jv1999]

Sure. For any arbitrary price the registry decides.

If they want a million dollars a year. There is nothing to stop them from charging it.

There are absolutely no protections in place for the millions of registrants.

Brad

but we don't know if they'll raise the prices...? We're just all assuming it will be bad... The previous .org registry could've arbitrarily increased prices too.

 

[carob]

More info here about this dirty deal:

https://www.namepros.com/threads/et...ry-org-from-the-internet-society-isoc.1163290

And you can sign the petition to save .org: https://www.namepros.com/threads/help-stop-the-sale-of-org-to-a-private-equity-firm.1165342/

If we just accept this it will happen with other extensions including .com

 

[carob]

but we don't know if they'll raise the prices...? We're just all assuming it will be bad... The previous .org registry could've arbitrarily increased prices too.

When you hand a not-for-profit enterprise over to profit based one prices have to go up to give increased returns to the shareholders. Does anyone seriously thinks someone buys a company without hoping to get a big and increasing return on their investment?

 

[Jv1999]

I guess everyone is rushign to renew their .orgs for 10 years...

 

[wwwweb]

The funny thing about this story, somehow this newly formed party is the best suited organization in the entire World to take over .org, I don't remember seeing any formal bid process for a sale.

This is a total side show, I just can't see how ICANN can't be held accountable.

 

[Jv1999]

The funny thing about this story, somehow this newly formed party is the best suited organization in the entire World to take over .org, I don't remember seeing any formal bid process for a sale.

This is a total side show, I just can't see how ICANN can't be held accountable.

yep. that's how domaining goes. there are laws, so at least it's not as bad as crypto was. But it's still sort of a "street rulez" industry.

randomly a company can just buy out all the .orgs in the world, including those used by multi-billion dollar non-profits like the Gates' foundation. All just like dat :D..

Probably happened on a Sun night discord private message XD: "HEYZ MEN! U WANNA SAIL ME ALL UR .ORGS? I BUY OUT UR COMPANY ! C'MoN! How bout LYKE 4.5 mil?"

"sry was eating pizza. but ok sounds good."

Boom. All .orgs new overlord.

 

[wwwweb]

yep. that's how domaining goes. there are laws, so at least it's not as bad as crypto was. But it's still sort of a "street rulez" industry.

randomly a company can just buy out all the .orgs in the world, including those used by multi-billion dollar non-profits like the Gates' foundation. All just like dat :D..

Probably happened on a Sun night discord private message XD: "HEYZ MEN! U WANNA SAIL ME ALL UR .ORGS? I BUY OUT UR COMPANY ! C'MoN! How bout LYKE 4.5 mil?"

"sry was eating pizza. but ok sounds good."

Boom. All .orgs new overlord.

I am assuming current insiders within ICANN will be alotted jobs, or options within Ethos in the future when they eventually leave ICANN. Basically ICANN is giving these people a blank check at the mercy of non profits. .org isn't as speculative of an extension, there is a good portion in use for important things. $10 per year is a fair registration, for an electronic service which doesn't cost much across 10 million registrations, the costs become fixed eventually. It is just a transfer of wealth that needs to happen from 8 million people to about 5 or 6 parties. The entire greed effect, and the 1%.

 

[oskaaay]

When you hand a not-for-profit enterprise over to profit based one prices have to go up to give increased returns to the shareholders. Does anyone seriously thinks someone buys a company without hoping to get a big and increasing return on their investment?

That's the point, a for-profit business won't mind going an extra mile as long as profit is assured.

User's view and their experience (good or bad) becomes secondary only after their profit is secured primarily.

 

[trelgor]

Regulations aside, which I know nothing about, business is business. If you do business yourself, you should not be surprised, and most certainly not appalled when others do. IMO.

 

[wwwweb]

Regulations aside, which I know nothing about, business is business. If you do business yourself, you should not be surprised, and most certainly not appalled when others do. IMO.

Business is business, open, and transparent.

With all these billion dollar tech companies, how did a newly formed company with no holdings, or trade history, created by ex chair of icann acquire .org registry?

.org was not created solely for profit, but other purposes, along the way it became profitable, but a lot of things don’t add up, but much of what is going on seems to have many things don’t add up.

These parties need to be held to ethical standards especially when dealing with millions of non profit agencies.

 

[dirk]

but we don't know if they'll raise the prices...? We're just all assuming it will be bad... The previous .org registry could've arbitrarily increased prices too.

They will raise prices. They will start holding back dropped names (noticed .biz holds back expired names). Its not a matter of if but a matter of when.

If we don't fight it that is.

Regulations aside, which I know nothing about, business is business. If you do business yourself, you should not be surprised, and most certainly not appalled when others do. IMO.

.org was never intended for business. They sold out before and sold out again. Basically they are putting the entire .org namespace at danger the way they're moving forward.

Domainers aside, there's absolutely nobody protecting endusers.

 

[trelgor]

If something is illegit - proof is a nice thing to have.

 

[dirk]

If something is illegit - proof is a nice thing to have.

You're referring to the most likely price increases etc?

 

[trelgor]

Seems to me most are referring to the acquisition being in some way corrupt. Where is the corruption?