A growing number of Nominet members are voicing a clear and unified message: they want the organization to be “boring again.” This sentiment underscores a fundamental disagreement over the strategic direction of Nominet, the entity responsible for managing the .UK domain name space.
This escalating conflict within Nominet, which is poised to culminate in a pivotal vote next week, bears striking resemblances to a debate that once engulfed the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN). Several years ago, discussions around ICANN’s budget crisis brought to light a critical observation about its organizational evolution. As noted previously, ICANN’s journey mirrored a common pattern: an organization initially designed for a vital, yet largely administrative, function gradually expanded its scope.
ICANN should be a boring organization but it hired people who want to make a difference.
I visited ICANN’s offices in California in 2008. That was well before ICANN’s finances ballooned. There were fewer than 100 employees back then.
I’d characterize ICANN in 2008 as boring. It was a small organization that was just making sure the domain name system worked.
Then something happened. The company started hiring the wrong type of people. It started hiring people that don’t want to do boring work. People who want to make a name for themselves. It hired people who want to be at the helm of a growing organization that takes on an important role in the world.
The core of the issue, then as now, revolved around mission creep. An organization meant to be a quiet, efficient steward of a critical internet infrastructure component began attracting individuals driven by a desire for impact beyond its foundational remit. This shift led to increased staffing, ballooning budgets, and a diversification of activities that, while potentially noble in intent, drifted significantly from the original, “boring” mandate. This historical parallel with ICANN provides crucial context for understanding the current tensions at Nominet, where members believe a similar trajectory has unfolded, leading to a loss of focus and accountability.
The Call for Refocusing Nominet’s Mission
The current struggle at Nominet is being spearheaded by an organized group of members who believe the organization has strayed too far from its roots. This group has initiated a resolution calling for significant changes to Nominet’s board. Specifically, they propose the removal of five out of the eleven current Nominet board members and the appointment of two new directors. The overarching goal for these new appointees would be to steer the organization back towards its fundamental, arguably “boring,” mandate: efficiently operating and marketing the .UK domain, diligently managing costs, and dedicating surplus funds to charitable causes in alignment with its public benefit obligations. This straightforward, no-frills approach is seen by many members as a necessary course correction to ensure Nominet serves its stakeholders effectively and transparently.
This member-led initiative is not merely a symbolic gesture; it represents a significant challenge to the existing leadership and could very well reshape Nominet’s future trajectory. The momentum behind the resolution suggests a genuine possibility that these proposed changes could be enacted, signaling a powerful victory for member activism within the domain name industry.
Nominet’s Expanding Horizons: Beyond the .UK Domain
Much like the transformation observed within ICANN, Nominet, the respected registry operator for the .UK domain, has embarked on a journey of significant expansion over the past decade. What began as a focused task of managing a vital top-level domain has evolved into a diversified portfolio of activities. Nominet has ventured into areas such as advanced cybersecurity solutions, the development and implementation of wireless technologies, and numerous other initiatives that, according to a substantial portion of its membership, bear only tenuous connections to its core function of operating the .UK domain name system. This diversification, while presented as a progressive step by current management, has become a central point of contention for members advocating for a return to simplicity.
This strategic pivot has naturally led to a shift in recruitment, attracting individuals who aspire to more than just the meticulous, behind-the-scenes work of running a domain registry. These are the “go-getters” and “difference-makers” who seek to innovate and expand organizational influence. This perspective was explicitly articulated by Nominet CEO Russell Haworth in his response to the member initiative that now threatens his position and the current board’s composition. Haworth’s comments highlight the organizational culture that has been fostered:
Talent is attracted to Nominet by the exciting challenges, culture and values of the business. We can grow a business, while having a positive impact on society. This ‘profit with a purpose’ goal – where we aim to increase the connectivity, inclusivity and security of the internet is what drives our people. Our values of ownership, integrity and boldness and a culture that’s challenging, collaborative and fun is how all the parts move together to run a reliable registry and grow a world class DNS cyber business.
If Nominet takes a 10-year step back in time, it immediately becomes a less exciting place to work. Without high technical and business aspirations we will struggle to retain our best people, and with a tarnished reputation we’ll struggle to replace the good people who leave. This means we’ll rely on contractor resource which increases costs and makes it harder to maintain a unified culture.
Haworth’s defense underscores a key philosophical divide: management views diversification and innovation as essential for attracting top talent, fostering a dynamic culture, and contributing to broader societal goals beyond merely operating a registry. They argue that a return to a “boring” core would jeopardize their ability to retain skilled employees and maintain a competitive edge in a rapidly evolving digital landscape, potentially leading to increased reliance on costly contractors and a fragmented organizational culture. However, many members contend that this ambition has overshadowed Nominet’s primary responsibility as a public benefit organization, leading to inflated costs and a reduced focus on its fundamental mandate to serve the .UK community.
Ballooning Staff and Costs: The Price of Expansion
The expansion of Nominet’s remit has been directly correlated with a significant increase in its operational footprint, particularly in terms of personnel. The organization’s employment rolls have swelled dramatically, mirroring the trajectory seen at ICANN. In 2012, Nominet operated with a team of 126 employees. By March 2020, this number had almost doubled, reaching 229 employees. From the perspective of many members, such a substantial increase in headcount far exceeds what would be necessary to simply manage and maintain a top-level domain registry efficiently. This growth in staff is often cited as a primary driver of rising operational costs and a tangible indicator of the organization’s departure from its core function. For the dissenting members, this expansion signifies not just a change in activities but also a fundamental shift in the organization’s financial priorities and its commitment to cost-effective stewardship of the .UK namespace.
The Genesis of an Uprising: Member Frustration Boils Over
The current uprising against Nominet’s leadership is not an overnight phenomenon; it is the culmination of years of simmering frustration among its members. A central figure in this movement is Simon Blackler, the founder and CEO of Krystal, a prominent hosting company and a long-standing Nominet member. Blackler has previously attempted to challenge the Nominet board on various issues, but his efforts, and those of others, were largely dismissed or actively suppressed.
“When people have challenged the board in the past, they’ve been ignored, belittled, and told that their opinion doesn’t matter,” Blackler revealed. He further emphasized the perceived heavy-handedness of Nominet’s past responses: “Nominet has not been afraid to use the law to help them deal with problematic opposition.” These past experiences left many members feeling disenfranchised and unheard, fostering an environment of mistrust and resentment.
Historically, Nominet management often characterized any opposition as merely the complaints of a “vocal minority.” However, Blackler asserts that this time is different. The unprecedented groundswell of support he has garnered for the current resolution unequivocally disproves that narrative. “Now they’re saying the same thing [that it’s just a minority] about us,” he noted, “But it’s categorically, demonstratively false.” This widespread backing signals a fundamental shift in the dynamics of member engagement, transforming what was once isolated dissent into a powerful collective movement.
Compounding the frustration, members point to specific actions by Nominet that stifled open dialogue and dissent. Blackler highlighted instances such as the shutting down of a member message board and an official member email list as clear examples of Nominet’s efforts to control the narrative and limit avenues for critical discussion. These moves were perceived as attempts to silence opposition rather than engage constructively with member concerns.
While Nominet initially downplayed the significance of the current initiative, the overwhelming support it received eventually compelled the organization to respond publicly. They put forward a plan that ostensibly aimed to address many of the demands put forth by the resolution’s supporters. However, despite these proposed concessions and promises, they have proven insufficient to placate the opposition. Many members view these overtures as a belated and inadequate attempt to diffuse the situation, lacking the genuine commitment needed to restore trust and address the deep-seated issues at hand. The opposition remains steadfast, believing that only a change in leadership and strategic direction will truly set Nominet back on the right path.
The Extraordinary General Meeting: A Pivotal Vote
The culmination of this intense member activism will take place at an Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) scheduled for March 22nd. This critical event will see Nominet’s membership cast their votes on a resolution that seeks to fundamentally alter the organization’s governance. The resolution proposes the removal of five out of the current eleven Nominet board members and the appointment of two new directors. The mandate for these new directors is explicit: to refocus Nominet squarely on its core responsibilities – primarily, the efficient and responsive operation of the .UK domain, demonstrating accountability to its members, and divesting from activities deemed outside this fundamental scope. In essence, the vote is about bringing Nominet back to being a “boring,” yet highly effective, steward of a critical national resource.
Nominet’s membership structure is somewhat unique, making the dynamics of this vote particularly intriguing. Joining the organization costs a modest £400, followed by an annual fee of £100. This membership comes with several benefits, chief among them a significant discount on .UK domain registrations. This financial incentive makes membership highly attractive to any registrar actively selling .UK domains, as well as large domain portfolio holders. Consequently, the member base largely comprises entities with a direct commercial interest in the health and efficiency of the .UK namespace, making their voices particularly potent in discussions about Nominet’s direction.
It is this diverse, yet commercially aligned, membership that will determine the outcome of the resolution on March 22nd. The initiative has garnered substantial support, leading many to believe it has a strong chance of passing. Voting rights within Nominet are allocated based on the number of domains a member has under management. However, a crucial safeguard is in place: individual entities’ votes are capped at 3% of the total votes. This cap is designed to prevent any single large registrar or domain holder from exerting undue influence over the voting process, ensuring a more level playing field for all members.
Supporters of the initiative, organized under the “publicbenefit.uk” banner, have confidently stated that they have already secured commitments representing over 25% of the total available votes. This figure is highly significant when considering the typical attendance rates at Nominet’s general meetings, which are historically quite low, often falling below 10% of the entire membership. When only a fraction of the total membership attends and casts their votes, a committed 25% of the *total* vote can easily translate into a decisive majority (more than 50%+1) of the *votes present* at the meeting, even after the 3% cap is reapplied to attending entities. This mathematical reality gives the proponents of change a robust pathway to success.
The Battle for Votes: Management’s Counter-Offensive
Behind the scenes, Nominet’s current management is undoubtedly working “furiously” to rally enough support to defeat the member-led resolution. Their efforts involve reaching out to key stakeholders and encouraging them to vote against the proposed changes. However, even their most robust allies face limitations. Major registrars like GoDaddy and IONOS, despite their significant influence in the domain industry and potentially large holdings of .UK domains, are also subject to the 3% voting cap. This constraint means that even if these industry giants were to vote en masse against the resolution, their collective power to unilaterally sway the outcome is significantly diminished, preventing a complete suppression of the member rebellion.
On the other side, prominent registrars are beginning to take public stances. Namecheap, a large and influential registrar, has publicly announced its intention to vote in favor of the resolution, lending considerable weight to the movement for change. Google, another major player in the domain space, has opted for neutrality, stating it will not cast a vote in the EGM. Many other registrars and large domain holders have chosen to keep their voting intentions private, adding an element of suspense to the impending vote.
Regardless of the outcome, the March 22nd EGM is poised to be an extraordinary and potentially historic vote for Nominet. The result will not only determine the immediate future of the .UK registry but could also set a significant precedent. It will serve as a powerful case study for how similar member-based, public benefit organizations respond to growing opposition and calls for fundamental change in their governance and strategic direction. The lessons learned from this battle for Nominet’s soul will likely resonate throughout the wider internet governance community for years to come.