Reglikedomain industry desk

Prices could hit $9.00 — .com registry

In a post on Monday (see Verisign to retain .com registry through 2012) I discussed the proposed settlement between ICANN and Verisign stemming from a lawsuit in 2003.

Details are starting to circulate the web, especially regarding the terms of Verisign’s contract extension through 2012. It would allow Verisign the raise the fee it charges registrars for each .com registration, renewal, or transfer from $6 now to $9 by the end of the term. Increases in the registry fee will be passed on to clients since many registrars offer domains at or near the $6 registry fee.

In the previous post I predicted that the internet community would call for ICANN to put the .com registry out for competitive bid. This has certainly happened, but apparently there’s a clause in Verisigns .com agreement that allows it to automatically renew.

Also on the wire

Other reporting from the domain desk.

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