Reglikedomain industry desk

Last minute plea to halt IANA contract handover — Court rejects

Judge denies motion; U.S. contract with ICANN will expire tonight.

United States District Judge George Hanks has denied a request for an injunction to stop the United States from allowing its contract with ICANN for IANA functions to expire.

Four states filed suit this stretch in district court in Galveston, Texas to block the transfer. They also asked for an injunction to stop the expiration of the contract from happening at the end of today.

The suit was filed following Ted Cruz failed to convince congress to add a rider to its continuing resolution that would have blocked the expiration.

Judge Hanks disclosed that he was denying the motions for declaratory and injunctive relief at 4:30 local time today.

The lawsuit seemed like a longshot and was widely panned.

More to come.

Also on the wire

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