The longstanding legal battle for control over the dotcom domain has been settled by agreement between internet infrastructure firm VeriSign and the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (Icann).
VeriSign, which manages the dotcom domain names, originally filed an antitrust suit against Icann in February 2004, claiming the group had acted outside its charter. The complaint was dismissed by the court, as was a later amended lawsuit.
The deal provides for the settlement of all existing disputes between the two organisations and extends VeriSign’s control of the domain until 2012. It also covers coordinated planning and a commitment to binding international arbitration to prevent future disagreements leading to litigation.
A new dotcom Registry Agreement sets out a clearly defined process for the introduction of new registry services. The agreement also extends the term of VeriSign's management of the dotcom domain and sets out ways for the two organisations to work together.
The agreement has been posted for public comment before ratification by the Icann board.
