Changes

Verisign had a number of events, forums, contests and awards planned for the 25th anniversary of .com in 2010. These included awards to 25 people and companies recognized for influencing the .com namespace and the Internet as a whole, and a Washington D.C.-based Policy Impact Forum featuring [[Bill Clinton]], [[Rod Beckstrom]], Arianna Huffington, [[Ken Silva]], and others. Verisign unveiled details for four $75,000 research grants at its San Francisco event, which also featured then CEO [[Mark McLaughlin]]  and ICANN Chairman [[Peter Dengate Thrush]].<ref>[http://www.25yearsof.com/ 25yearsof.com]</ref>

Verisign had a number of events, forums, contests and awards planned for the 25th anniversary of .com in 2010. These included awards to 25 people and companies recognized for influencing the .com namespace and the Internet as a whole, and a Washington D.C.-based Policy Impact Forum featuring [[Bill Clinton]], [[Rod Beckstrom]], Arianna Huffington, [[Ken Silva]], and others. Verisign unveiled details for four $75,000 research grants at its San Francisco event, which also featured then CEO [[Mark McLaughlin]]  and ICANN Chairman [[Peter Dengate Thrush]].<ref>[http://www.25yearsof.com/ 25yearsof.com]</ref>

===Renewal===

===Renewals===

In March 2012, ICANN renewed Verisign's contract to run the registry for .com.<ref>[http://www.icann.org/en/news/announcements/announcement-27mar12-en.htm .com Registry Agreement Renewal, icann.org]</ref> The following month, three of [[ICANN]]'s constituencies, the ([[ALAC]], [[GNSO]] [[Business Constituency]], and [[GNSO]] [[Intellectual Property Constituency]]), sent a letter to ICANN complaining that the organization held its renewal talks with [[Verisign]] behind closed doors, which they say is responsible for the lack of [[Whois|Thick Whois]] requirements for the .com TLD.<ref>[http://domainnamewire.com/2012/08/21/constituencies-blast-icanns-closed-door-verisign-com-contract-renewal/ Constituencies Blast ICANNs Closed Door Verisign Com Contract Renewal, DomainNameWire.com]</ref>

In March 2012, [[ICANN]] posted a proposal for Verisign's proposed renewal of the 2006 .com registry agreement between the two parties.<ref>[http://www.icann.org/en/news/announcements/announcement-27mar12-en.htm .com Registry Agreement Renewal], ICANN.org.</ref> Three months later, in June 2012, the [[ICANN Board]] went against community suggestions to approve Verisign's .com registry agreement for an additional seven years after its expiration on November 30th, 2012. Verisign will also be allowed to increase its registry fee by 7% in four out of the next seven years.<ref>[http://domainincite.com/9610-icann-gives-verisigns-com-contract-the-nod ICANN gives Verisign’s .com contract the nod], DomainIncite.com. Published 25 June 2012. Retrieved 28 November 2012.</ref> The new policy will result in Verisign paying ICANN a $0.25 fee for every .com registration, renewal, or transfer, instead of the lump sums it paid previously,<ref>[http://domainincite.com/9845-icann-to-get-8-million-more-from-new-com-deal ICANN to get $8 million more from new .com deal], DomainIncite.com. Published 27 July 2012. Retrieved 28 November 2012.</ref> potentially netting ICANN an additional $8 million in revenue annually.<ref name="verisign2">[http://domainincite.com/10865-breaking-us-probing-verisign-price-hikes-com-contract-extended US probing Verisign price hikes, .com contract may be extended], DomainIncite.com. Published 25 October 2012. Retrieved 28 November 2012.</ref> The original board resolutions can be viewed [http://www.icann.org/en/groups/board/documents/resolutions-23jun12-en.htm#2 here].

 

In August 2012, 3 of [[ICANN]]'s Constituencies ([[ALAC]], [[GNSO]] [[Business Constituency]], [[GNSO]] [[Intellectual Property Constituency]]) sent a letter to ICANN complaining that the organization held its renewal talks with Verisign behind closed doors and the result is that there are no [[Whois|Thick Whois]] requirements for the .com TLD.<ref>[http://domainnamewire.com/2012/08/21/constituencies-blast-icanns-closed-door-verisign-com-contract-renewal/ Constituencies Blast ICANNs Closed Door Verisign Com Contract Renewal, DomainNameWire.com]</ref>

==.Com Domain Space==

==.Com Domain Space==