Former ICA counsel left to join Verisign.
Attorney and policy expert Phil Corwin is remaining in the domain name industry.
Last week Phil Corwin announced he was leaving the Internet Commerce Association. Today, we know why he left — he has joined Verisign as Policy Counsel.
In a short email, Corwin said that he has resigned from ICANN’s Business Constituency and from his seat representing it on the GNSO Council because he is now part of a contracted party.
He will remain co-chair of working groups on Curative Rights Protections for International Intergovernmental Organizations, and on Rights Protection Measures in all gTLDs.
Jeff Schneider says
Hello Andrew,
We cannot imagine a more perfect fit for Phil than this position. Good news for .COM Equimoddity Platform Asset Holders, who now have a professional expert upholding their trampled on rights. Congrats Phil ! JAS
Gratefully, Jeff Schneider Former (Rockefeller I.B.E.C. Marketing Intelligence Analyst/Strategist) (Licensed C.B.O.E. Commodity Hedge Strategist.) (UseBiz.com)
John Berryhill says
Ah, memories….
https://www.internetcommerce.org/the_internet_commerce_association_ica_calls_upon_congress_to_react_to_verisign_price_hikes/
“The Internet Commerce Association (ICA) calls upon Congress and the Department of Commerce to exercise the strongest possible oversight over the increase in registry fees for .Com and .Net just announced by VeriSign.”
Andrew Allemann says
I was just thinking about that last night. Phil will go from arguing against .com price increases to arguing for them.
Michael Anthony Castello says
Phil is simply going where the future is.
Meyer says
As John knows, lawyers in private practice do that all of the time.
One day they argue that a manufacturer was negligent. And, the next day they represent a manufacturer from a frivolous lawsuit over negligence.
John Berryhill says
…although generally not the same manufacturer in both instances.
Don Smith says
I think John Barryhill has a great point. It’s rare to see such an outspoken critic go work for the very same company he criticized for so many years.
Phil Corwin was a huge outspoken critic of the VeriSign monopoly, their market power and prices they charge for .COM domain names.
But in a strategic hire, VeriSign was able to silence one of its core critics instantly.
When you are making more than $1 billion in revenue and more than $700 million in free cash flow per annum from a no-bid contract, it’s a brilliant move to hire someone for an estimated $500k salary to simply “disappear.”
There is no other way to put it – VeriSign just purchased Phil Corwin’s silence.
John Barryhill – you care to fill Phil Corwin’s previous role? Just be prepared for a sweetheart offer you may not be able to refuse from VeriSign in a few years’ time…..
Joseph Peterson says
Nearly a year, and still nobody has leapt to Phil’s defense on this score. Is that because ICA leadership doesn’t read DNW? Doubtful.