Public Interest Registry notifies ICANN that the deal is dead.
Even though all parties had already said this publicly, Public Interest Registry (PIR) made it official today: the transaction for Ethos Capital to acquire Public Interest Registry has been terminated.
The registry for .org domains sent a letter (pdf) to ICANN today informing it of the termination.
The letter states, “While we reserve all of our legal rights, we will not be pursuing an ICANN Request for Reconsideration or taking any other action to try to revive the Transaction.”
I’m not sure what legal rights it would pursue, but this might be an effort to head off any talk of transferring the .org registry to another party. In a message linking to the letter, PIR CEO Jon Nevett noted:
…because a sale to Ethos was not “consummated” after the ICANN rejection, the door is closed on ICANN transferring .ORG to any other registry operator. Such a transfer by ICANN is a contractual impossibility under our registry agreement.
I believe he is correct. The contract between PIR and ICANN states:
…any consummated change of control shall not be voidable by ICANN; provided, however, that, if ICANN reasonably determines to withhold its consent to such transaction, ICANN may terminate this Agreement pursuant to Section 4.3(g)…
This seems to say that ICANN can terminate the agreement if it withholds consent and PIR still goes through with the change of control. It could be written more clearly, though.
Nevertheless, there have been some calls in the community to strip Internet Society and PIR of the .org contract.
joesaba2014 says
As always, it usually happens when there are many millions of dollars involved, in the end the saying made the law, cheated always win.
I hope is not like that.
DomainBoss says
It’s ICANN’s ethical and moral duty to transfer the.Org registry from disgraced ISOC/PIR to another suitable organization that really cares about public interest.
Jack says
Fully agree with you.
.ORG needs a new steward.
Mark Thorpe says
“Nevertheless, there have been some calls in the community to strip Internet Society and PIR of the .org contract.”
Agreed
John says
Truth moment:
Make no mistake: God alone is to thank for this. He uses means to bring about His will, including the means and instrumentality of others and those who fought. And clearly the battle and the war is hardly over. Evil will be in this world till the end.
Jack says
comment removed for fake email address
Jack says
Much thanks and appreciation to all who worked fearlessly to expose this deal, and stop it dead. It reminds us there is no God to thank except ourselves, as we are Gods who both alone and jointly are 100% responsible for and capable of our continued destiny in every outcome because Truth, and never belief, faith, subservience or humility, is, alone, the light, guide, and glory which permeates everything and powers our rationality, intelligence, consciousness, and love to grow/expand/evolve endlessly in the eternity of Creation, which we will fathom further and more using scientific methods so that we remain not enchanted stargazers, yet star hoppers who seek life and knowledge up to the farthest realms of the heavens.
Voice Acting says
F#ck yeah it was terminated!
Fred says
I guess there are millions of dollars exchanging hands in this .Org registry sale termination deal.
ezekiel miya says
Sure, there must be money involved.