Changes

===DOC & Verisign===

===DOC & Verisign===

===.com Renewals===

===.com Renewals===

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.<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 was highly contested, and 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>

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.<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 was highly contested, and in August 2012, three 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>

Regardless of complaints and ICANN's approval, the decision first needs approval from the [[DOC|Department of Commerce]] before it can proceed.<ref name="verisign2"></ref>

Regardless of complaints and ICANN's approval, the decision first needs approval from the [[DOC|Department of Commerce]] before it can proceed.<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>

== References ==

== References ==