This is real simple IOD had
a legally binding agreement with IANA to operate the .web registry.
On the Front
page of ICANN's site you will find this exact paragraph"The Internet Corporation
for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) is a technical coordination body for the Internet.
Created in October 1998 by a broad coalition of the Internet's business, technical,
academic, and user communities, ICANN is assuming responsibility for a set of technical
functions previously performed under U.S. government contract by IANA and other groups."
It
is clear to me that IOD not only should be the .web registry for other strong reasons,
but that they are and shouldn't settle for anything less.