If I'm not mistaken, is ICANN now stating that it is okay for a
registrar to also be the registry?
http://www.icann.com/melbourne/proposed-verisign-agreements-topic.htm
Here's the applicable portion:
C. DISCUSSION OF PROPOSED AMENDMENTS AND TIMING
CONSIDERATIONS"For all these reasons, when ICANN and Verisign began to discuss
VeriSign's plans to divest itself of its registrar business so as to qualify for
the automatic four-year extension to operate the .com/.net/.org registries, it quickly
became apparent that the importance and value of the separation of ownership of VeriSign's
registry and registrar businesses to ICANN and the community had diminished quite
significantly over the 15 months since the original registry agreement was signed.
While VeriSign might well wish to retain its registrar business, the fact that separation
of ownership will automatically extend its ability to operate the .com/.net/.org
registries for an additional four years is a powerful incentive to cause that separation
to happen. On the other hand, that ownership separation is clearly not as valuable
to the community or ICANN under today's market conditions as it appeared it would
be at the time the agreement was signed."
Back in November, I remember Kraaijenbrink
vehemently opposed to IOD operating as registrar and registry. It seems that
"market conditions" have changed that criteria. Yes?