Karl Denninger writes:
> NSI does not own the root domain .com .org .net or any other TLD.
> They were *hired* by the NSF to manage the registration of domain names
> for these TLDs, and they have done a deplorable job. They are now being
> fired, if anyone is opening themselves up for a class action suite it is
> NSI for not relinquishing property that they have no legal right to claim
> as their own.
[...]
There you are very wrong.
Prior to September 1995 you were correct.
Go and read the cooperative agreement sometime. Its on the web, you
know. It clearly states two things: 1) that NSI may be permitted to
charge at some point in the future to defer costs, and that 2) at the
end of the contract, everything reverts to the NSF -- EVERYTHING.
The contract also notes that NSF is funding the contract but that the
origin of the delegation is the IANA.
I strongly urge people to go and read it for themselves.
Perry
Speaking personally, and not in an official capacity