Warren Accuses Verisign of Web Domain Registration Monopoly

Core Viewpoint - Senator Elizabeth Warren is advocating for an antitrust investigation into the web domain registration business, specifically targeting Verisign's control over the top-level domain (TLD) market [1][4]. Group 1: Market Control and Pricing - The TLD market is currently dominated by Verisign, which manages the .com domain used by 150 million websites, charging over $10 annually for each registration [2][3]. - Verisign's pricing strategy has reportedly generated over $1 billion in revenue, which critics argue is a result of predatory pricing that benefits shareholders rather than improving service [3]. - During President Trump's administration, the NTIA relaxed restrictions on Verisign, allowing the company to increase its annual registration fees by more than 30% [3]. Group 2: Allegations and Responses - Advocacy groups, including The American Economic Liberties Project, have accused Verisign of holding a monopoly in the TLD sector and have urged the NTIA and Justice Department not to renew its no-bid contract [4]. - Verisign has responded to these allegations by claiming that criticisms are based on factual inaccuracies and misunderstandings of the domain name industry, asserting that the technical nature of TLD registries necessitates a single operator [5]. - The company argues that there is a diverse array of choices in the marketplace, with other TLDs like .org, .shop, .ai, and .uk not being monopolies [5].