Verisign .com Domain Name Registry Consumer Class Action
Verisign and ICANN face a class-action lawsuit alleging they maintain an illegal monopoly over .com domain names. Web addresses ending in ".com" represent 160 million active registrations worldwide, with Verisign as the sole operator of the registry. No alternative provider exists, compelling consumers to pay Verisign's rates with no exemptions.
The lawsuit claims Verisign's prices stem from a contract with ICANN, granting Verisign a permanent monopoly and ICANN's share in the profits. Since 2021, Verisign's price has increased by over 30%, climbing from $7.85 to $10.26 per domain, despite declining operational costs. Verisign's financial filings reveal the company spends approximately $3 per domain to operate .com domains, while competitors charge between $5 and $6.
Verisign charges roughly double, generating operating margins of over 67%, surpassing industry leaders like Apple, Microsoft, and Alphabet. In 2025 alone, Verisign returned $1 billion to shareholders through stock buybacks and dividends, allegedly funded by fees from a captive customer base. The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals has already acknowledged the potential for antitrust claims against Verisign and ICANN regarding the .com registry.
A successful lawsuit could lead to damages, reduced prices, and competitive bidding for the .com registry.
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