Community Campaign Saves .name Domains From Termination

Verisign has abandoned plans to shut down 22,000 .name domains and their associated email redirects. The decision reversal came after an organized campaign by domain owners and advocates who filed formal appeals with ICANN and gathered support letters. While existing domains will remain active indefinitely, Verisign will cease accepting new registrations for third-level .name domains.

The campaign involved both advocacy efforts—including in-person presentations to ICANN—and legal challenges. Domain owners credited the collective effort of community members, legal representatives, and select ICANN personnel who opposed the termination plan.

The outcome preserves grandfathered domains while signaling a partial wind-down of the .name service.