For sale: Dot-org domains, one careful owner

Non-profit sites set for new overseer...

The dot-org domain name is set to have a new owner after Icann revealed 11 bidders have registered their interest in taking over control of the not-for-profit suffix. Previous owner Verisign surrendered control of the domain in exchange for an extension to its control of the far more lucrative dot-com domains. The US government had grown concerned that Verisign was enjoying too much control over the whole spectrum of domain naming. As a result of the deal Verisign will now enjoy control of the dot-com registry until at least 2007. Icann (the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers) has already received $35,000 from each of the prospective bidders by way of an administration fee, according to the BBC. Most of the bidders are already involved in running existing top level domains.