Verisign Withdraws Plan to Retire Third-Level .name Domains - GIGAZINE

Verisign, which manages the “.name” domain, has canceled the mass deletion of third-level domains and the termination of its email forwarding service, both of which had been scheduled for February 2027. Existing domains can continue to be renewed, and email forwarding is expected to remain available at registered addresses. However, the application to end new registrations will need to be resubmitted.

Updates to the .name Third-Level Domain Name Registrations Service and E-mail Forwarding Service
(PDF file)https://itp.cdn.icann.org/en/files/consensus-policies/kane-to-fessenden-05-11-2026-en.pdf

Neil Fraser: News: .name Grandfathered
https://neil.fraser.name/news/2026/11/10/

The “.name” domain is a top-level domain designed to allow individuals to register domains using their own names. For example, in the case of “neil.fraser.name,” adding “fraser,” the surname, to the “.name” top-level domain produces the second-level domain “fraser.name.” Adding the given name “neil” on the left further produces the third-level domain “neil.fraser.name.” By creating domains in the form “given-name.surname.name,” people with the same surname can each register a domain bearing their own given name for their personal use. A service is also provided that forwards email addressed to “given-name@surname.name” to a designated address.

However, on April 15, 2026, citing declining use of third-level domains and the limited number of registrars offering them, Verisign applied to abolish third-level domain registration and its email forwarding service. Most of the approximately 22,000 registered third-level domains were reportedly not being used.

ICANN, the nonprofit organization that coordinates domain names and related matters, approved Verisign’s application to abolish the services on May 7, 2026. In a letter dated July 28, 2026 (PDF file), it notified Verisign that it could “proceed with the abolition.” Following this notification, Verisign told registrars on August 15, 2026, that services for existing users would also end after 180 days.

After being notified of the plans to abolish third-level domains and the email forwarding service by email from his registrar, Neil Fraser reported on his website on September 3, 2026, that the third-level “.name” domain he used was also scheduled for deletion.

Fraser registered “neil.fraser.name” in 2002 and went on to use it for his website, email, and a server connected to IoT devices. According to a petition he submitted to ICANN (PDF file), the domain is valid until January 2036. Had the abolition plans proceeded unchanged, it would have become unusable with approximately nine years remaining before its expiration.

Fraser pointed out that accounts associated with an email address he had used for many years could also be hijacked. This is because if a third party could acquire the parent domain “fraser.name” after third-level domains were discontinued, emails sent to the old email address could end up in the third party’s hands. Verisign’s (PDF file) proposal to discontinue the email forwarding service included a measure to suspend new registrations of second-level domains used for email forwarding for one year after the service ends.

Fraser retained a lawyer to seek a review of ICANN’s approval and, on October 4, 2026, published a 17-page petition. The “beverly.fraser.name,” which Fraser had registered minutes after his daughter’s birth, was also subject to the discontinuation. Fraser’s daughter Beverly sent ICANN a letter asking it to allow the domain to continue to exist. It was also reported that other users filed petitions for reconsideration.

As calls for a review grew among users, Verisign said in a letter dated November 5, 2026, that it would accept renewals of registered third-level domains and continue email forwarding. Conditions for continuation were that at least one registrar recognized by ICANN would continue providing services to existing users. Verisign expects multiple registrars to continue handling registrations.

Following the change in policy, ICANN confirmed in a letter dated November 9, 2026 (PDF file) letter that Verisign had withdrawn the application it submitted in April to discontinue the service and invalidated the July notice approving the discontinuation. Verisign is nevertheless said to plan to refile the application in order to bring new registrations for domains and email forwarding to an end.

In a November 10, 2026 post, Fraser welcomed the withdrawal of the discontinuation plan and thanked those who had petitioned ICANN for reconsideration or sent letters calling for the service to continue. One of the people Fraser named as collaborators was Troy Lolo, who had petitioned ICANN for reconsideration. On the Hacker News social discussion site, Lolo claimed that if plans emerged to terminate existing registrations under another top-level domain, users could draw on the grounds for opposition set out in the current petition when making their own petitions. Lolo believes that making the grounds for opposition public will make similar discontinuation plans less likely to emerge in the future.