Investors take over nonprofit that runs .org-tld

An investment company acquires Public Interest Registry, the organization that owns the .org top-level domain. The old and new owners claim that the takeover will not change anything and that PIR will continue to operate in a similar way.

PIR is part of the non-profit Internet Society. The nonprofit has reached an agreement with Ethos Capital. That investment company takes over the manager of the .org-tld, including all properties, for an undisclosed amount. The parties believe that the acquisition will be completed early next year.

Internet Society says it is securing long-term financing and resources for its operations by selling PIR. The international non-profit organization, headquartered in the United States, was founded in 1992 and is committed to a safe and open internet. PIR will continue to operate after the acquisition in the same way as it does now, says the company’s CEO. Ethos Capital also states that the working method of the .org administrator will not change.

However, it is possible that .org domains will become more expensive. The Icann, the administrator of all top-level domains, agreed to remove the price cap for .org domains earlier this year, despite much criticism from registrars and other organizations that fear that .org domains will become less accessible.

Public Interest Registry was established in 2002 as part of the non-profit Internet Society to administer the .org tld and issue domain names. More than ten million .org domains have been registered. The .org domain is intended as a counterpart to the commercial .com domains, but there are no restrictions on its request or use.