ICANN rules - can a country SELL it's ccTLD operation?

[Dale Hubbard]

This is one for the legal buffs:

Is it possible for a country to sell, i.e. meaning relinquish complete control of it's TLD operations to an entity outside of that country? I don't mean contracting out, I mean a complete sale of ownership. Anyone any ideas? I haven't checked it out but it would seem to me that this would be impossible? Maybe a daft question?

Thanks!

 

[seeker]

isnt that what has happened with .ws and a few others?

I think though, it would be impossible to sell it completely. Some control would have to be maintained, and i dont think ICANN has anything to do with it, but rather International agreements etc...

 

[Dale Hubbard]

Yes, .ws and .cc etc. decided to go 'global' with their TLDs, but as you suggest, I'm sure the country maintains ultimate control. I think they just licensed or 'commissioned in' all the registrars that sell it. For some of these smaller countries, the income derived is significant to their general economy.

I have a colleague who is trying to arrange the operation or takeover of a third world ccTLD but as that country's government is untrustworthy and unstable to say the least, I am suggesting to him that as no paper contract would ever be worth the paper, he'd have to take over complete control. I have also told him I think that's impossible.

More comments welcome and thanks!

 

[seeker]

I have done the same thing and being down the same road.
I even went as far as going to the country.
But , my lawyers advised that any shift in government would cancel any previously done contracts, as this specific country's government is unstable...
I am not a lawyer, but I took his advise seriously, and in the long run, I do not think it is worth it.