On a number of occasions, readers have asked what happens to a registry’s domain names should the registry go out of business. Domain registrants have a business relationship with a registrar, but the registry actually manages the extension. For instance, Verisign operates the .com registry and Donuts operates the .Ventures registry. ICANN has a back-up plan in place in the event a registry goes out of business or otherwise fails, and there are three registries that are approved by ICANN to step-in if/when necessary.

Nominet reached out to me to share a press release announcing it was re-appointed to serve as one of ICANN’s three EBERO operators. EBERO stands for Emergency Back-End Registry Operators. If a new gTLD registry fails, one of the three EBERO operators will be selected by ICANN to step in an take over the management of the registry.