Nothing would stop the creation of a competing Domain Name Server by a major registry service like GoDaddy. It’s just a directory, something which maps a name (like FreeRepublic.com) to it’s IP address (the Internet equivalent of a phone number). Instead of resolving names against the ICANN directory, individual users can specify the GoDaddy directory.
ICANN can then get stuffed.
‘Nothing would stop the creation of a competing Domain Name Server by a major registry service like GoDaddy.’
It depends on the government. For example, Obama’s regime or Hillary’s regime or China.
Our current legislation empowers ICANN to draft each TLD’s
‘Registry Operator Code of Conduct’. This restricts them.
Currently the these codes of conduct have little oversight. But that can change if Obama or Hillary bows to international law.