If you want to take advantage of SEO and search engines to increase participation and revenue, you need a TLD domain name registered though ICANN. And I can tell you right now that Google “owns” ICANN.
I can share the email exchange I had with ICANN about why their own site will not even fully function unless all the 3rd party Google API connections are turned on. Which means Google is sneaking in on Domain name searches and then claiming them as their own original idea and grabbing them.
Conflict of interest in the very worst way for sure there... In no way should Google have anything at all to do with the ICANN site or governance. But they do...
This is where they have that very last word in domain up, or domain down control Boss... Just something to consider with the new environment we are in now. ICANN can make or break you as you know it now. They have the only loop hole that can screw this place.
And if ordered to they will...
Make it a closed party and you are legally protected by commercial law as a private organization... And so are the members here. At some point the members should come first?
You want to sell out? Are you going to sell your user's private info too?
ICANN can make or break you as you know it now. They have the only loop hole that can screw this place.
And now instead of selling out for a quick buck you say ICANN will censor us. They have never done that.
Would it not be possible to have a 1000 different ICANN databases?
Who is in ultimate control of ICANN?
Where/Who is the root power of this high level ecosystem?
If they have the power to ban a domain name for safety reasons (terrorism). They also have the power to ban a domain for political purposes.