FOR IMMEDATE RELEASE: 27 January 2020

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Blacknight Backs .ORG Sale to Ethos Capital

"Most of the rhetoric coming out against the sale is not founded in fact and is based more on passion."

(CARLOW, IRELAND) 27 January 2020 – Most of the rhetoric coming out against the sale of the .ORG Registry to a private investment firm is not founded in fact and is based more on passion, according to Michele Neylon, founder and CEO of Blacknight, Ireland's largest domain registrar and web hosting company. The Internet Society, which owns the PIR .ORG domain registry, has decided to sell this valuable piece of online real estate to Ethos Capital. The sale price was reported costing Ethos $1.1 Billion and has generated much controversy. 

Neylon, who sits on the GNSO Council of ICANN, has followed the sale closely. "While many of those who have voiced concerns do so in sincerity, there are also some whose interests in .org aren't quite that kosher," he writes on blacknight.blog. "It's pretty clear that some people and organisations are using the current debacle to raise their own profiles. While that in itself might not be such a bad thing, the level of hyperbolic hysteria surrounding the current situation is unhelpful."

Ethos Capital has not indicated if the sale will lead to dramatic prices rises for .ORG domain owners. Ethos has stated that they are committed to keeping .ORG accessible and reasonably priced for all, in line with PIR’s longstanding, purpose-driven mission. The Internet Society will also benefit from the injection sale by continuing their critical work in promoting the development of the internet all around the world. Most of the current domain industry is already owned and operated by private capital.

"The entire Internet industry faces many more pressing issues currently, such as censorship, child abuse, privacy and misinformation, among other things. The energy being poured into opposing this one deal, where the funds will actually endow a charity that works on these important issues, could be much better spent on tackling the big issues that matter in Internet governance", said Neylon.

Blacknight is an ICANN-accredited domain registrar and hosting company. Recipient of several awards for their revolutionary use of social media. Blacknight seeks to lead the way by introducing innovative solutions for its client base, provide dedicated servers and co-location, a comprehensive range of Microsoft Windows and Linux based hosting plans, and domain name registration services to business globally. IP transit services and other solutions for more demanding business and academic customers are offered a la carte.

ENDS

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About Blacknight

Blacknight (http://www.blacknight.com/) are an Irish based, ICANN accredited domain registrar and hosting company. Recipients of several awards for their revolutionary use of social media, Blacknight are one of Europe’s most cutting edge Internet companies. Blacknight constantly seek to lead the way by introducing innovative solutions for its client base and provide dedicated servers and co-location as well as a comprehensive range of Microsoft Windows and Linux based hosting services and domain name registration services to business globally. IP transit services and other solutions for more demanding business and academic customers are offered a la carte. Fibre broadband services for both business and domestic users are also available throughout most of Ireland.

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