Dear WT2 Members,
WT2, during its meeting on 18 May 2017, requested statistics on how many registry operators are vertically integrated. While apologizing for the lateness of delivery, below, please find the response below from GDD:
ICANN collects data about contracted parties’ vertical integration (also known as cross-ownership or Affiliate relationships) during the application process for both registrars and registry operators. Additionally, contracted parties are required to notify ICANN of its Affiliate relationships occurring after contracting, under both the registrar and registry operator agreements with ICANN. To date, ICANN has tracked notifications received from approximately 275 vertically integrated contracted parties. Sixteen of these notifications were received after contracting (4 in 2014, 10 in 2015, and 2 in 2017). However, contracted parties are not required to notify ICANN of the termination of such relationships. Therefore, the total number of vertically integrated contracted parties may vary from those notifications previously tracked.
If you have any questions about this information, please let policy support staff know.