How .bg became the only EU ccTLD run by a private company, and why the Bulgarian state still has no straightforward way to take it back.
  • jqubed@lemmy.worldEnglish
    8·
    9 days ago

    1998 - Digital Systems first introduces a setup fee and annual fee for .bg domains. Other Bulgarian ISPs file a protest, calling .bg a national symbol, and send it to IANA, RIPE, the Bulgarian competition watchdog, Parliament and the President. The complaints are ultimately rejected by the Bulgarian courts and Digital Systems remained in charge of .bg.

    […]

    2006 - Bulgarian media reports that management of .bg is to be transferred to the “First Public Internet Registry”, a new non-profit to be run by various stakeholders. The transfer depends on Register.BG voluntarily handing over control or trying to get a new court ruling.

    2007 - The initiative to transfer management of .bg appears to have stalled, with Bulgarian media outlets criticising the lack of progress on the matter.

    […]

    In both cases [(Australia and Kenya)] IANA acted because the state built a credible successor first, something that Bulgaria attempted but failed to do in 2006/2007. Until then, .bg stays the only EU country TLD in private hands.

    There seems to be a path forward, the state just has to follow through. I suspect they could also buy the current company out instead of forcing it through the courts.