--- title: "Daily Buzz: The .Org Battle Gets a Public Protest" id: "49204" type: "post" slug: "daily-buzz-the-org-battle-gets-a-public-protest" published_at: "2020-01-23T22:39:44+00:00" modified_at: "2026-03-17T02:53:48+00:00" url: "https://associationsnow.com/2020/01/23/daily-buzz-the-org-battle-gets-a-public-protest/" markdown_url: "https://associationsnow.com/2020/01/23/daily-buzz-the-org-battle-gets-a-public-protest.md" excerpt: "The controversial sale of the .org domain to a private equity firm is driving a public protest against ICANN on Friday. Also: how workplace arguments can foster growth." taxonomy_category: - "Advocacy" taxonomy_post_tag: - "Advocacy" - "AI" - "AssociationsNow" - "nonprofit" - "Technology" taxonomy_content_format: - "Article" taxonomy_role: - "Association CEO / Executive Director" - "Executive Team" taxonomy_persona: - "Association Professionals" --- [Home](https://associationsnow.com/) » [Articles](https://associationsnow.com/format/article/) » Daily Buzz: The .Org Battle Gets a Public Protest A plan to sell the .org top-level domain to a private equity firm is highly controversial—and now some opponents of the sale are taking it to the streets. [SaveDotOrg (opens in a new tab)](https://savedotorg.org/#add-your-name) , an advocacy group that counts numerous nonprofits, including ASAE, among its supporters, [has organized a protest (opens in a new tab)](https://savedotorg.org/index.php/savedotorg-protest-at-icann/) against the sale of the .org domain to Ethos Capital. On Friday, protesters will gather outside the Los Angeles offices of the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN)—a global nonprofit that manages the internet’s address system. The protest, which is open to the public, marks another step in the movement to halt the sale, in which [Ethos Capital would acquire the Public Interest Registry (opens in a new tab)](https://www.internetsociety.org/news/press-releases/2019/ethos-capital-to-acquire-public-interest-registry-from-the-internet-society/) , a nonprofit entity that has managed the .org domain registry since 2002. [Associations and other nonprofits have voiced concern](https://associationsnow.com/2019/11/associations-raise-concerns-over-sale-of-org-domain-to-private-equity-firm/) about the deal, predicting that Ethos would significantly raise the price of .org registrations. Earlier this month, a group of digital advocates with ties to ICANN offered an alternative solution, [creating a co-op](https://associationsnow.com/2020/01/new-co-op-aims-to-take-over-org-registry-operations/) that they propose would manage the .org domain instead. There are approximately 10 million .org domains in operation, including most web addresses used by associations. ### the benefits of Disagreement > You shouldn’t go into a disagreement expecting to change the other person’s mind. [https://t.co/Px9UoS4XTH (opens in a new tab)](https://t.co/Px9UoS4XTH) > > — Fast Company (@FastCompany) [January 23, 2020 (opens in a new tab)](https://twitter.com/FastCompany/status/1220205591093829637?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) **Disagreements with coworkers might be uncomfortable**, but don’t avoid them. A productive disagreement can actually have a positive impact on your output at work, says Buster Benson, author of *Why Are We Yelling? The Art of Productive Disagreement*, in an [interview with Stephanie Vozza of Fast Company (opens in a new tab)](https://www.fastcompany.com/90454023/how-to-boost-your-productivity-by-having-an-argument) . For one, a disagreement gives you the chance to consider other points of view. “People have different perspectives, and their views may feel out of reach,” Benson says. “If you can’t understand how they believe what they do, ask, but be careful how you frame the question. It’s easy to slip into dehumanizing them or thinking they’re dumb.” ### Other Links of Note **Making an impact.** *VolunteerMatch*’s Erin Halley demonstrates how [doing good is good for business (opens in a new tab)](https://blogs.volunteermatch.org/engagingvolunteers/2020/01/22/go-beyond-your-organization-to-strengthen-your-communities/) . **Content marketing and permission-based marketing** are different, writes Kivi Leroux Miller on *Nonprofit Marketing Guide*. [She explains what sets them apart (opens in a new tab)](https://www.nonprofitmarketingguide.com/blog/2020/01/22/the-difference-between-content-marketing-and-permission-based-marketing/) . **The Super Bowl is almost here**. Event planners can learn a few things from the big game, says [Sofia Wright at Smart Meetings (opens in a new tab)](https://www.smartmeetings.com/meeting-planning/123672/how-to-add-super-bowl-flair-to-your-meeting) . (sleepyz/iStock/Getty Images Plus) [Michael Hickey](https://associationsnow.com/author/michael-hickey/) Michael Hickey is a contributor to Associations Now. [More articles by this author](https://associationsnow.com/author/michael-hickey/) Tags: [#Advocacy](https://associationsnow.com/tag/advocacy/) [#AI](https://associationsnow.com/tag/ai/) [#nonprofit](https://associationsnow.com/tag/nonprofit/) [#Technology](https://associationsnow.com/tag/technology/) **Stay Informed** [Subscribe to our free newsletter](https://associationsnow.com/newsletter/) , *Associations Now Daily News*, to find out what’s happening in the association world every business day. ## You Might Like - [PodcastAssociations Now Presents: Beyond the Tech Stack: How AI Is Changing the Association PlaybookOctober 29, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/10/29/associations-now-presents-beyond-the-tech-stack-how-ai-is-changing-the-association-playbook/) - [PodcastNavigating Tax Reform: Advocacy for Associations and NonprofitsDecember 19, 2024](https://associationsnow.com/2024/12/19/navigating-tax-reform-advocacy-for-associations-and-nonprofits/) - [Video2025 Summit Award Recipient: National Adoption AssociationOctober 3, 2025](https://associationsnow.com/2025/10/03/2025-summit-award-recipient-national-adoption-association/) - [PodcastAssociations NOW Presents: Powering Advocacy-Why PACs Matter for AssociationsNovember 20, 2025](https://associationsnow.com/2025/11/20/associations-now-presents-powering-advocacy-why-pacs-matter-for-associations/) ## Comments **Comments are for ASAE members.** [Learn more about comments on this site.](https://associationsnow.com/comments/) [Log in](https://associationsnow.com/login?redirect_to=https%3A%2F%2Fassociationsnow.com%2F2020%2F01%2F23%2Fdaily-buzz-the-org-battle-gets-a-public-protest%2F%23comments) to your member account or [join ASAE](https://my.asaecenter.org/select-a-membership-type/) !