Domainincite：ICANN has issued a mandatory rebranding order to Knock Knock Whois There (KKWT), the registry operator for .blog, demanding that it change its name to Knock Knock RDAP There. Failure to comply within 30 days could result in termination proceedings, putting 300,000+ .blog domains at risk.
Why is ICANN Forcing a Name Change?
The move comes after ICANN’s strict enforcement of the industry-wide transition from the Whois protocol to the Registration Data Access Protocol (RDAP). While most registrars and registries have already migrated, KKWT’s branding still references “Whois,” which ICANN deems non-compliant with its new standards.
ICANN’s Aggressive Tactics
According to a KKWT source, ICANN’s compliance team has been unrelenting in its efforts to enforce the name change.
“At first, we thought the fax was a joke, so we ignored it,” the source said. “Then the voicemails started—first daily, then hourly. It became terrifying.”
Shockingly, ICANN even contacted a 90-year-old relative of a KKWT employee, delivering a cryptic message:
“The kid complies, or we escalate.”
The elderly woman, unfamiliar with ICANN’s procedures, was left deeply unsettled.
ICANN’s Compliance Team Takes a Hardline Approach
Industry insiders suggest that ICANN’s increasingly aggressive stance stems from its success in eliminating DNS abuse, leaving compliance officers searching for new targets to regulate.
ICANN Compliance Chief Ronnie Smanks made no effort to downplay their approach, stating:
“Damn right we’ll escalate. Those Knock Knock wankers better get their house in order, or I’ll send the boys around.”
This appears to reference ICANN’s newly formed Physical Compliance Unit, a group of enforcers frequently spotted near ICANN headquarters, reportedly armed with tire irons, pickaxe handles, and bicycle chains.
KKWT Fights Back
Despite ICANN’s threats, KKWT refuses to back down. The company is consulting legal advisors and working with branding experts to devise a new, equally humorous name.
Industry Reactions: Is ICANN Overstepping?
ICANN’s actions have sparked intense debate within the domain community. Some see the enforcement as heavy-handed and authoritarian, while others argue that removing outdated references to Whois is necessary for clarity and industry standardization.
One thing is certain—this battle over branding is far from over, and the domain world will be watching closely.
News Source:domainincite，This article does not represent our position.
