What happens when Verisigns monopoly registry agreement for .COM and .NET expires on November 10 2007? http://www.icann.org/tlds/agreements/verisign/com-index.htm According to the contract signed between ICANN and Verisign, Zone File Data is defined as 13. "Zone File Data" means all data contained in DNS zone files for the Registry TLD, or for any subdomain for which Registry Services are provided and that contains Registered Names, as provided to TLD nameservers on the Internet. A "wildcard" name does not meet the definition of Registered Name in the Verisign/ICANN contract. 6. "Registered Name" refers to a domain name within the domain of the Registry TLD, whether consisting of two or more (e.g., john.smith.name) levels, about which Registry Operator or an affiliate engaged in providing Registry Services maintains data in a Registry Database, arranges for such maintenance, or derives revenue from such maintenance. A name in a Registry Database may be a Registered Name even though it does not appear in a TLD zone file (e.g., a registered but inactive name). Because "wildcard" names are not Registered Names, Verisign appears to be in breach of their contract with ICANN by including them in the Zone File Data. ICANN can seek specific performance of the agreement by Verisign, or seek to terminate Verisign's contract as the .COM/.NET registry operator and transfer the operation to a successor registry. IANAL, ICANN and Verisign should seek the advice of their own legal advisors.