GoDaddy is default registrar for Google Apps Domains

[jwildeboer]

Maybe Google can rethink their selection and make a change? It is strange to oppose SOPA on the one hand and use the services of one of its proponents at the same time. #justsayin

[superasn]

Is it just me or has the focus shifting from SOPA to GoDaddy (reddit too has the same trend). I'm as anti-GoDaddy as the next person but let's remember that calling your representative will help the cause more than punishing a domain registrar. Maybe if you run a popular website then informing your site visitors about the evil of the bill (like tumblr) can do much more to help the cause than moving your domain name to namecheap.

[_pius]

I'm as anti-GoDaddy as the next person but let's remember that calling your representative will help the cause more than punishing a domain registrar.

Are you sure about that?

[intenex]

We shouldn't underestimate the message we're sending by outcasting GD. As we've already seen, other businesses in the domain/hosting world have already taken notice and adopted an anti-SOPA stance. If the backlash against GD is great enough, it's a pretty clear warning to every other company out there - if you support SOPA, be prepared to face the consequences.

[ajays]

You have a valid point. Remember: the main supporters of SOPA are the Hollywood bigwigs who want to preserve a flawed business model at any cost. GoDaddy is just side show.

[freejack]

Don't forget the millions that Godaddy invests in their lobbying activities each year. They had a hand in drafting SOPA, testify before congress etc. They are active in helping promote this type of legislation and haven't agreed to stop this political axe-grinding - they've just suspended judgement until a more final product with broader support has been forged. We haven't seen the end of this one.

[commandar]

Why can't we do both?

Another key thing is that this is a bill being pushed through with corporate support. We're not going the change the minds of Big Media, but we can -- and have -- change the minds of companies that are supporting it for reasons periphery to their core businesses.

[zbuc]

Has anyone created a list of representatives and whether they support SOPA or not?

I've been seeing a list of companies that support SOPA posted on Facebook lately, but I think a list of reps would be a lot more useful.

[citricsquid]

"benhuh @mattcutts indeed... now, ask Google to pressure GD. GD is Google's third-party registrar."

"mattcutts @benhuh I think we use eNom too. But safe to assume people has passed this feedback on."

http://twitter.com/#!/mattcutts/status/149988873726984192

[stuartjmoore]

They do use eNom as well, that's the one I chose when setting up my account.

[SandB0x]

Let's not pollute this place with hashtags.

[ajross]

Yes. Instead, let's make the top comment on the top post on the site a pointless flamewar about a single word in the title instead of the content of the post. Your idea is much better, thank you.

[bdg]

No kidding. Hash tags need to die, this isn't twitter, and I don't come here for 100-character-long spam bursts of groupthink and newspeak.

[uptown]

In a recent SOPA-like proceeding, a judge ordered GoDaddy to facilitate the seizure.

http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20111129/20471916928/court-...

[RexRollman]

Personally, I am amazed that anyone stayed with GoDaddy after the Seclists.org debacle. I switched to Gandi at that point and I have been really happy with them so far.

[nick007]

Seclists.org debacle? Link?

[VMG]

What I don't get about it - what does GoDaddy realistically have to gain from supporting SOPA?

[maratd]

When you get to the top, you want to stay at the top. The problem is that on the way to the top, you became big. Real big.

Big companies can't maneuver well. An elephant can't do acrobatics. They know they can't compete head-to-head with smaller companies.

So big companies start to create artificial barriers to entry. They form partnerships (i.e. Google), they begin to advertise heavily (i.e. Superbowl), and they start to lobby the government (i.e. SOPA). All of these actions are there to create lasting relationships that will help a large company like GoDaddy compete with smaller, more maneuverable firms.

GoDaddy couldn't give a damn about SOPA. They simply want to have a solid relationship with various members of congress, the senate, and parts of the executive branch. I'll scratch your back, you scratch mine down the road.

Also, although I don't believe this is a significant motivating factor, SOPA would reduce legal costs for GoDaddy. Currently, if there's a court order for a seizure or something along those lines, it has to go through a process in legal. One of the features of SOPA, is that it would take the process out of the courts, at least initially. No courts = no court orders to process.

[lt]

They have been handling domain seizure orders:

http://www.techspot.com/news/46481-judge-oks-private-domain-...

    an injunction against the top-level domain name registry, directing it to change the registrar of record for the domain names to GoDaddy (!);
    an injunction telling GoDaddy to change the DNS data for the domain names so the domain names resolve to a site where a copy of the case documents are hosted (servingnotice.com/sdv/index.html);

[chernevik]

One guess: If Congress thinks GoDaddy is the sort of company that will help them manage all this unruly internet stuff, then that's the sort of company Congress wants around.

Congressmen live and die by response to constituent concerns. If the folks get worked up about cyber-bullying or unsafe skateboard videos or kitten porn or whatever depredations those Internet freaks invent next, Congressmen want some avenue to Do Something. GoDaddy may get little from SOPA, but they could get a lot offering to help manage all of this . . .

[RexRollman]

Maybe they are planning to make money by charging fees to the government when they have to make changes to a domain name due to a SOPA action? Does the bill require companies like GoDaddy to do this for free?

[jwildeboer]

Maybe they hope they will become default registrar for all the other proponents? Quite some big names on that list.

[nick007]

Because it sounds good to support anti-piracy -- especially when they are the ones who often host sites supporting piracy. At least, I'm assuming this is their rationale.

[loso]

I don't think Google will be changing their business dealings with Godaddy anytime soon. Google has a business relationship with KKR (the new owners of GoDaddy). They are investing 94 million on a KKR solar farm project. http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/wireStory/google-kkr-invest...

[DiabloD3]

Given the number of Google people who regularly read HN, I suspect this is already in the process of being fixed.

[chernevik]

Google must be very, very careful about throwing its weight around. They want to avoid drawing attention to their importance, or suggesting that they'd use it to impose their opinions.

[slig]

Yeah, Google has been showing a lot of action against SOPA.

[billpatrianakos]

Fixed? You know, I get the whole backlash against GoDaddy and it's totally justified but these posts that basically demand all businesses switch registrars or imply that any company using GoDaddy as their registrar are somehow sympathetic to them is nuts to me. I know they don't outright say it but that's the subtext I'm getting.

I hope everyone boycotts GoDaddy and transfers to another provider but we have to understand that something like this may not be feasible for some companies right now. Google may have a long term deal they have to finish out. In addition transferring the thousands of domains they have costs money for not just the transfers but they also have to get people to work on it and provide customer support as there will be many people who will need to know why this is happening and how they'll be affected.

GoDaddy has sucked even before they came out in support of SOPA, there's no doubt about that and the transfer/boycott movement is justified but let's please not put the entire focus on GD and remember the situations some companies are in can make it harder to transfer their domains. Also, using GoDaddy != support for SOPA just as using a gas powered car doesn't automatically make you a global warming denier. Circumstances just don't always allow for people to be idealists.

[davidw]

I long ago got rid of my directly registered GoDaddy domains, but the Google Apps registered ones... can you switch to eNom?

New domains I get through name.com and they offer you the option to set up Google Apps for your domain.

[stuartmemo]

Is there any reason for Google not to become a registrar themselves?

[mmahemoff]

Technically it is, since 2005: http://news.netcraft.com/archives/2005/01/31/google_is_now_a...

[Update - Yep still on the list http://www.icann.org/en/registrars/accredited-list.html]

There was speculation at the time it was done to get hold of domain registration data, which could be used by search algorithms.

[rmc]

Hassle? What's the benefit to them?

[irunbackwards]

It's also the default registrar for SSL certificates on Windows Server 2011. :/

[Tallguy181]

I was going to switch to Google Chrome. Just changed my mind. Please try not to do business with companies that support SOPA and their affiliates.

[ctman]

deleted my G+ account. Will not be buying another Android phone.

[mdwrigh2]

I think you threw the baby out with the bath water there. You've started boycotting Google, who's one of the most vocal opponents to SOPA, because one of the default options they give for domain registration for Google Apps accounts is GoDaddy, who supports SOPA.

[JVirissimo]

Really, you're not going to wait a few weeks and see if Google fixes things?