What It Is
ICANN stands for the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers. It is a nonprofit organization that coordinates the internet’s naming system so that every domain name is unique and points to the right place. ICANN does not sell domains to the public. It accredits the registrars that do, and it writes policies they must follow, a bit like a governing body for a sport that sets the rulebook but does not play.
Why It Matters for Your Business
You will rarely deal with ICANN directly, but its rules protect you. They cover how domains are transferred between registrars, what contact details must be on file, and how disputes over a name are handled. If a registrar refuses to release your domain without a valid reason, ICANN’s transfer rules are what you can point to.
Good to Know
If you ever receive an email asking you to confirm your domain contact details, check that it comes from your actual registrar. Scammers sometimes pose as ICANN to steal logins. When in doubt, log in to your registrar directly instead of clicking a link in the message, and check whether the request appears there.