[dijit]

Unfortunately, it is.

Unless you're implying that Verisign isn't a US company, just because .com has become the conventional domain for businesses worldwide doesn't change the fact that it's US-based. Similarly, the EU's widespread adoption of Microsoft Office doesn't make it any less American.

EDIT: That was unpopular. Why?

[catoc]

It is not

Source: own multiple, via EU registrar

(Edit: Parent was edited after reply - parent statement is now correct)

[dijit]

Registering a .com through a EU-based registrar doesn't change anything.

Verisign, the organisation that actually controls the .com top-level domain, is a US company and operates under US jurisdiction.

Where you purchase the domain from is irrelevant.

[catoc]

That… is true - thanks for editing your comment to clarify

The initial thread read like “.com domains are exclusive to US” which they of course aren’t

[dijit]

It's a bit like .gov and .edu; technically exclusive to the US. The difference is that .com and .org were opened up for anyone to purchase.

And it goes deeper than just intent: .com was literally administered under a US government contract for decades, with Verisign only ending up in control because they acquired the company that held that government contract.

So while anyone can buy a .com today, the infrastructure and oversight have always been firmly American.

[peterspath]

you do not really own a domain