Network Solutions

Network Solutions started as a technology consulting company incorporated by Emmit McHenry with Ty Grigsby, Gary Desler and Ed Peters in Washington, D.C., in 1979.{{cite news |first1=Lauren DeLisa |last1=Coleman |url=https://thegrio.com/2012/06/28/black-founders-of-internet-domain-registry-network-solutions-reminisce-on-racial-barriers-in-tech-sector/ |title=Black founder of Internet domain registry, Network Solutions, reminisces on racial barriers in tech sector |work=The Grio |date=June 28, 2012}}{{Better citation needed |date=August 2020 |reason=We originally had 1 January 1979, then January 1979, but the Grio source has just 1979. I'm unable to find a non-circular source that confirms anything more specific than 1979. Is there one?}}

In its first few years, the company focused on systems programming services, primarily in the IBM environment. Annual revenues passed $1 million in 1982, growing to $18.5 million in 1986.

Network Solutions, Inc. (NSI) first operated the domain name system (DNS) registry under a sub-contract with the U.S. Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) in September 1991. NSI gave out names in the .com, .org, .mil, .gov, .edu and .net Top Level Domains (TLDs) for free, along with free Internet Protocol (IP) address blocks.

The Network Information Center at SRI International had performed the work under Elizabeth J. Feinler since 1972.{{cite web |title=Elizabeth J. Feinler |work=Alumni Hall of Fame |year=2000 |url= http://www.sri.com/about/alumni/alumni-hall-fame-2000#Feinler |publisher=SRI International |access-date=2013-06-13 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130201140923/http://www.sri.com/about/alumni/alumni-hall-fame-2000#Feinler |archive-date=2013-02-01 |url-status=dead }}

In 1992, NSI was the sole bidder on a grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to further develop the domain name registration service for the Internet. In 1993, NSI was granted an exclusive contract by the NSF to be the sole domain name registrar for .com (commerce), .net (network) and .org (organization) TLDs, a continuation of work NSI had already been doing.{{cite web|title=History of DNS|url=http://www.cybertelecom.org/dns/history.htm|publisher=cybertelecom.org|access-date=2008-04-05}} NSI also maintained the central database of assigned names called WHOIS. A contract was given to Boeing to operate the .mil TLD registry, and was also performed by NSI under subcontract.

In May 1993, the NSF privatized the domain name registry; Network Solutions was the only bidder on the $5.9 million annual contract to administer it.

In March 1995, the company was acquired by Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) for $4.7 million. At that time, the company managed 60,000 domain names.{{cite news | url=https://xconomy.com/san-diego/2009/07/29/the-untold-story-of-saic-network-solutions-and-the-rise-of-the-web-part-1/ | title=The Untold Story of SAIC, Network Solutions, and the Rise of the Web—Part 1 | first=Bruce V. | last=Bigelow | work=Xconomy | date=July 29, 2009}}

Following the acquisition by SAIC, the NSF gave Network Solutions authority to charge for domain name registrations. Network Solutions imposed a charge of $100 for two years' registration. 30% of this revenue went to the NSF to create an "Internet Intellectual Infrastructure Fund".{{cite web|title=FTC Staff Advisory Letter from David Medine to David Graves|url=http://www.ftc.gov/os/1997/08/internic.let.htm|publisher=Federal Trade Commission|access-date=2008-04-05|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080530231517/http://www.ftc.gov/os/1997/08/internic.let.htm|archive-date=2008-05-30}}{{cite journal|title=Domain name solution causes new problems|journal = Computer|volume = 32|issue = 10|pages = 11–15|publisher=IEEE|doi = 10.1109/MC.1999.796102|year = 1999|last1 = Leavitt|first1 = N.| s2cid=7652492 }} In 1997, a lawsuit was filed charging Network Solutions with antitrust violations with regard to domain names.{{cite web|title=Network Solutions sued for domain-name antitrust|url=http://sunsite.uakom.sk/sunworldonline/swol-04-1997/swol-04-nsi.html|publisher=sunsite.uakom.sk|access-date=2008-04-05}} The 30% of the registration fee that went to the NSF was ruled by a court to be an illegal tax.{{cite web|title=Internet Domain Name Fee Ruled Illegal|url=http://www.courttv.com/archive/legaldocs/cyberlaw/nsi.html|publisher=Court TV|access-date=2008-04-05|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080221123548/http://www.courttv.com/archive/legaldocs/cyberlaw/nsi.html|archive-date=2008-02-21}}{{cite web|title=Judge rules domain fees illegal|url=http://news.com/Judge+rules+domain+fees+illegal/2100-1023_3-210006.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120730063033/http://news.com/Judge+rules+domain+fees+illegal/2100-1023_3-210006.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 30, 2012|publisher=news.com|access-date=2008-04-05}} This led to a reduction in the domain name registration fee to $70{{cite news |title=How to Get Your Own Domain Name |url=http://archives.cnn.com/2000/TECH/computing/06/08/get.own.domain.idg/index.html |work=CNN |access-date=2020-08-19 |first1=Matt |last1=Lake |date=2000-06-07 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080317143942/http://archives.cnn.com/2000/TECH/computing/06/08/get.own.domain.idg/index.html |archive-date=2008-03-17 }} (for two years).{{cite news |title=Domain fees lowered |url=http://news.com/2100-1023-209138.html?legacy=cnet |last1=Kornblum |first1=Janet |date=1998-03-16 |work=CNET |access-date=2008-04-05 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121006015852/http://news.cnet.com/2100-1023-209138.html |archive-date=2012-10-06 |quote=... 30 percent less to register domain names ... }}

Network Solutions also implemented a policy of censoring domain names. This came to light when Jeff Gold attempted to register the domain name shitakemushrooms.com but was unable to. Network Solutions' automated screening system blocked the registration "because it contains four letters they consider obscene", though the domain name 'shit.com' had been successfully registered.{{cite news |last1=Festa |first1=Paul |title=Food domain found 'obscene' |url=http://news.cnet.com/2100-1023-210566.html |access-date=2020-08-19 |work=CNET |date=April 27, 1998 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120716142634/http://news.com.com/2100-1023-210566.html |archive-date=2012-07-16}} Network Solutions argued that it was within its First Amendment rights to block words it found offensive, even though it was operating pursuant to contract with a Federal agency.{{cite news |last1=Festa |first1=Paul |title=NSI lets a bad word slip |url=http://news.com.com/2100-1023-222093.html |access-date=2020-08-19 |work=CNET |date=February 23, 1999 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120712011603/http://news.com.com/2100-1023-222093.html |archive-date=12 July 2012}}

Network Solutions' $100 charge and its monopoly position in the market were contributing pressures that resulted in the creation of the International Ad Hoc Committee and a failed attempt to take control of the domain name system, and to the U.S. Department of Commerce and National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) releasing a white paper and ultimately contracting with the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) to administer the DNS.

In September 1997, the Network Solutions ({{NASDAQ was|NSOL}}) became a public company via an initial public offering (IPO).{{cite web |url=https://www.nasdaq.com/markets/ipos/company/network-solutions-inc-de-5435-9042 |title=NETWORK SOLUTIONS INC /DE/ (NSOL) IPO |website=NASDAQ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160502140833/https://www.nasdaq.com/markets/ipos/company/network-solutions-inc-de-5435-9042 |archive-date=2016-05-02 |access-date=2020-08-19 }}

After the formation of ICANN in 1998, the domain name industry opened up to partial competition, with NSI retaining its monopoly on .com, .net and .org but having to recognize a separation between the functions of a registry, which manages the underlying database of domain names, and that of a registrar, which acts as a retail provider of domain names. To achieve this separation, NSI created a "firewall" between the two new divisions of the business, creating separate technical infrastructure, organizations, and facilities. By the end of 1999 the fee for registration had been reduced, from $34.99,{{Cite web |url=http://www.darksunlight.com/webhosting/cadav3r/seo/articles/history_of_domain_names.html |title=History of Domain Names |access-date=2010-11-11 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20110708233015/http://www.darksunlight.com/webhosting/cadav3r/seo/articles/history_of_domain_names.html |archive-date=2011-07-08 |url-status=dead }} to a wholesale rate of $6 per year to registered resellers.

In May 1999, Jim Rutt was named chief executive officer of the company; he stepped down in February 2001.{{cite news | url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/business/2001/02/27/network-solutions-ceo-to-step-down/fe143065-4c4a-4354-afae-4ffb7f9b69a4/ | title=Network Solutions CEO to Step Down | first=Dina | last=ElBoghdady | newspaper=The Washington Post | date=February 27, 2001 |url-access=subscription }}

In 2000, at the peak of the dot-com bubble, the company was acquired by VeriSign for $21 billion in stock ({{NASDAQ|VRSN}}).{{cite news | url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/verisign-buys-network-solutions-for-21b/ | title=VeriSign buys Network Solutions for $21B | first=Sergio G. | last=Non | work=ZDNet | date=March 7, 2000}}

On October 17, 2003, VeriSign announced the sale of Network Solutions to Pivotal Equity Group for $100 million.{{cite news | url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/business/2003/10/17/verisign-to-sell-registrar-unit-for-100-million/4f70639b-1265-4190-b61e-15f1fe09e303/ | title=VeriSign to Sell Registrar Unit For $100 Million | first=Mike | last=Musgrove | newspaper=The Washington Post | date=October 17, 2003 |url-access=subscription }}{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/10/17/business/technology-verisign-sells-an-operation-that-registers-net-addresses.html | title=VeriSign Sells An Operation That Registers Net Addresses |first1=John |last1=Schwartz |work=The New York Times |date=October 17, 2003}}{{Clarify |date=August 2020|reason=Per WP:SURPRISE, shouldn't we discuss what sources surely said about VRSN losing $20.9B (99.5%) of its $21B investment in under 3 years?! Also, https://www.bizjournals.com/washington/news/2011/08/03/network-solutions-sold-to-webcom.html (cited for the web.com deal) says the buyer here was "the Najafi companies".}}

In January 2006, Network Solutions acquired MonsterCommerce, an e-commerce company in the Greater St. Louis area.{{cite news | url=https://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/stories/2005/12/19/story3.html | title=MonsterCommerce bought by giant Network Solutions | first=Rick | last=Desloge | work=American City Business Journals | date=December 18, 2005}}{{cite news |url=https://www.computerworld.com/article/2560944/it-management/network-solutions-buys-monstercommerce.html |title=Network Solutions buys MonsterCommerce | first=Matt | last=Hamblen | work=Computerworld |date=December 16, 2005}}

In February 2007, General Atlantic, a private equity firm, acquired the company for a reported $800 million.{{cite press release | url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20070206005943/en/Network-Solutions-Announces-Ownership-Change | title=Network Solutions Announces Ownership Change | publisher=Business Wire | date=February 6, 2007}}{{cite news | title=How Najafi Cos. Hit The Buyout Jackpot | url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB118048898651218036 | first=Pui-Wing | last=Tam | work=The Wall Street Journal | date=May 30, 2007 |url-access=subscription }}

In January 2008, Roy Dunbar was appointed CEO.{{cite press release | url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20080117005693/en/Network-Solutions-Names-W.-Roy-Dunbar-CEO | title=Network Solutions Names W. Roy Dunbar as CEO | publisher=Business Wire | date=January 17, 2008}}

On November 2, 2009, Tim Kelly, president of the company, replaced Dunbar as CEO. Dunbar continued to act as chairman and advisor to the company.{{cite press release | url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20091102005726/en/Network-Solutions-Names-Tim-Kelly-Chief-Executive | title=Network Solutions Names Tim Kelly as Chief Executive Officer | publisher=Business Wire | date=November 2, 2009}}{{cite news | url=https://www.bizjournals.com/washington/stories/2009/11/02/daily19.html | title=Network Solutions names Tim Kelly CEO | first=Darlene | last=Darcy | work=American City Business Journals | date=November 2, 2009}}

In August 2011, Web.com announced the acquisition of the company for $405 million and 18 million shares of newly issued Web.com stock ({{NASDAQ was|WWWW}}), which closed at $8.66 per share before the announcement, for a total purchase price of about $560 million.{{cite news | url=https://www.bizjournals.com/washington/news/2011/08/03/network-solutions-sold-to-webcom.html | title=Network Solutions sold to Web.com for $405M and stock | work=American City Business Journals | first=Bill | last=Flook | date=August 3, 2011 |access-date=2020-08-19}}{{cite press release | url=https://globenewswire.com/news-release/2011/08/03/453070/228502/en/Web-com-to-Acquire-Network-Solutions.html | title=Web.com to Acquire Network Solutions | publisher=Globe Newswire | date=August 3, 2011}} The acquisition was completed on October 27, 2011.{{cite press release | url=https://ir.web.com/news-releases/news-release-details/webcom-announces-completion-network-solutions-acquisition | title=Web.com Announces Completion of Network Solutions Acquisition | publisher=Web.com | date=October 27, 2011}}

This was immediately followed by the departure of CEO Kelly and other leadership. Large-scale employee layoffs began the following day as well. By December 31, 2011, over half of the office space in the Herndon, Virginia, headquarters had been vacated, and on March 31, 2012, the company's Belleville, Illinois, office was closed.{{cite news

| url = http://www.isphub.com/2012/02/internet-service-provider-closing-metro-east-office/

| title = Internet service provider closing metro-east office

| newspaper = Belleville News-Democrat

| access-date = 2012-02-10

| date=2011-08-03}}

In June 2020, Network Solutions revoked the domain name registration of two hate sites (VDARE and niggermania.com) after receiving a demand letter from the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, a civil rights organization.{{cite web|url= https://www.lawyerscommittee.org/lawyers-committee-for-civil-rights-under-law-forces-two-white-supremacist-websites-to-shut-down/|title=Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law Forces Two White Supremacist Websites to Shut Down|date=June 23, 2020 }}

On April 24, 2025, Web.com announced its merger with Network Solutions, with the Web.com brand transitioning to operate under the Network Solutions name. This strategic consolidation is part of a broader initiative by their parent company, Newfold Digital, to streamline its portfolio of brands. Newfold Digital has undertaken similar integrations, merging brands such as iPage, HostMonster, FatCow, and JustHost into its leading web hosting provider, Bluehost.{{Cite web |last=Team |first=Web com |date=2025-04-24 |title=Web.com is becoming Network Solutions |url=https://www.web.com/blog/webdotcom-becomes-network-solutions/ |access-date=2025-04-27 |website=Web.com Blog |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=2025-04-27 |title=Web.com Merges with Network Solutions: A Major Shift in Web Hosting |url=https://hostdean.com/news/web-com-merges-network-solutions/ |access-date=2025-04-27 |website=HostDean |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Allemann |first=Andrew |date=2025-04-24 |title=Newfold is killing the Web.com brand, accounts will migrate to Network Solutions |url=https://domainnamewire.com/2025/04/24/newfold-is-killing-the-web-com-brand-accounts-will-migrate-to-network-solutions/ |access-date=2025-04-27 |website=Domain Name Wire {{!}} Domain Name News |language=en-US}}

{{Details|Domain name front running}}

Network Solutions offers a search engine that permits users to find out if a domain name is available for purchase. Unregistered domain names entered into this search engine are then speculatively reserved by Network Solutions.[http://domainnamewire.com/2008/01/08/network-solutions-faces-pr-nightmare-over-domain-frontrunning/ Domain Name Wire. "Network Solutions Faces PR Nightmare Over Domain FrontRunning"], January 8, 2008. This "reservation" can be removed by anyone immediately by contacting Network Solutions customer service hotline, or it will automatically unreserve within four days, allowing the domain to be freely registered anywhere. Also, visitors searching for domain names on their website allow the reservation when they click "OK" on the Reservation Confirmation dialog box. Clicking "Cancel" will prevent the domain name from being reserved.

On January 8, 2008, Domain Name Wire published a story alleging that Network Solutions practices domain name front running. "If you try to register a domain at Network Solutions, but decide not to register it, you won't be able to register it anywhere else", the article says. "Network Solutions registers the domain in its company name with the words 'This Domain is available at NetworkSolutions.com'." Circle ID reported on January 8, 2008, that Jonathon Nevett, Vice President of Policy at Network Solutions and one of the seven members of the ICANN community who was consulted by the ICANN committee looking at registrar abuse of domain "tasting", as the availability search practice is called, had offered a response to the news story stating Network Solutions' policy. The policy was "a security measure to protect our customers", said Nevett. "When a customer searches for an available domain name at our website, but decides not to purchase the name immediately after conducting the search", Nevett added, "after the search ends, we will put the domain name on reserve."[http://www.circleid.com/posts/81082_network_solutions_front_running/ Circle ID. "Network Solutions Responds to Front Running Accusations" by CircleID Reporter. January 8, 2008.] Nevett said that if the domain was "not purchased within 4 days, it will be released back to the registry and will be generally available for registration." But once a name was supposedly "reserved" for a potential customer, not only was it not available at any less expensive registrar, but the fee charged by Network Solutions went up to $35 instead of the original fee charged of around $10.

Jay Westerdal, one of the seven members of the ICANN community who was consulted by the ICANN committee looking at domain tasting abuse,{{Cite web |url=http://img.domaintools.com/blog/domain-name-front-running.pdf |title=ICANN. "SAC 022 SSAC Advisory on Domain Name Front Running", page 10. October, 2007. |access-date=October 26, 2011 |archive-date=August 15, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110815080020/http://img.domaintools.com/blog/domain-name-front-running.pdf |url-status=dead }} published an article on Domain Tools on January 8, 2008, stating that Network Solutions is exposing the domains to domain tasters. The domain tasters "will snipe those domain up milliseconds after Network Solutions deletes them", says Westerdal. "It is a deplorable action that Network Solutions would announce potential domain names to the entire world", Westerdal added.{{cite web|url=http://blog.domaintools.com/2008/01/network-solutions-steals-domain-ideas-confirmed/|title=Network Solutions steals domain ideas; Confirmed!|last=Westerdal|first=Jay|publisher=Domain Tools|date=January 8, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121230041538/http://blog.domaintools.com/2008/01/network-solutions-steals-domain-ideas-confirmed|archive-date=30 December 2012}} On January 8, 2008, Tucows, the largest publicly traded domain name registrar, published an article on its company web site titled "Registrar Reputation and Trust" criticizing Network Solutions policy. "Potential Registrants are effectively forced to purchase the domain from Network Solutions for a period of four days at which point the domain is dropped", wrote Tucows employee James Koole. Koole says that Tucows has found a way to address the issue of domain tasting and has policies in place that uphold the rights of Registrants. "Tucows works to prevent domain name tasting by charging our Resellers a monetary fee on domain name registrations that are cancelled within the five-day Add Grace Period (AGP)", Koole said. "Tucows doesn't use WHOIS query data or search data from our API to front-run domain names", Koole added.[http://www.opensrs.com/blog/2008/01/registrar-reputation-and-trust Tucows. "Registrar Reputation and Trust" by James Koole] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131016214716/http://www.opensrs.com/blog/2008/01/registrar-reputation-and-trust/ |date=2013-10-16 }}, January 8, 2008.

On January 9, 2008, CNET reported that Network Solutions will soon not register domains when people search for domains from the company's Whois search page, will offer only an "under construction" page for sites that it has reserved, and newly reserved pages won't be linked to the numerical Internet addresses that allow Web browsers to locate the pages.[https://archive.today/20130130001625/http://www.news.com/8301-10784_3-9847684-7.html?tag=nefd.blgs CNET. "Network Solutions amends Net registration process" by Stephen Shankland. January 9, 2008.] Network Solutions will continue to register domains when people search for domains from the company's home page.

On February 25, 2008, law firms Kabateck LLP, (then Kabateck Brown Kellner), and Engstrom, Lipscomb & Lack, filed class-action lawsuits, McElroy v. Network Solutions LLC, et. al and James Lee Finseth v. Network Solutions LLC, against the company for front running, which was settled in favor of the plaintiffs, in 2009.[https://tcattorney.typepad.com/domainnamedispute/2009/04/notice-of-class-action-settlement-in-the-matters-of-mcelroy-v-network-solutions-llc-et-al-case-no-cv.html "Notice of Class Action Settlement in the Matters of McElroy v. Network Solutions LLC, et. al, Case No. CV 08-01247 PSG (VBKx) Finseth v. Network Solutions LLC, Case No. CV 08-01537 PSG (VBKx)", Traverse Legal, April 29, 2009. Retrieved August 6, 2019.]

In August 2009, Network Solutions notified customers that its servers were breached, and led to the exposure of names, address, and credit card numbers of more than 573,000 people who made purchases on Web sites hosted by the company.{{cite news|first=Brian|last=Krebs|date=July 24, 2009|title=Network Solutions Hack Compromises 573,000 Credit, Debit Accounts|work=Security Fix|access-date=October 31, 2019|url=http://voices.washingtonpost.com/securityfix/2009/07/network_solutions_hack_comprom.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110810231516/http://voices.washingtonpost.com/securityfix/2009/07/network_solutions_hack_comprom.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 10, 2011}} Susan Wade, a spokesperson for Network Solutions, said, "We really feel terrible about this". At the time of this writing{{when|date=October 2019}}, NSI does not know how their servers were compromised.

One year later in August 2010, Network Solutions discovered that one of their widgets offered to their domain registration and hosting customers was capable of distributing malware by sites displaying it. As many as 5,000,000 of their registered domains may have been affected by the hack. The affected widget was at least temporarily addressed by Network Solutions, who were able to make changes to the code to prevent it from loading.{{Cite web |url=http://www.thetechherald.com/article.php/201032/6023/500-000-parked-domains-on-Network-Solutions-serving-Malware-Update |title=Network Solutions serving Malware |work=The Tech Herald |date=August 15, 2010 |access-date=2010-08-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100817152941/http://www.thetechherald.com/article.php/201032/6023/500-000-parked-domains-on-Network-Solutions-serving-Malware-Update |archive-date=2010-08-17 |url-status=dead }}

In January, 2014 Network Solutions' marketing department sent an email to customers stating that the company would be automatically enrolling customers in a new security program called WebLock, for an initial charge of $1,850 for the first year and $1,350 each subsequent year. The company claimed the cost offset new security features to protect domains, including registering as a "certified user" and confirmation of configuration changes with those "certified users".{{Citation

| last = Brodkin

| first = Jon

| title = Domain registrar auto-enrolls customers into $1,850 security service

| publisher = ArsTechnica

| date = 22 January 2014

| url = https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2014/01/domain-registrar-auto-enrolls-customers-into-1850-security-service/

| access-date = 29 January 2014}}

... To help recapture the costs of maintaining this extra level of security for your account, your credit card will be billed $1,850 for the first year of service on the date your program goes live... After that you will be billed $1,350 on every subsequent year from that date. If you wish to opt out of this program you may do so by calling us at 1-888-642-0265.

Web.com COO Jason Teichman later clarified that the program would actually be opt-in, saying "we did not do a good job in wording that [email]" and "It's not our intention to enroll anyone in a program they don't want."{{cite web|url= http://domainnamewire.com/2014/01/22/web-com-weblock-program-will-be-opt-in-not-opt-out/|title=Web.com: WebLock program will be opt-in, not opt-out|publisher=Domain Name Wire|first=Andrew|last=Allemann|date=January 22, 2014|access-date=January 31, 2014}}

In September, 2009, Network Solutions began publishing a list of domain name WHOIS searches performed by customers and other service users in the past day.{{cite news| url=http://domainnamewire.com/2009/09/01/network-solutions-displays-customers-whois-queries-to-the-public/ | first=Andrew| last=Allemann| work=Uniregistry Corporate Blog| title=Network Solutions Displays Customers' Whois Queries to the Public| date=2009-09-01 | access-date=2016-02-19}}

In March 2008, "Fitnathemovie.com", a website that Dutch politician Geert Wilders had reserved at Network Solutions, was taken offline. Wilders intended to host a film he had created, Fitna. At that time, the only page on the site was a picture of the Qur'an accompanied by the text "Geert Wilders presents Fitna" and "Coming soon". Network Solutions' notice stated that they were "investigating whether the site's content is in violation of the Network Solutions Acceptable Use Policy".[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7310439.stm Dutch Islam film website 'shut'] BBC Wilders said the 15-minute film will show how verses from the Qur'an are being used today to incite modern Muslims to behave violently and anti-democratically.{{cite news|url=http://www.spectator.co.uk/print/the-magazine/features/553681/a-filmmaker-who-lives-in-the-shadow-of-a-fatwa.thtml|title=A film-maker who lives in the shadow of a fatwa|first=Douglas|last=Murray|work=Spectator.co.uk|date=2008-03-12|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080331230912/http://www.spectator.co.uk/print/the-magazine/features/553681/a-filmmaker-who-lives-in-the-shadow-of-a-fatwa.thtml|archive-date=2008-03-31}}

As a result of Network Solutions' decision, "fitnathemovie.com" was not available to the public on the day of the film's release. Wilders expressed his displeasure with Network Solutions for pre-censoring the domain name.{{citation needed|date=September 2013}}

Network Solutions also came under criticism because although they refused to host Wilders' website, they had provided registration services for the Hezbollah domain hizbollah.org.[https://my.mirahost.com/order/viewwhois.php?domain=hizbollah&ext=org Networking Tools]{{dead link|date=February 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} In response to these criticisms, Network Solutions agreed that hizbollah.org violated their acceptable use policy and ceased hosting that web site, as well.{{citation needed|date=September 2013}}

Due to heavy media coverage, many people were aware of the film's existence and the controversy surrounding its domain name. Some were outraged by the actions of Network Solutions in dealing with one of its customers. Freedom of speech protestors created videos commenting on the situation, and some uploaded Wilders' film to social networking sites such as YouTube shortly after its release. Protestors for both sides created their own blogs and video statements on the matter. Anti-censorship protestors took their campaigns to sites such as YouTube in order to alert others of the situation.[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JHlRbczfl_Y Online Protesting] Social Media User Protesting On March 23, 2008, Brian Krebs of the Washington Post published an article explaining more facts related to the event. Krebs wrote that Network Solutions spokesperson Susan Wade stated that Network Solutions had received several complaints regarding the website, but she did not elaborate on the specific nature of the complaints.{{cite news| url=http://blog.washingtonpost.com/securityfix/2008/03/networksolutions_precensors_an.html | newspaper=The Washington Post | title=Network Solutions Pre-Censors Anti-Islam Site | access-date=2010-05-20}}

In April 2008, reports indicated that in addition to the aforementioned front-running practices, Network Solutions had begun exploiting an obscure provision of its end-user license agreement that permits it to use and advertise on its users' unassigned subdomains, even despite the registration and private ownership of the top-level domain itself.{{cite news|title=Network Solutions Hijacking Unassigned Sub-Domains|url=https://techcrunch.com/2008/04/08/network-solutions-hijacking-unassigned-sub-domains/|work=techcrunch.com|access-date=2008-04-12}} The provision states:

'You also agree that any domain name directory, sub-directory, file name or path (e.g.) that does not resolve to an active web page on your Web site being hosted by Network Solutions, may be used by Network Solutions to place a "parking" page, "under construction" page, or other temporary page that may include promotions and advertisements for, and links to, Network Solutions' Web site...'"{{cite web|title=Service Agreement (Schedule A #11)|url=http://www.networksolutions.com/legal/static-service-agreement.jsp|publisher=networksolutions.com|access-date=2008-04-12}}

Ars Technica has documented how to opt out of this scheme,{{cite web|title=Keeping Network Solutions from cashing in on your subdomains|url=https://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20080410-keeping-network-solutions-from-cashing-in-on-your-subdomains.html|website=Ars Technica|date=April 10, 2008 |access-date=2008-04-12}} but many{{who|date=June 2014}} private domain holders and privacy advocates cite the move as another step in Network Solutions' series of recent attempts to push the boundaries of profitability and responsibility in its domain practices.{{citation needed|date=June 2014}}{{cite web|title=Support and Services (Schedule A #11)|url=http://alldatalabs.com|publisher=alldatalabs.com|access-date=2016-01-04}}

According to a Wired.com article, in 1999 Network Solutions bungled the transfer of "races.com", accidentally placing it back into the pool of available domain names. MBA student John McLanahan purchased the domain privately for thousands of dollars. A domain name speculator was able to obtain it, and demanded $500,000 for its return.{{cite news|url=http://archive.wired.com/techbiz/media/news/1999/12/32974|title=Domain Winner Loses Big|author=Craig Bicknell|work=WiReD Magazine|date=1999-12-11}}

In April 2015, the Federal Trade Commission announced that Network Solutions had agreed to settle charges that it misled consumers who bought web hosting services by promising a full refund if they canceled within 30 days. In reality, the FTC stated, the company withheld substantial cancellation fees amounting to up to 30 percent of the refund.{{cite web|title=FTC Obtains Settlement From Network Solutions LLC for Misleading Consumers About Refunds|url=https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/press-releases/2015/04/ftc-obtains-settlement-network-solutions-llc-misleading-consumers|publisher=ftc.gov|access-date=2016-08-23|date=2015-04-07}}

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