While the new regime ends NSI's monopoly over the award of top-level domain names, the Commission is concerned that highly restrictive provisions in its licensing agreements with companies wanting to enter the market for domain-name registration will discourage competition.

CNN: European Commission probes NSI

While the announcement sounds the start of competition in this market, it raises a serious question for users: If ISPs offer domain name registration as an add-on to Web services, then who owns the domain?

CNN: New domain name system creates confusion over ownership