GoDaddy Reverses Stance Completely and Opposes SOPA Even After Gaining Domains During Boycott

When GoDaddy‘s public and unapologetic pro-SOPA stance initially came to light, the backlash was big enough that GoDaddy backed off its “support” to something a little more lukewarm and moved to “not supporting SOPA,” but dancing around the issue more than actually opposing SOPA. Now, GoDaddy has come full circle and claims to oppose SOPA in an about-face that has occurred at a pretty staggering speed: 1 week. The cause of this speed is doubtlessly because of the loud voices, particularly those of reddit, railing against the registrar nonstop, calling for a boycott, and advocating the transfer of domains. Their efforts seem to have worked, although the boycott itself may not be as responsible for the change as we all might like to think.

CEO Warren Adelman issued a statement on the company’s adjustment of stance. It reads as follows:

“We have observed a spike in domain name transfers, which are running above normal rates and which we attribute to Go Daddy’s prior support for SOPA, which was reversed. GoDaddy opposes SOPA because the legislation has not fulfilled its basic requirement to build a consensus among stake-holders in the technology and Internet communities. Our company regrets the loss of any of our customers, who remain our highest priority, and we hope to repair those relationships and win back their business over time.”

You’ll note the bit about noticing the spike in domain name transfers. That’s the boycott, where the Internet got together to fight the man and really gave him a good, hard kick to the kidneys, right? Well, not really. It was more like a pinch to the arm. According to Techdirt, GoDaddy actually managed to gain domains yesterday, the big GoDaddy boycott day. Of course, there are plenty of ways to explain that. A lot of people transferred immediately, many of those that didn’t were probably placated by GoDaddy’s first change of stance, still more probably had no idea this whole thing was going on and were just registering some domains. In any event, GoDaddy seems to be concerned enough about having its name dragged through the mud that it’ll go ahead and oppose SOPA even if it isn’t technically losing domains.

All in all, the whole switcheroo rings a little hollow to me because it probably has nothing to do with actual understanding and belief and everything to do with money. Then again, that’s what lobbying is and why we have SOPA supporters in the first place, right? That said, a win is a win, and the more people that come off that list, the less appealing SOPA will look to the people in charge of passing or stopping it, hopefully.

(via The Next Web)

Relevant to your interests

• GoDaddy’s initial SOPA support
• The quick withdrawal
• And the removal from the list of SOPA supporters

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Eric Limer