−Removed: We are a global provider of domain name registry services and internet infrastructure, enabling internet navigation for many of the world’s most recognized domain names.
−Removed: We enable the security, stability, and resiliency of key internet infrastructure and services, including providing Root Zone Maintainer services, operating two of the 13 global internet root servers, and providing registration services and authoritative resolution for the .
+Added: We are a global provider of critical internet infrastructure and domain name registry services, enabling internet navigation for many of the world’s most recognized domain names.
+Added: We help enable the security, stability, and resiliency of the Domain Name System (“DNS”) and the internet by providing Root Zone Maintainer services, operating two of the thirteen global internet root servers, and providing registration services and authoritative resolution for the .
net top-level domains (“TLDs”), which support the majority of global e-commerce.
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The domain name base is the active zone plus the number of domain names that are registered but not configured for use in the respective top-level domain zone file plus the number of domain names that are in a client or server hold status.
−Removed: The domain name base may also reflect compensated or uncompensated judicial or administrative actions to add or remove from the active zone an immaterial number of domain names.
+Added: The domain name base may also reflect compensated or uncompensated judicial or administrative actions to keep in or remove from the active zone an immaterial number of domain names.
These files and the related summary data are updated at least once per day.
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This list may be updated from time to time on our investor relations website.
+Added: https://verisign.com
+Added: https://blog.verisign.com
https://facebook.com/verisign
−Removed: https://twitter.com/Verisign
+Added: https://x.com/verisign
https://linkedin.com/company/verisign
https://youTube.com/user/verisign
−Removed: https://verisign.com
−Removed: https://blog.Verisign.com
+Added: https://dnib.com
The contents of these websites are not intended to be incorporated by reference into this Form 10-K or in any other report or document we file.
−Removed: We operate the authoritative directory of and/or the back-end systems for all .com, .net, .cc, .gov, .edu and .name domain names, among others.
−Removed: Our services allow individuals and organizations to establish their online identities, while providing the secure, always-on access they need to communicate and transact reliably with online audiences.
−Removed: We are the exclusive registry of domain names within the .com, .net, and .name generic top-level domains (“gTLDs”), among others, under agreements with ICANN and also, with respect to the .com gTLD, the U.S.
+Added: We operate the authoritative directory, for all .com, .net, and .name domain names (generic top-level domains, “gTLDs”), as well as for certain transliterations of .
+Added: net in number of different native languages and scripts (internationalized generic top-level domains, “IDN gTLDs”).
+Added: We also operate the authoritative directory for all .
+Added: cc domain names (country code top-level domain, or “ccTLD”).
+Added: We operate the technical or back-end systems for .
+Added: edu and certain other gTLDs.
+Added: As the registry
+Added: or service provider for these top-level domains, our services allow individuals and organizations to establish their online identities, while providing the secure, always-on access they need to communicate and transact reliably with online audiences.
+Added: We operate the .com, .net, and .name gTLDs and the IDN gTLDs under registry agreements with ICANN and also, with respect to the .com gTLD, a Cooperative Agreement with the U.S.
Department of Commerce (“DOC”).
−Removed: We are also the exclusive registry of domain names within certain transliterations of .com and .net in a number of different native languages and scripts (“IDN gTLDs”).
−Removed: As a registry, we maintain the authoritative directory of all second-level domain names (e.g., example.com and example.net) in these gTLDs and IDN gTLDs.
+Added: We operate the .
+Added: cc ccTLD under an agreement with Cocos (Keeling) Islands.
+Added: Under separate agreements, we provide technical or back-end services for .
+Added: edu and for certain other gTLDs.
+Added: We also perform the Root Zone Maintainer function under an agreement with ICANN for the core of the internet’s DNS and operate two of the thirteen root zone servers that contain authoritative data for the top of the DNS hierarchy.
Our global constellation of DNS servers provides internet protocol (“IP”) address information in response to queries, enabling the use of browsers, email systems, and other systems on the internet.
In addition, we own and maintain our shared registration system that allows registrars to enter new second-level domain names into Verisign-operated central directories and to submit modifications, transfers, re-registrations, and deletions for existing second-level domain names (“Shared Registration System”).
−Removed: In addition to our registry agreements with ICANN, we have an agreement with Cocos (Keeling) Islands to operate the country code top-level domain (“ccTLD”) registry for .cc , and other agreements to operate the technical systems for the .gov and .edu sponsored gTLDs.
−Removed: These gTLDs and ccTLDs are also supported by our global constellation of DNS servers and Shared Registration System.
−Removed: On November 15, 2022, we transitioned the operation of the .tv ccTLD to another service provider.
−Removed: We also anticipate transitioning the operation of the .gov registry to another operator during 2023, but will continue to operate it until such transition.
−Removed: We also perform the Root Zone Maintainer function under an agreement with ICANN for the core of the internet’s DNS and operate two of the 13 root zone servers that contain authoritative data for the top of the DNS hierarchy.
−Removed: Domain names can be registered for between one and 10 years.
−Removed: Unlike other gTLDs, the prices we charge for .com , .net and .name domain name registrations are controlled by pricing provisions in our agreements with ICANN and our prices may be increased only according to those provisions.
+Added: Domain names in the registries we operate can be registered for between one and 10 years.
+Added: Unlike other gTLDs, the prices we charge for .com , .net and .name domain name registrations are subject to restrictions in our agreements with ICANN and our prices may be increased only according to those restrictions.
Retail pricing for these domain name registrations is established by registrars.
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net domain name registration that is collected from registrars.
−Removed: Revenues for .cc domain names and our IDN gTLDs are based on prices that are not subject to the same pricing restrictions as those for .
−Removed: The fees received from operating the .
−Removed: gov g TLD are based on the terms of our agreement with the U.S.
−Removed: The fees from our performance of the technical operations for back-end registry services for other gTLDs are based on the terms of our agreements with those respective registry operators .
+Added: Revenues for .cc domain names and our IDN gTLDs are based on prices that are not subject to the same pricing restrictions as those for the .
+Added: The fees for our performance of technical or back-end services for .edu and certain other gTLDs are based on the terms of our agreements with those respective businesses .
Operations Infrastructure
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as well as more than 200 other points of presence around the world.
−Removed: Our domain name servers refer requestors to the associated authoritative name servers for second level domains under the gTLDs and ccTLDs we operate, thus enabling DNS resolution for .com and .net domain names and for domain names in a number of other gTLDs and ccTLDs that we manage, or for which we provide back-end registry services.
+Added: Our domain name servers refer requestors to the associated authoritative name servers for second level domains in the registries we operate or support, thus enabling DNS resolution for .com and .net domain names and for domain names in the other registries that we operate, or for which we provide technical or back-end services.
Our servers process hundreds of billions of transactions daily.
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• Data Integrity:
−Removed: We use several proprietary systemic integrity checks and validations to ensure data correctness when updating and publishing the DNS records for the gTLDs and ccTLDs we operate.
−Removed: We continuously enhance our infrastructure and capabilities to meet demands to support normal and peak system load and attack volumes based on what we have experienced historically, as well as to address projected internet attack trends.
+Added: We use several proprietary systemic integrity checks and validations to ensure data correctness when updating and publishing the DNS records for the registries we operate.
+Added: We continuously seek to enhance our infrastructure and capabilities to support both normal and peak system load plus attack volumes based on historical experience, as well as to address projected internet attack trends.
Call Centers and Service Desk:
We provide customer support services over the phone, by email and through web-based self-help systems.
−Removed: Our support teams are staffed with trained technical customer support agents.
+Added: Our support teams are staffed with trained technical customer support personnel.
Support is available for customers 24 hours a day.
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Marketing, Sales and Distribution
−Removed: We seek to expand our business through focused marketing campaigns and programs that target growth in the .com and .net domain name base, both domestically and internationally.
+Added: We seek to expand our business through focused marketing campaigns and programs that target growth in .com , .net and .cc domain names, both domestically and internationally.
We provide tools to be used by both registrars and end users to enable them to find relevant domain names.
−Removed: We have marketing and sales offices in several countries around the world.
+Added: We have marketing and sales offices and account management teams in several countries around the world.
Research and Development
−Removed: We believe that timely development of new and enhanced services, including monitoring and visualization, registry provisioning platforms, navigation and resolution services, data services, value added services, and new and enhanced ways to ensure the security, stability, and resiliency of our services, is necessary to remain competitive in the marketplace.
+Added: We believe that timely development of new and enhanced capabilities for our DNS registration and resolution infrastructure and of new and enhanced ways to ensure the security, stability, and resiliency of our services, are vital to protect our business in an ever-increasing cyberthreat environment, to adapt to evolving internet protocols and standards, and to remain competitive in the marketplace.
+Added: We also invest in R&D that benefits the DNS and internet community in which we operate more broadly.
Our future success will depend, in large part, on our ability to continue to maintain and enhance our current technologies and services and to develop new ones.
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We face competition in the domain name registry space from other gTLD and ccTLD registries that are competing for the business of entities and individuals that are seeking to obtain a domain name registration.
−Removed: In addition to the gTLD and ccTLD registries we operate or for which we provide back-end registry services, there are numerous other operational gTLD registries, ASCII ccTLD registries, IDN ccTLD registries, and IDN gTLD registries.
+Added: In addition to the registries we operate or for which we provide technical or back-end services, there are numerous other operational gTLD registries, ASCII ccTLD registries, IDN ccTLD registries, and IDN gTLD registries.
Under our agreements with ICANN, we are subject to certain restrictions in the operation of .com , .net and .name on pricing, bundling, marketing, methods of distribution, introduction of new registry services, and use of registrars, that do not apply to ccTLDs and other gTLDs and therefore may create a competitive disadvantage.
−Removed: Among our competitors operating gTLD and ccTLD registries are China Internet Network Information Center (CNNIC), DENIC, Nominet, Identity Digital, Public Interest Registry (PIR), CentralNic, Google, .xyz, GoDaddy, and Radix.
−Removed: To the extent end-users navigate using search engines or social media, as opposed to direct navigation via domain names, or transact on e-commerce platforms, we face competition from search engines such as Google, Bing, Yahoo!, and Baidu, social media networks such as Facebook and WeChat, e-commerce platforms such as Amazon, eBay and Taobao, and microblogging tools such as Twitter.
−Removed: In addition, we face competition from these social media and e-commerce platforms if they are used by businesses and individuals to establish an online presence rather than through the use of a domain name.
+Added: Among our competitors operating gTLD and ccTLD registries are China Internet Network Information Center (CNNIC), DENIC eG, Nominet, Identity Digital, Public Interest Registry (PIR), CentralNic, Google, .xyz, GoDaddy, and Radix.
+Added: To the extent end-users establish their online identity using social media, as opposed to domain names, or transact on e-commerce platforms, we face competition from social media networks such as Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and WeChat, e-commerce platforms such as Amazon, Etsy, eBay, and Taobao, and microblogging tools such as X (formerly Twitter).
Furthermore, we face competition from providers of web and mobile applications that allow end-users to locate and access content.
−Removed: New technologies and the expansion of existing technologies may increase competitive pressure.
+Added: Alternative namespaces, new technologies and the expansion of existing technologies may increase competitive pressure.
Our industry is characterized by collaborative relationships involving our competitors.
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Certain policies can be adopted as Consensus or Temporary Policies, which we are obligated to follow under our agreements with ICANN.
−Removed: For example, in response to the General Data Protection Regulation, ICANN issued a Temporary Policy modifying public access to information from Whois services.
We are also subject to country-level laws and regulations in the United States and in international locations.
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net, and .cc under regulations issued by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology.
−Removed: The applications to renew the licenses for .com and .net are currently under review by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology.
−Removed: Additionally, in many jurisdictions in which we operate, including California, the European Union, the United Kingdom, China and elsewhere, strict new data security and data privacy regulations have been, or are being, adopted.
+Added: Additionally, in many jurisdictions in which we operate, including California, the European Union, the United Kingdom, China and elsewhere, strict data security and data privacy regulations have been, or are being, adopted.
Because we do not possess extensive personal registrant information, we have not yet experienced significant impacts from these regulations.
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net gTLDs, as regulatory enforcement increases, as courts interpret these regulations, and as new laws and regulations are adopted.
−Removed: Other regulations, or changes to regulations, may also significantly impact our business operations, including changes to the Digital Services Act or Network and Information Security Directive, in the European Union, or the Communications Decency Act, in the United States, or the Personal Information Protection Law, in China.
+Added: Other regulations, or changes to regulations, may also significantly impact our business operations, including, for example, changes to the Network and Information Security Directive, in the European Union, or the Communications Decency Act, in the United States, or the Personal Information Protection Law, in China.
.com Generic Top-Level Domain
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com Registry Agreement was limited by Amendment 35 to only the following circumstances:
−Removed: (1) changes to the pricing provisions (other than as approved in Amendment 35), (2) changes to the vertical integration provisions (other than the clarification approved in Amendment 35), (3) changes to the security, stability
−Removed: and resiliency posture as reflected in the functional or performance specifications (including the service level agreements), (4) changes to the conditions for renewal or termination of the .com Registry Agreement, or (5) changes to the Whois service (except as mandated by ICANN through Temporary or Consensus Policies).
−Removed: As was the case with prior amendments, Amendment 35 is not intended to confer federal antitrust immunity on the Company with respect to the .
+Added: (1) changes to the pricing provisions (other than as approved in Amendment 35), (2) changes to the vertical integration provisions (other than the clarification approved in Amendment 35), (3) changes to the security, stability and resiliency posture as reflected in the functional or performance specifications (including the service level agreements), (4) changes to the conditions for renewal or termination of the .com Registry Agreement, or (5) changes to the Whois service (except as mandated by ICANN through Temporary or Consensus Policies).
+Added: As was the case with prior amendments,
+Added: Amendment 35 is not intended to confer federal antitrust immunity on the Company with respect to the .
com Registry Agreement.
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net g TLD is subject to the terms of a registry agreement with ICANN (as amended, the “ .net Registry Agreement”).
+Added: The .net Registry Agreement was renewed on June 29, 2023.
The current term of this agreement is six years and must be renewed or extended by July 1, 2029.
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We also publish the root zone file, as the Root Zone Maintainer, under the Root Zone Maintainer Service Agreement (“RZMA”) with ICANN.
−Removed: The RZMA will expire on October 19, 2024, with an automatic renewal, unless earlier terminated.
+Added: The current term of the RZMA ends on October 19, 2024 and is subject to an automatic renewal for another eight-year term, unless earlier modified or terminated.
The descriptions of the .com Registry Agreement, the Cooperative Agreement, and the .net Registry Agreement are qualified in their entirety by reference to the text of the complete agreements that are incorporated by reference as exhibits in this Form 10-K.
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Our employees are mission driven and values focused.
−Removed: Their dedication to these principles forms the backbone that enables Verisign to provide secure, stable, and resilient global connectivity.
+Added: Their dedication to these principles forms the backbone that enables Verisign to provide for the security, stability, and resiliency of the DNS and the internet.
We recognize the importance of talent and culture in driving an environment that fosters high performance, inclusion, and integrity in all aspects of our work.
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Based on periodic monitoring, we believe that our employee turnover is relatively low compared to competitive benchmarks and historical trends.
−Removed: We attribute our strong retention rates to our passion and focus on the Company’s mission and values, continual development of talent, and the delivery of competitive and equitable reward programs.
+Added: We attribute our strong retention rates to our passion for and focus on the Company’s mission and values, our continual development of talent, and our delivery of competitive and equitable reward programs.
We regularly review our workforce policies, procedures, and training programs, as well as our overall workforce demographics, in an effort to create a work environment that is diverse, equitable, inclusive, and free from discrimination.
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To monitor engagement levels and well-being we routinely conduct employee surveys.
−Removed: In our most recent survey in October of 2022, approximately 85% of our employee population participated.
+Added: In our most recent survey in October 2023, approximately 93% of our employee population participated.
The survey results indicated that our employees remain highly engaged and connected with our mission and values.
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We are a diverse organization, and we believe that drives stronger performance, better decision making, and an inclusive culture where differences are valued.
−Removed: We continue to focus on the hiring, retention, and advancement of women and underrepresented populations.
−Removed: In 2022, we continued to build on our strong foundation through roundtable discussions to support open dialogue, training sessions for all employees on the importance of a diverse and inclusive workplace, and growing our employee resource group representation.
−Removed: Verisign continues to partner with organizations that are dedicated to resisting and reversing historical injustice.
−Removed: Our progress is evident through our October 2022 employee
−Removed: survey results where participants indicated that they understand how to support an inclusive work environment and that Verisign demonstrates a visible commitment to diversity.
+Added: We strive to create an environment where employees feel a sense of belonging and feel empowered to bring their diverse skills, perspectives and talents to bear.
+Added: In 2023, we reinforced our strong foundation of equity and inclusion through roundtable discussions to support open dialogue, training sessions on the importance of a diverse and inclusive workplace and growing our employee resource group representation.
+Added: As part of our commitment to diversity, Verisign continues to partner with organizations that are dedicated to resisting and reversing historical injustice.
+Added: Our progress is evident through our October 2023 employee survey results where participants
+Added: indicated that they understand how to support an inclusive work environment and that Verisign demonstrates a visible commitment to diversity.
Compensation, Pay Equity, and Employee Benefits:
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Strategic talent reviews and succession planning occur on a regular basis.
−Removed: Our management training is designed to increase capability in the areas of communication, engagement, coaching, conflict management, and business skills, while fostering an ethical, supportive work environment free from bias and harassment.
−Removed: We sponsor skill development for all employees through our online learning and development platform.
−Removed: In addition, we host a series of instructor-led and on-demand learning sessions designed to build our team’s skills and knowledge required for the future.
+Added: We designed our management training to increase capability in the areas of communication, engagement, coaching, conflict management, and business skills, while fostering an ethical, supportive work environment free from bias and harassment.
+Added: We believe that employee development is anchored in acquiring skills and work experiences that meet the needs of the business and the individual.
+Added: We focus on leadership capability development and provide learning opportunities that enhance technical and soft skills to equip our workforce for current and future growth opportunities.
+Added: Our learning opportunities are a blend of on-the-job experiences, instructor-led and on-demand learning sessions that meet the unique development needs of our workforce.
Our managers regularly hold conversations with employees about career management, coaching, and other development opportunities to help encourage and drive the growth of our talent.
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We continue to broaden our sourcing strategies, refresh our employment branding, and develop targeted recruitment strategies for specialized skill sets and underrepresented populations.
−Removed: In 2022, these strategies enabled us to hire a significant number of female and racially or ethnically diverse employees.
−Removed: Hybrid Work Posture:
−Removed: After shifting to remote work during the COVID 19 pandemic, we are now transitioning to a hybrid work posture.
−Removed: Over the latter half of 2022, we piloted our new hybrid work posture with a focus on how work gets done versus where it gets done.
−Removed: Leaders met with their teams to develop team agreements that summarized the operating norms and protocols their teams need to use in this new hybrid environment.
−Removed: The team agreements created the foundation for employees to create work schedules that align with corporate and individual needs as well as provide employees the flexibility to manage work-life balance.
−Removed: Our managers received training on managing in a hybrid environment.
−Removed: The training focused on leading with inclusive practices, effective communication, empathy, and accountability.
−Removed: Our offices remain a place for collaboration, networking, and strategic discussion.
−Removed: We continue to provide our employees with the equipment and resources that they require to accomplish their work regardless of location.
+Added: Employee Health, Safety and Well-being:
+Added: We are committed to maintaining a safe and healthy environment for our employees.
+Added: We have a robust physical safety and security program, including a life safety program which trains employees on appropriate emergency responses.
+Added: We also offer a holistic wellness experience for our employees through our internal employee wellness program, called Mindful Connections, that supports employees across three pillars:
+Added: physical, emotional, and financial.
+Added: We support a hybrid work posture where our employees operate under team agreements that set the foundation for operating norms and allows employees to create work schedules that align with corporate and individual needs.
+Added: This provides employees more flexibility to manage a healthy work-life balance.
+Added: Our offices continue to be utilized to enhance collaboration, networking, and strategic discussion.
The following table shows a comparison of our consolidated employee headcount, by function:
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We rely on a combination of copyrighted software, trademarks, service marks, patents, trade secrets, know-how, restrictions on disclosure, and other methods to protect our proprietary assets.
−Removed: We also enter into confidentiality and/or intellectual property assignment agreements with our employees, consultants and current and potential affiliates, customers and business partners.
+Added: We also enter into confidentiality and/or intellectual property assignment agreements with our employees, consultants, customers and business partners.
We also control access to and distribution of proprietary documentation and other confidential information.
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Patent and Trademark Office and internationally.
−Removed: Patents may not be awarded with respect to these applications and even if such patents are awarded, such patents may not provide sufficient protection of our technologies.
+Added: Patents may not be awarded with respect to these applications and even if such patents are awarded, they may not provide sufficient protection of our technologies.
We continue to consider opportunities for strategic growth and use of our patent portfolio.
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We have common law rights in other proprietary names.
−Removed: We take steps to enforce and police Verisign’s trademarks.
+Added: We take steps to enforce and monitor potential infringement of Verisign’s trademarks.
We rely on the strength of our Verisign brand to help differentiate ourselves in the marketing of our products and services.
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Some of the software and protocols used in our business are in the public domain or are otherwise available to our competitors, and some are based on open standards set by organizations such as the Internet Engineering Task Force.
−Removed: To the extent any of our patents are considered “standard essential patents,” we may be required to license such patents to our competitors on reasonable and non-discriminatory terms or otherwise be limited in our ability to assert such patents.
+Added: To the extent any of our patents are considered “standard essential patents,” we may be required to license such patents to our competitors on fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory terms or otherwise be limited in our ability to assert such patents.
Information About Our Executive Officers
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Compared sentence by sentence after normalising whitespace, quotation marks, case and digits, so re-formatting and restated figures do not read as changed language. Wording changes appear as one removal and one addition. The current filing and the prior one are authoritative.