Sadly domain names are a bit archaic in how they are owned and distributed.
I don’t know of many systems that allow secure ownership of domains between multiple people in any way that stops a single user going AWOL if they wish. Even establishing an LLC or something to manage the domain doesn’t necessarily stop someone transferring the domain or letting it expire out of spite, especially when admins would rather keep (pseudo)anonymous.
Whilst the admins did admit they should’ve seen the writing on the wall and started the migration earlier, there’s no real way for them to force the owner to give up the domain. If anyone is truly at fault, it’s the person who sat on hexbear.net and didn’t make any attempt to transfer the rights despite knowing they weren’t interested in actively managing the domain.
Sadly domain names are a bit archaic in how they are owned and distributed.
I don’t know of many systems that allow secure ownership of domains between multiple people in any way that stops a single user going AWOL if they wish. Even establishing an LLC or something to manage the domain doesn’t necessarily stop someone transferring the domain or letting it expire out of spite, especially when admins would rather keep (pseudo)anonymous.
Whilst the admins did admit they should’ve seen the writing on the wall and started the migration earlier, there’s no real way for them to force the owner to give up the domain. If anyone is truly at fault, it’s the person who sat on hexbear.net and didn’t make any attempt to transfer the rights despite knowing they weren’t interested in actively managing the domain.