Calling extra money from trading activities a "surplus" is avoiding reality. In plain language Nominet have made a profit contrary to their remit. Rather than mess around with words and ploys to dispose of those profits, why don't they simply reduce the level of their fees? Too simple for a Quango type organisation?

Surely if the costs go up - this surplus is reduced. Creating surplus is what not-for-profits are about. They spend the surplus on their 'cause' and if the surplus surplus is static, or increasing (money that cannot be spent on fulfilling their directions as a NfP) then it can't be divvied up internally.

It's good that nominet are going all philanthropic - they aren't reducing prices in case the cost of their activities increases.. then they'll just have less to spend on the Nominet foundation.

The initial £5million should keep me in the life to which I could become accustomed for a few years, where do I sign up?

I know it's a mere drop in the ocean for Paris but...

Good, UK domain costs are not expensive, and good that some deserving cases will benefit.

Old cynical me foresees the same happening here in a few years time though, as what happened with the mutual societies and building societies.