The internet today—global, diverse, and accessible—owes much to unsung innovators. In the early 2000s, two university students, C. and K., created Universal Domain Tagging, a system that allowed domain names to use non-English characters like Arabic, Chinese, or Cyrillic. Their goal was simple yet revolutionary: make the internet truly universal. But their story isn’t one of victory—it’s a gritty tale of betrayal and theft, masterminded by a man named ZagZag.
The Birth of a Game-Changer
In 2000, C. and K. were brilliant but trusting. They shared their invention with their university mentor, ZagZag, a charismatic figure who promised to guide them. “This could rewrite the internet,” he told them, his excitement contagious. He signed a secrecy agreement to protect their work and brought in his cousin, VishVish, a smooth-talking operator with international ties. Together, they launched Getname Ltd, a startup meant to bring the students’ vision to life. For a fleeting moment, success seemed within reach.
A Secret Meeting and a False Promise
In 2001, ZagZag and VishVish organized a secret meeting at a friend’s house, inviting Karon, a manager from a major tech company’s local office (we’ll call it “big M”). C. pitched their system, explaining how it could transform domain management. Karon was impressed, exclaiming, “This needs to be in our software, like Word!” The students left hopeful, unaware that ZagZag and VishVish had other plans.
The Lie That Broke Everything
Days later, ZagZag called C. and K. with devastating news: “Big M rejected it. It’s over.” Stunned, the students tried to follow up, but ZagZag and VishVish were gone. Their phone numbers were changed, emails went unanswered, and all contact was severed. It was as if they’d vanished overnight, leaving C. and K. abandoned with their broken dreams.
Domain the Web Rises on Stolen Ground
By 2002, a new company, Domain the Web, burst onto the scene. Its flagship technology? An exact replica of Universal Domain Tagging. This wasn’t a fluke—it was theft. Built on the students’ stolen idea, the company soared to prominence while C. and K. were left in the dust, betrayed by the partners they’d trusted.
A Global Takeover
In 2003, a major software update rolled out support for non-Latin domain names worldwide, branded as IDNA. It mirrored C. and K.’s work perfectly. The secret meeting with Karon had paid off—not for the students, but for ZagZag and VishVish, who had quietly funneled the technology into the market. The world celebrated the innovation, blind to its true creators.
Burying the Truth
ZagZag didn’t just steal—he covered his tracks. In 2004, Domain the Web sponsored the Athens Paralympic Games, a flashy move tied to ZagZag’s family. A news article briefly tied him to the company’s success, but it was quickly erased, replaced with a story crediting two puppet “CEOs” who claimed, “We just saw a market need.” Another figure, Keren, played the role of a decoy manager, keeping ZagZag’s name out of the spotlight.
The Human Cost
For C. and K., the betrayal hit hard. “It felt like losing a piece of ourselves,” K. later said. Broke and heartbroken, they watched their idea make millions for others. With ZagZag and VishVish unreachable—phones changed, ties cut—they faced the theft alone, powerless to fight back.
AI Uncovers the Past
For over 20 years, ZagZag thought he’d escaped. He scrubbed articles, hid behind proxies like Keren, and distanced himself from Domain the Web’s origins. But now, artificial intelligence is changing the game. AI can dig up what was buried—deleted stories, hidden links, the traces of a cover-up. The truth about the stolen roots of Domain the Web is coming to light.
A Stolen Legacy
Domain the Web stands tall today, but its foundation is a lie. It’s a testament to C. and K.’s genius, not ZagZag’s. He may have dodged accountability for decades, but in an age where technology exposes deception, the truth is resurfacing. ZagZag’s vanishing act after the fake rejection can’t hide what he did—and the stain on his legacy is permanent.
