[gnso-pednr-dt] Additional Fact Finding and Proposed Registar Survey Questions

["Michael D. Palage" <michael@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Hello All:

 

Just doing some additional fact finding in connection with Tuesday's PENDR
Working Group call.

 

On the issue of creating openness, transparency and predictability for
registrants with regard to recovering expired domain names, I share the
following information regarding divergent practices by gTLD registries. I
submit that these divergent practices are neither a good or a bad thing, but
that their existence does seem to suggest the need for a predictable safety
net to protect registrant interests. 

 

The Majority of registries .COM, .NET, .NAME, .JOBS, .INFO, .ORG, .ASIA,
.MOBI, .AERO, and .PRO debit the registrar of record's account the renewal
rate, and then give that registrar 45 days to cancel the domain name and
receive a credit. During this window the Whois associated with this domain
name will not show the original expiration date, but a date one year from
the expiration based upon the money that was debited from the registrar's
account. 

 

There is a minority number of registries, .BIZ, .TRAVEL, TEL and .CAT that
do not debit the registrar account until the end of the 45 day auto-renewal
grace period. During this time the Whois will reflect the original
expiration date in the Whois.

 

The .COOP registry has a 5 day grace period following expiration where the
domain name still appears in the zone file. After this 5 day grace period
the domain name is removed from the zone file for 40 days. Forty five days
after expiration the domain name is made available for re-registration.

 

During the last call I suggested the need to get some data points from
within the registrar/reseller community.  In an effort to jump start that
effort, I have proposed a list of survey questions that the group may wish
to discuss tomorrow. I am sure some of my former registrar colleagues will
propose some mark-ups to these questions but given the shrinking window
between now and Seoul, I thought I would take a first crack at this
important fact gathering survey. (see below)

 

I look forward to tomorrow's call and I want to thank William and Tatyana
for their previous posts I found them very constructive.

 

Best regards,

 

Michael

 

 

Proposed Registrar Survey Questions:

 

1)  What is the registrar's practice regarding a domain name at the time of
expiration when the registrant gives explicit instructions regarding its
intention NOT to renew the domain names? (i.e. does the registrar process
and delete command, does the registrar change the whois prior to expiration,
does the registrar allow the domain name to auto-renew in those registries
that employ that policy, etc.)

 

2)  What is the registrar's practice regarding a domain name at the time of
expiration when the registrant is silent regarding its intention to renew a
domain name? (i.e. does the registrar process and delete command, does the
registrar change the whois prior to expiration, does the registrar allow the
domain name to auto-renew in those registries that employ that policy, etc.)

 

3)  Does the registrar affirmatively change any of the underlying Whois data
associated with the domain name in or around the time of expiration?
(yes/no)

 

4)  Does the registrar of record have any contractual terms in the original
registration agreement regarding the treatment of the domain name
registration service contract at the time of expiration? If so what are
they?

 

5)  If the registrar changes the Whois data at the time of expiration is
that practice dependent upon the TLD (i.e. auto-renew v.s. non-auto-renew)
or is the change in underlying Whois data the same regardless of the TLD?

 

6)  Does the registrar or any affiliate offer any value added services
regarding the sale/auction of domain names after their date of original
expiration, if so what are those services?

 

7)  Does the registrar or any affiliate provide any revenue share
opportunities in connection with any revenue recognized in connection with
the value added services with the registrant prior to expiration? If so what
are they?

 

8)  Does the registrar or affiliate provide the registrant prior to
expiration the right to remove a name from this value added service
offering?

 

9)  What is the cost to the registrant to recover/renew a domain name during
the Registry Redemption Grace Period? (Note in providing this cost do not
include the registry cost component which may vary per TLD, only provide the
registrar mark-up?) Is this mark-up the same across all TLDs, or does it
vary from TLD to TLD? How many of your domain name registrants pay this fee
on an annual basis?

 

10)What is the cost to the registrant to recover/renew a domain name post
expiration but prior to the imposition of any Registry Redemption Grace
Period. (Note in providing this cost do not include the registry cost
component which may vary per TLD, only provide the registrar mark-up?) Is
this mark-up the same across all TLDs, or does it vary from TLD to TLD? How
many of your domain name registrants pay this fee on an annual basis?

 

11)Aside from these two recovery/renewal windows does the registrar impose
any fees on a registrant other than a regular renewal price to
renew/re-register the domain name? If so what are? How many of your domain
name registrants pay this additional fee on an annual basis?

 

12)Does the registrar or affiliate provide the registrant the ability to
renew/re-register a domain name once it has entered an auction process? If
so what are the costs imposed on the registrant? 

 

13)Are participants in registrar or affiliates auction apprised of the
registrant's rights to renew/re-register a domain name during the auction?
If so how and what are the terms of that notification?

 

14)For those registrars or their affiliates that provide auction services
with the ability of the registrant to renew/re-register a name, what number
of registrants have exercised that right?

 

15)What percentage of the overall gTLD market does the registrar responding
to this questionnaire represent?

 

16)Is the registrar responding to this questionnaire part of a family of
registrars sharing common ownership?