Domain Warehousing needs to stop!

["Yofie.com" <jamie@xxxxxxxxx>]

To whom it may concern:

I see a very large hole in the way domain name registrars are able to control 
domain names after they have reached expired status. Currently, domain 
registrars have "free picking" of any expired domain name and are able to 
"keep" or become the registrant by simply renewing the domain name and changing 
the registrant information to the registrars name.

There are currently no regulations that prevent a domain name registrar from 
"warehousing" an expired domain name which leaves an unfair advantage to the 
general public to who can own the expired domain name.

Several ICANN Accredited registrars have publicly announced that they do follow 
this practice of warehousing expired domain names. For an example, Bill 
Sweetman, Manager of Tucows domain auction expressed "some of the names are 
retained by Tucows for our own portfolio" referring to expired domain names. 
Source: 
http://www.dotweekly.com/2008/04/16/tucows-holding-back-expired-4-letter-coms/#more-222
 Comment # 3.

Ken Schafer says (Vice President, Marketing and Product Management at Tucows)~ 
" We do review expiring names and we move a small percentage to our Domain 
Portfolio at the end of the 40 day Grace Period. The majority of names will now 
go to the Afternic auction. Source is from Tucows blog : 
http://about.tucows.com/2008/06/25/domain-auction-ethics-the-tucows-response/ 
and the comment is #2.

I strongly suggest new regulations that prevent ICANN accredited registrars 
from being allowed to become the registrant of expired domain names 
(warehousing). I feel that ALL expired domain names must be presented in a 
Public Auction to allow any entity to become the new owner. 

Either way, I strongly suggest new rules and regulations to prevent registrar 
warehousing of domain names.

Jamie Zoch
Yofie.com
DotWeekly.com