New Nominet Policy to Kill Drop Catching

[Skinner]

I submitted my input, the gross of my reply was regarding moving auctions away from the tag holder and its group of companies, ideally running by a 3rd party auction house or in-house at nominet.

Mostly idea's to reduce companies getting an unfair advantage.

 

[Edwin]

I've sent in my comments. If you're still on the fence, you've got until the end of the day to get your point across.

I submitted my input, the gross of my reply was regarding moving auctions away from the tag holder and its group of companies, ideally running by a 3rd party auction house or in-house at nominet.

Mostly idea's to reduce companies getting an unfair advantage.

The bulk of what I said was along the same lines i.e. "let the market decide" through a single open, transparent auction process run by Nominet or an agent working on Nominet's behalf (with the existing Registrar having to compete alongside everyone else on the same terms if they want to acquire dropping domains previously under their management), run to specific timeframes and with a public list of running auctions. All dropping domains would be subject to this auction process if they get that far in the drop cycle (i.e. it would be an extension of the current expiry process tacked onto the end of the current cycle during which names WOULD BE 100% GUARANTEED TO END UP AT AUCTION if the original registrant failed to renew them before the start of this final "auction step" of the process)

 

[foz]

Isn't their a Nominet policy that says it won't deprive existing or established members business?

 

[monaghan]

How would an auction deprive business? The current expiry period is for the benefit of the registrant, not the registrar, once the domain has expired it is first come first served just as it is with a new reg.

In my opinion the domain should stay with the registrant until such time as they actively delete it or allow it to expire.

If we take expired domains to auction, then what about new registrations? There are many who will reg new names off the back of news articles, new inventions, social trends and so on, should first come first served by removed for these?

Surely it is as unfair to me to be beaten by a catcher for an expired domain as it is to be beaten by a speculator on a new reg?

 

[foz]

How would an auction deprive business? The current expiry period is for the benefit of the registrant, not the registrar, once the domain has expired it is first come first served just as it is with a new reg.

In my opinion the domain should stay with the registrant until such time as they actively delete it or allow it to expire.

If we take expired domains to auction, then what about new registrations? There are many who will reg new names off the back of news articles, new inventions, social trends and so on, should first come first served by removed for these?

Surely it is as unfair to me to be beaten by a catcher for an expired domain as it is to be beaten by a speculator on a new reg?

If Nominet were to auction off expired inventory, your DomainJunky business (and others like it) would be finished.

 

[monaghan]

Yes, wrong end of the stick, I thought you were referring to depriving the current auctioning / parking registrars of their additional pre-expiry revenue.

Publishing the entire drop list and introducing a "drop slot" in the middle of the night, correctly linking all TAG's and applying a per organisation connection limit during the drop slot would make for an interesting level playing field

 

[foz]

Yes, wrong end of the stick, I thought you were referring to depriving the current auctioning / parking registrars of their additional pre-expiry revenue.

Publishing the entire drop list and introducing a "drop slot" in the middle of the night, correctly linking all TAG's and applying a per organisation connection limit during the drop slot would make for an interesting level playing field

I wasn't clear, sorry, was in response to Edwin's post.



Is publishing registry .uk drop lists being discussed at these meetings? Do you think it will happen?

 

[monaghan]

Is publishing registry .uk drop lists being discussed at these meetings? Do you think it will happen?

No idea, outside of scope for our meetings

 

[foz]

No idea, outside of scope for our meetings

OK, thanks. Would be nice to see, I think most ccTLD's publish official lists.

 

[monaghan]

Are submissions published?

I understand that the summary will be published on Monday.

Interesting read so far.

 

[Edwin]

I understand that the summary will be published on Monday.

Interesting read so far.

Any hints as to the "direction" that the majority of comments are taking, or is it all over the shop?

 

[monaghan]

Naturally I can't comment on specifics other than broad range of views are summarised.

As to how it goes, well I'll know more after Wednesday's meeting, I know what I favour

 

[tifosi]

Interesting read. A key point is the area of domain 'ownership' and contracts. It's something I keep seeing over and over on this site of domains being owned. Even by some of the long standing members. Domains aren't owned, you're a registrant with a contract of usage for a defined period with Nominet - not the registrar who is in effect a middleman with a good deal on selling domain contracts.

That's a key factor. The contract is with Nominet. Once that contract expires - as in the case of a domain not being renewed that contract is void. To allow registrars ANY rights to transfer the registrant ownership of the domain to themselves, or have any rights over what happens to it after expiry is beyond the current remit of a registrar. And IMO should stay so.

Some good points in the documents raised though.