The domain name scam..... Errrmmm Business.
Domain names are reasonably important. Getting the right one for your site is probably one of the more difficult items on your list of to-do's. If you think thats fun, just wait untill it expires.
The expiration process is tremendously difficult for people to understand, and its not getting any better. A domain can expire for a number of reasons, you may just have not seen the reminder, your registrar may be a reseller and may not have renewed it for you, the owner of the domain may not want it anymore etc. Lots of reasons.
Now, the domain name cycle is supposed to work along these lines.
Expiration -> Redemption -> Deletion
Expiration is self explanatory, the lease on the name has expired.
Redemption is a second chance, if your domain has expired, you have a chance to renew it. Cool! When it enters this phase, it will not work, so you will not be able to visit the site, collect email, etc. Now here is where it goes a little pear shaped, at least for you, the end user. This is where the registrar may charge you whatever they like, currently its about $200 dollars, to regain the registration of the name. It can stay in this status for about 30 days. OK, its not that bad, these guys have to make a living, and its not that expensive (at the moment), plus its probably your fault for not renewing it in time.
Deletion is the next phase, where the domain name is released, and available to be registered by anyone. Well, not quite. The registrar may hang on to it, and put a fake search engine (aka pay per click / advertising) up instead. What's worse, is they may keep the whois information showing you as the registered owner. Then they may sell it to the best offer, usually someone on a drop site as some registrars have exclusive arrangements to offer their names to a certain drop site.
I tried this out with my Registrar. Two domain names, with related keywords in each expiring on the same day. Both went through redemption and only one was actually deleted. Now, according to ICANN regulations, expiration is not a valid reason for denying a transfer to another registrar, but my request for the limbo'ed domain was denied, despite my OK to transfer it upon recieving a transfer notice. Less than a month after my request however, the details for the record were hidden. While all this was probably in the small print with my registrar, it does not feel right, and leaves you with a feeling that you have been cheated.
What all this means is, do not let your names expire. Strictly speaking, its not a scam either. You agree to be shafted when you register your domain.
Another point to remember is domains names are not your property, you simply lease them. Unless you get a trademark of course, you really have very few rights.
The expiration process is tremendously difficult for people to understand, and its not getting any better. A domain can expire for a number of reasons, you may just have not seen the reminder, your registrar may be a reseller and may not have renewed it for you, the owner of the domain may not want it anymore etc. Lots of reasons.
Now, the domain name cycle is supposed to work along these lines.
Expiration -> Redemption -> Deletion
Expiration is self explanatory, the lease on the name has expired.
Redemption is a second chance, if your domain has expired, you have a chance to renew it. Cool! When it enters this phase, it will not work, so you will not be able to visit the site, collect email, etc. Now here is where it goes a little pear shaped, at least for you, the end user. This is where the registrar may charge you whatever they like, currently its about $200 dollars, to regain the registration of the name. It can stay in this status for about 30 days. OK, its not that bad, these guys have to make a living, and its not that expensive (at the moment), plus its probably your fault for not renewing it in time.
Deletion is the next phase, where the domain name is released, and available to be registered by anyone. Well, not quite. The registrar may hang on to it, and put a fake search engine (aka pay per click / advertising) up instead. What's worse, is they may keep the whois information showing you as the registered owner. Then they may sell it to the best offer, usually someone on a drop site as some registrars have exclusive arrangements to offer their names to a certain drop site.
I tried this out with my Registrar. Two domain names, with related keywords in each expiring on the same day. Both went through redemption and only one was actually deleted. Now, according to ICANN regulations, expiration is not a valid reason for denying a transfer to another registrar, but my request for the limbo'ed domain was denied, despite my OK to transfer it upon recieving a transfer notice. Less than a month after my request however, the details for the record were hidden. While all this was probably in the small print with my registrar, it does not feel right, and leaves you with a feeling that you have been cheated.
What all this means is, do not let your names expire. Strictly speaking, its not a scam either. You agree to be shafted when you register your domain.
Another point to remember is domains names are not your property, you simply lease them. Unless you get a trademark of course, you really have very few rights.
posted by OMaHTLD at
10:34 am
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