[Random-bits] Paul Garrin: domain "sniping"

[James Love]

Subject: domain "sniping"
   Date: Tue, 08 Feb 2000 04:47:46 -0500
  From: Paul Garrin <pg@lokmail.net>
    To:  random-bits-admin@venice.essential.org

Hello Jamie,

What do you know about "domain sniping"?
This is when speculators or "domain predators"
snatch a domain name if it expired, before the
holder has a chance to renew, and when an
unscrupulous domain registrar grabs a domain
name before it can be registered, by monitoring
their whois query logs, and getting a jump on
the person who searched for the domain name
before they can complete their application.
It's forbidden in the ICANN agreement, but
difficult to enforce or prove.

Domain name "sniping" is a serious policy problem
in the existing system.  Name.Space has a 60-90
day hold period at the expiration of a domain that
allows ample time for "right of first refusal" if
a person does not renew the domain at or before the
moment of expiration.  The present system encourages
it.

I know of at least one individual who has been the
victim of domain name sniping, and have experienced
this first hand, as a registrar, when someone beats
one of my clients to a registration of a clever name.

Domain "sniping" upon renewal can be easily solved by
requiring a 60-90 day hold period to allow right of
first refusal by the original registrant, and to allow
time to notify the holder of abandonment, or to update
their contact information.  Domain sniping by unscrpulous
registrars is a more complex issue.

regards,

Paul







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James Love, Director           | http://www.cptech.org
Consumer Project on Technology | mailto:love@cptech.org 
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Washington, DC 20036           | fax:   1.202.234.5176
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