New domain transfer policy

Starting with 12/01 ICANN will enforce a new domain transfer policy. With some registrars this was already enforced internally, but now it’s gonna get enforced globally.

What this means is that when a registrant performs an update to the registered name, organization or email address for any gTLD (non-country code) domain they own, a Change of Registrant process will be triggered. This process involves an approval email sent to both the New and Prior Registrant.

The changes will not take effect until the change has been confirmed by both parties, and following the change, the domain will enter a 60 day lock period during which it cannot be transferred or modified again. If either party declines the change, then the change of registrant request is cancelled and the previous whois info remains the same.

from the WMHCS blog

In theory this should basically imply a standard procedure for everyone, however it’s not that simple because each registrar is free to setup his own standard procedure around ICANN’s policy and here’s how some are handling the changes:

• Enom – Enom resellers are required to obtain the agreement of their customers to the updated Enom Registration Agreement. Enom will then act as a Designated Agent on behalf of its’ domain registrants. This means that whenever a Change of Registrant process is triggered as outlined in the Transfer Policy, Enom will auto-approve the changes, then email the party or parties with a notice of the change. The affected domain will then be placed in a 60-day transfer lock (unless the previous registrant has opted out of the waiting period).

• OpenSRS – When a Change of Registrant process is triggered, OpenSRS will ask the registrant to accept Tucows to act as a Designated Agent for all future changes of registrant. If they do so, a future change of ownership from this registrant will not require email verification. OpenSRS has also implemented a timeout period of 7 days, after which time, if the New or Prior Registrant has not responded, the change is aborted and the present owner details will remain in place.

• ResellerClub – Every Change of Registrant will trigger the email confirmation process to both the New and Prior Registrant. ResellerClub have also made some backwards breaking compatibility changes to their API that will require an update to the ResellerClub module. ResellerClub’s process has a considerably longer timeout period than OpenSRS, allowing up to 60 days. Once approval has been received, the change may take up to 24 hours to take effect.

also from the WMHCS blog

Obviously this procedure will complicate things a lot and domain transferring will be much more difficult especially for those that are not into domaining.

P.S. Talking about domaining I just wanted to let you know that I have some domain names available for sale, lease or joined venture at Domain Agora!