Re: [ga] keeping expired domains by a registrar

["Prophet Partners Inc." <Domains@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hi Joop,

While it is true that there are many possible reasons for inadvertent
expirations, there are also real-world consequences for action/inaction.
Giving registrants multiple expiration notices and a grace period after
expiration is fair in most situations. GoDaddy sends us 90, 60, 30, 15, and
5-day notices before expiration, plus 2 additional notices after expiration,
for a total of 7 expiration notices. We would not consider this as a
trampling of registrant rights, as there is ample opportunity for the
registrant to act. If a registrant changes their email address, postal
address or phone number without notifying their registrar, it is the
equivalent of not notifying your creditors that you've moved. If you don't
pay your mortgage, the bank forecloses on your house. If you don't pay the
premiums on your insurance policy, it lapses. If you don't make the payments
on your auto loan, it gets repossessed. If you don't pay your bookie,
someone comes to break your legs. Whatever analogy you choose, there are
consequences. The consequences for registrants, failing to renew their
domains, should be the same barring extreme situations.

The Registerfly meltdown is an extraordinary situation that spiraled out of
control due to ICANN's failure to accept responsibility. By ICANN's own
admission, they received a significant number of Registerfly complaints in
2005. If ICANN had taken timely and appropriate actions against Registerfly,
the ensuing problems would have been contained. We fully agree with you that
Registerfly customers should be protected and that taking advantage of that
particular situation is wrong.

Sincerely,
Ted
Prophet Partners Inc.
http://www.ProphetPartners.com
http://www.Premium-Domain-Names.com


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Joop Teernstra" <terastra@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: "Prophet Partners Inc." <Domains@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Cc: <ga@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Sunday, April 08, 2007 6:53 PM
Subject: Re: [ga] keeping expired domains by a registrar


> At 02:51 a.m. 9/04/2007, Prophet Partners Inc. wrote:
>
> >Expired domains are essentially abandoned property.
>
> Not always. There are a variety of real-life reasons that can cause
> inadvertent expiration.
> Say, a registrar normally debits a credit card for auto-renewal, but the
> card expires at the wrong moment. Sickness, administrative snafu's,
> registration by a third party who disappears, unexpected long travel, I
> have heard it all.
>
> >If you fail to pay the
> >mortgage, your home gets foreclosed and is auctioned off to someone else.
>
> Now the registration fee becomes a mortgage??
>
> It used to be compared with a property tax, non payment of which , indeed
> can also bring foreclosure and auction, but not without a large number of
> safeguards.
>
> Such safeguards as initially existed for Domain holders, have been eroded
> away by abusive drop script vulture practices. Too often I hear that
> hapless owners are charged extortionate fees to regain their domains.
>
> >  In
> >the real world, lotteries only exist for undeveloped public land, not for
> >formerly private property. IMO, the current environment for expiring
domains
> >represents a healthy and competitive market.
>
> Let us see what happens with the Registerfly fallout and the resulting
> "expired" names.  We cannot call trade in essentially stolen domains a
> healthy  market. Practices aiding and abetting extortion even less.
>
>
>
> -joop-