There has been a lot of discussion and research conducted every year to make the best use of the internet, safely and to reduce cybercrime and other online usage threats. The Generic Names Supporting Organization or GNSO suggested and approved a few recommendations on Post-Expiration Domain Name Registration Recovery Policy Development Process or PDP.
Proposals for Domain Name Registration
According to GNSO, the resolutions made to help the users proposes:
- Defining the ‘Registered Name Holder at Expiration,’ RNHaE, as the entity is eligible to renew the domain name registration immediately after or prior to expiration. If such registration is modified after the term of the Registration Agreement it must authorize the modification of registration data. This must be done for the purpose of easing renewal terms and not at the request of the registrant or the RNHaE. However, the terms of renewal of Domain Name Registration in Vancouver may or may not differ from that of any other place.
- At the same point after the registration, the original DNS resolution path as mentioned by the registrant must be interrupted by the official registrant for at least eight days at a stretch. However, such interruptions must be done if only the registry permits. The registrant will be able to renew the domain name after the expiry of this interruption period that may come to an effect any time after expiration.
- The resolutions also propose that the registrar may cancel the Domain Name Registration notwithstanding, any time within the auto-renew grace period. If however it is found at any time after expiry that the registered name can be renewed by the registrant, the registrar can change the DNS resolution path with intent to promote a different landing website other than the registrant’s original path before expiration.
- The registrant must be explicitly informed about the expiry of the Domain Name Registration and at the same time provide all relevant info as to how the domain can be recovered. Wording and explanation in the policy must be clear and the instructions as simple as possible so that the RNHaE is directed to the specific website for recovery.
- If the registrar makes any WHOIS changes that were not requested by the RNHaE, then it is also the responsibility of the registrar to allow the registrant to renew a domain name registration.
- As for the registration agreement, it must include the fees charged and its structure for the renewal of domain name after expiration. Apart from that, the registrar must state during or after the renewal of a domain name the fees charged for the post-expiration renewal both at the time of registration as well as in a clear place on the website. Such fees for even theDomain Name Recovery must also be mentioned throughout the Redemption Grace Period.
- The registrar website and the registration agreement if used must mention clearly the methods involved deliver pre-expiration as well as post-expiration notifications. In addition to that, it must also point out the location from where relevant information regarding this can be obtained. The destination number and address to use for this purpose must be specified clearly as and when applicable.
- The responsibility of the registrar also includes notifying the Registered Name Holder about imminent expiration for no less than two times. One of these notifications must be sent 30 days before expiration with a grace of four days. The other notification must be sent seven days before the expiration date, give or take three days only.
- In case more than two alert notices are sent by the registrar then the timing of these two alerts must be in comparison and agreement with the specified timings. Lest and till the time the Registered Name is renewed or removed by the registrar, the registrar must send at least one notification to the registrant. This single notification must include the renewal instructions after the expiration.
- The resolution also focuses on the notifications of approaching expiration. According to the resolution, the notifications for such imminent expiration must include all the methods that do not necessitate an explicit registrant action except a standard e-mail receipt to receive these notifications.
- It is clearly mentioned in the resolution that all gTLD registries apart from the sponsored ones, must offer RGP or the Redemption Grace Period. However, if the unsponsored gTLD do not offer RGP currently then a specific changeover period must be allowed but all new gTLDs must mandatorily offer the RGP.
- In case the registrar offers a registration in a gTLD that provides the RGP, then the registrar must permit the Registered Name Holder at Expiration to redeem it after entering RGP. However, no transfer of a Domain Name Registration during the RGP is allowed.
However, in an event when ICANN sends a notice to the registrars that it has reasonably published web content as labeled in the PEDNR Recommendation, registrars having a web presence must offer a link to ICANN content. It must be operable on any website for domain name registration or renewal by the Registered Name Holders. All these must be as clear as the links to policies or notifications that are displayed as per the ICANN Consensus Policies.
However, the policy allows the registrars to host similar material for their specific processes and practices. In that case, the registrar must inform the ICANN that the material used in such notifications and communication has been sent to the registrant immediately after the initial registration and also in the authorized yearly WHOIS reminder.
Domain name recovery process
There are specific rules to follow during the domain name recovery process. In situations when you see that a domain name you want is already taken there is no need to worry. There are a number of useful solutions that will allow you to recover any domain name that has been registered already.
However, the possibility of such recovery will largely depend on the state in which you want the name to be registered, your rights over the name as well as the budget available and you can afford to acquire it. Such processes include backorder form the registered names that are not renewed, anonymous acquisition and legal recovery procedures of UDRP.
