[At-Large] [Fwd: Request for staff research: registrar fees and practices]

[Wendy Seltzer]

There was support for this research among ALAC members.  Nick, what do
we need to do to move it forward?

I updated to reflect John's suggestion on transfer process.
--Wendy

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Request for staff research: registrar fees and practices
Date: Fri, 13 Apr 2007 17:50:33 -0400
From: Wendy Seltzer <wendy at seltzer.com>
To: At-Large writ small <alac at atlarge-lists.icann.org>

Here's my recommendation for a request to staff for registrar research.
 I'd recommend this begin with review of registrar websites, perhaps to
be followed with direct communications if information is unavailable.

Comments or changes welcome.
--Wendy


The At-Large Advisory Committee has heard complaints from individuals
about significant divergences among registrars on fees and practices
regarding domain name transfer and expired domain name redemption.  At
least some registrants are not aware of these fees and practices at the
time they register names.  Before ALAC can analyze whether these fees
and practices reflect a problem or the competitive market at work, we
would like to get more information about them.

We therefore ask staff to develop a plan for surveying accredited
registrars on their practices.

For each registrar, determine:
Transfer-away:
Is there a transfer-away fee for registrants to take their domain names
to another registrar?
If so, what is the fee?
Is the transfer-away fee disclosed to the registrant at the time of
registration?
Where and how is such disclosure made?
Is the fee subject to change during the registration period?
Can registrants actually get the authcodes required to transfer domains?
What is the process to get the authcode, including any fees charged?

Redemption:
What is the redemption fee for an expired domain name?
Does the registrar itself register names its registrants have failed to
renew?

-- 
Wendy Seltzer -- wendy at seltzer.org
phone: 718.780.7961 // fax: 718.780.0394 // cell: 914.374.0613
Visiting Assistant Professor of Law, Brooklyn Law School
Fellow, Berkman Center for Internet & Society
http://cyber.law.harvard.edu/seltzer.html
http://www.chillingeffects.org/




-- 
Wendy Seltzer -- wendy at seltzer.org
phone: +1.617.418.3456 / +44 (0)1865 287203 // cell: 07785 550361
Visiting Fellow, Oxford Internet Institute
Fellow, Berkman Center for Internet & Society
http://cyber.law.harvard.edu/seltzer.html
http://www.chillingeffects.org/