[At-Large] User concerns on practices in the Domain Name market

[Sivasubramanian Muthusamy]

Hello At-Large,

Dan Connolly <http://www.w3.org/People/Connolly/> of the W3C posted a
message that cites a blog post from the UK based gandi iwi (Gandi tribe)

Here is what Gandi iwi
<http://iwi.gandibar.net/post/2008/10/22/Why-domain-name-services-are-not-all-equal>has
put together as "a list of a few things to watch out for in the tricky
domain market."

*1. Sneaky pricing* - Different pricing for register (buy now £0.99 per
year!) and renewal (oops it costs more next year) - Different pricing for
transfers out (oh, you want to leave, that'll be £xx) - The cost of a
.co.ukat the registry is £2.50 per year. Companies selling below this
have an
ulterior motive!

*2. Service restrictions* - Can't get full DNS control - pay more for
additional services

*3. Front running* - Using your domain search data to buy domains before you
do, or selling your domain search data. More
references.<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Domain_name_front_running>

*4. Account lockins* - Locking your account for a period following changes,
prevents transfer outs. More by
Slashdot.<http://tech.slashdot.org/tech/08/04/08/0349253.shtml>

*5. Domain ownership* - Not the owner of your domain, some companies buy it
on your behalf and then rent it to
you.<http://news.cnet.com/2010-1071-281311.html>

*6. Privacy* - Selling your whois data/customer data

Most of these are concerns of the users, so would at-Large please look into
this?



-- 
Sivasubramanian Muthusamy
ISOC India Chennai ALS
http://isocmadras.blogspot.com
http://twitter.com/isocchennai
<http://wealthyworld.blogspot.com>http://www.circleid.com/members/3601/