ditterdi
June 5th, 2001, 15:43
In another thread it was mentioned that namezero claims it takes 3 months to release a domain after expiration ACORDING TO THE RULES.
So I asked Icann about the rules and got this reply:
Dear Leo,
Thank you for your inquiry regarding expired domain names.
ICANN has not yet adopted a uniform policy concerning the handling of
expired domain names. Still, all registrars are required to comply with the
Registrar Accreditation Agreement
<http://www.icann.org/nsi/icann-raa-04nov99.htm>, section II.J.5 of which
provides as follows:
"Registrar shall register SLDs to SLD holders only for fixed periods. At the
conclusion of the registration period, failure by or on behalf of the SLD
holder to pay a renewal fee within the time specified in a second notice or
reminder shall, in the absence of extenuating circumstances, result in
cancellation of the registration. In the event that ICANN adopts a policy
concerning procedures for handling expiration of registrations, Registrar
shall abide by that policy."
Based on the above provision, registrars are required to "release" names
after a second notice and a grace period, unless there are "extenuating
circumstances." These terms aren't defined in the
accreditation agreement, but some examples of situations that keep names in
limbo are payment disputes, ownership disputes, or lawsuits. Sometimes
names appear to be expired but remain unavailable for re-registration for
months, (or even years.)
It is possible that the registrar is either just working
slowly or simply overlooked the name. It requires an affirmative act to
remove a name from the registry; names don't just delete themselves after a
certain time. Sending formal (or multiple) inquiries to the registrar may
succeed in getting a particular registration cancelled.
Best regards,
ICANN
So I asked Icann about the rules and got this reply:
Dear Leo,
Thank you for your inquiry regarding expired domain names.
ICANN has not yet adopted a uniform policy concerning the handling of
expired domain names. Still, all registrars are required to comply with the
Registrar Accreditation Agreement
<http://www.icann.org/nsi/icann-raa-04nov99.htm>, section II.J.5 of which
provides as follows:
"Registrar shall register SLDs to SLD holders only for fixed periods. At the
conclusion of the registration period, failure by or on behalf of the SLD
holder to pay a renewal fee within the time specified in a second notice or
reminder shall, in the absence of extenuating circumstances, result in
cancellation of the registration. In the event that ICANN adopts a policy
concerning procedures for handling expiration of registrations, Registrar
shall abide by that policy."
Based on the above provision, registrars are required to "release" names
after a second notice and a grace period, unless there are "extenuating
circumstances." These terms aren't defined in the
accreditation agreement, but some examples of situations that keep names in
limbo are payment disputes, ownership disputes, or lawsuits. Sometimes
names appear to be expired but remain unavailable for re-registration for
months, (or even years.)
It is possible that the registrar is either just working
slowly or simply overlooked the name. It requires an affirmative act to
remove a name from the registry; names don't just delete themselves after a
certain time. Sending formal (or multiple) inquiries to the registrar may
succeed in getting a particular registration cancelled.
Best regards,
ICANN