Domain transfer locks might be coming to more registrars — 60 day

Get ready for some headaches…

One of the most common complaints I hear regarding GoDaddy is its 60-day transfer lock. If you change certain contact information associated with your domain name, the firm will lock the domain from transfer to another registrar for 60 days.

This type of hold might soon become standard at domain name registrars.

It’s part of the fresh ICANN transfer policy that goes into effect on December 1. eNom sent a notice regarding the fresh policy to its clients today, explaining how it will affect them.

Essentially, if you change the name or email address of the registrant, both the old contact and fresh contact must confirm it.

This can help cut down on domain hijackings, but it might also create problems. If the domain has an old email address you no longer control, it doesn’t seem that you’ll be able to update it to a fresh address.

The other kicker is that registrars can place a transfer lock on a domain for up to 60 days following the name or email address is updated. This means, much like with domains you want to transfer out of GoDaddy right now, you have to do the transfer ahead of updating contact information.

A redline version of the fresh policy is here (pdf).