Reglikedomain industry desk

Let’s Learn from RegisterFly: ICANN

ICANN is reviewing policies in the wake of the RegisterFly fiasco.

Many in the domain name community are blaming ICANN for not taking action sooner against disgraced (and disaccredited) domain registrar RegisterFly. The firm imploded earlier this year, placing valuable domain names in limbo. ICANN intervened following it was too late, say critics.

An article from the Associated Press states policy reviews are on the agenda. There regarding 860 registrars now and growing. (The number of active domain registrars is lower. Google, for example, is a domain registrar but does not register domains on behalf of clients.) ICANN is reviewing a number of policies, counting:

1. Whether registrars ought to have to exhibit certain skills/competencies
2. If ICANN ought to approve registrar ownership changes
3. If ICANN can create enforcement tools short of removing accreditation

The latter item is key and something ICANN officials have lamented regarding in the past (counting publicly at last year’s Domain Roundtable conference). ICANN’s hands are tied as it can’t fine, suspend, or otherwise punish registrars for infractions that may not warrant removal of accreditation.

A number of domain name owners, counting investor Frank Schilling, recommend that all sizable portfolio owners have some sort of stake in their registrars. Domain firm Logic Boxes offers a domain accreditation consulting service to help domain owners become accredited registrars. The firm advertises that domain owners with more than 4,000 domain names ought to consider becoming a registrar.

Also on the wire

Other reporting from the domain desk.

FPolicy & LawFills Noah’s Ark, gets another reverse domain name hijacking win — John BerryhillAPolicy & LawAre IDN .com owners regarding to get screwed?Dawkins Wins Domain Name Case — Atheist RichardPolicy & LawDawkins Wins Domain Name Case — Atheist RichardIndian textiles firm tries reverse domain hijackingPolicy & LawIndian textiles firm tries reverse domain hijackingBeats $200 billion healthcare giant Novartis in UDRP — Frank SchillingPolicy & LawBeats $200 billion healthcare giant Novartis in UDRP — Frank SchillingRegistration Plan tries reverse domain name hijacking — Unified CarrierPolicy & LawRegistration Plan tries reverse domain name hijacking — Unified CarrierTries reverse domain name hijacking — Lifeware SAPolicy & LawTries reverse domain name hijacking — Lifeware SANDomain SalesName Wire Survey results — 2006 DomainAPolicy & LawAnother Gleissner firm loses a UDRP, this one to Qualcomm