Fresh expired domain name rules now in effect

Registrars must follow fresh guidelines for expired domain names.

Fresh expired domain name rules governing all gTLDs went into effect on Saturday.

The Expired Registration Recovery Policy (ERRP) regulates how domain name registrars handle expiring domain names.

For example, it requires them to send expiration notices at certain intervals.

It also requires domain name registrars to interrupt the nameservers for most expired domain names to get the attention of the domain name registrant. You’ve probably seen this ahead of – when you land on an expired domain name and the registrar holding page explains that the domain name is expiring. The fresh rules also require registrars to place instructions on that landing page that explain how the domain name can be renewed.

A quick search on expired domain names at a couple platforms shows that domain name registrars aren’t all in compliance with the instructions requirement. Perhaps it will only be applied to domain names that expire following August 31…or maybe registrars are still getting their act together.

ICANN has added a fresh page to its site to explain why an expired domain name may not be working due to this nameserver change.

ERRP also requires a 30 day redemption grace period on non-sponsored gTLDs and that registrars publish pricing for recovering a domain during this period.