Why am I bringing this up? I have already mentioned it on my blog and it has been well documented on the web.
I am bringing it up in the real estate community because it may well affect how you look for and purchase domain names. I will try to keep this less technical and more practical. A more technical explanation is found here.
I-CANN allows registrars (like Network Solutions) a five day refund period and does NOT specifically forbid registrars from “using” the search data from people on their websites who search to see which names are available. Here’s an example of what Network Solutions is purportedly doing and why you should not search for domain names on their site…
Cost (as of this writing) to purchase a domain name for a year on many registrars is MUCH less than that of Network Solutions, yet many search for domains there due to an easy interface and Network Solutions’ longstanding presence in the industry.
Step 1: You go search for domain names on Network Solutions
Step 2: They GRAB your domain ideas for up to 5 days
Step 3: If you go to another registrar to register your domain name, you CAN’T (without waiting for the 5 day hostage period to end.
What they claim: Their response is that this is a “security measure” to protect you from “domain tasters” (people who use the same I-CANN policy to test domains to find the best ones that they want.)
My opinion: Like many others, I view this as a low class way to FORCE unsuspecting domain name searchers to pay upwards of twice as much for their domains OR wait for the 5 day hostage crisis to end. Well, my opinion is a little stronger, but we will keep it mild for now. I think an all out boycott is in order, if you want to know the truth of it.
The way around it?: Pretty simple. Search for your domain names for your blog elsewhere on the web than Network Solutions. Anywhere else.
The other reason I am posting about it here? They (Network Solutions) have had a few days to correct this outrageous charade and to date have not. If we let them get away with this, then EVERY place where we use to search for which domains are available will by extension lock us into buying from them (or wait 5 days). Not cool.
Todd says:
Cool Who Is ( http://www.coolwhois.com/ ) doesn’t spy on you, they are the people you make Tiny URL too ( http://tinyurl.com ).
Be careful, it’s not just Network Solutions deploying spyware on their site, in fact most Registars have in their ToS that they can sell your inquiries to third parties.
January 14, 2008 — 10:38 am
Chuchundra says:
The domain name system is broken and needs serious fixing. Searching for an unused domain name these days is a job and a half. When I get a new client it’s rare that they can get a domain name that’s anything close to their actual company name. All the semi-understandable collections of letters and numbers with dot com at the end are either being used by a legitimate company or (more likely) owned by domain squatters generating revenue via search engine affiliates.
Why should companies be allowed to use up the name space with sites that do nothing but generate search click money with Google ads? Especially since a lot of these squatter companies are subsidiaries of the registrars themselves.
January 14, 2008 — 1:07 pm
Bob in San Diego says:
Use Moniker.
January 14, 2008 — 2:47 pm
Dave Barnes says:
Domain Front Running is immoral. Not illegal, but certainly immoral. Back when NSI was the only game in town, they were monopolistic jerks. I swore I would never again use their services.
January 14, 2008 — 3:28 pm
Glenn says:
Eric, thanks for the tip – it should prove helpful, when I am researching possible domain names.
January 15, 2008 — 5:22 am
Greg Cremia says:
There was a time when I liked doing business with nws but they have really changed. They took my money for an SSL cert and couldn’t provide the cert without me changing the domain ownership. They kept the money. They auto renew services 5-6 months ahead of time without any notice. They kept charging my credit card even after I canceled it.
It took me a couple of days but I put a freeze on my account and all my auto renews. I dread having to transfer all of my domains but I will do it because I can not work with companies using such under handed tactics.
January 19, 2008 — 8:25 am
Sam Chapman says:
Sounds like we need federal intervention here. It works so well for everything else…..
Seriously though, I think Network Solutions is also more expensive by quite a bit than others. They are banking on people’s ignorance and making a lot of money off of that.
January 22, 2008 — 7:23 am
Eric Blackwell says:
Hey Sam-
I like Bob’s solution better. Just use a different provider. If we vote with our feet, things will correct themselves. I am a big fan of capitalism.
best
Eric
January 22, 2008 — 7:26 am
ken says:
*Dear All concerning,*
One of my friend became the victim of Network Solution’s Shrewd Business
Policy where as he was searching a domain called http://www.akesiammarine.com and
after searching ultimately the domain was kept hold.
After my conversation with one of the staff named JP, informed me that this
is network solutions new policy who ever search any domain they would put a
hold on those domains for 4 days ultimately. I would say, they have taken
shrewd business policy.
As for reference you can see the domain which had been hold given below:
*[whois.verisign-grs.com]
Whois Server Version 2.0
Domain names in the .com and .net domains can now be registered
with many different competing registrars. Go to http://www.internic.net
for detailed information.
Domain Name: AKESIAMMARINE.COM
Registrar: NETWORK SOLUTIONS, LLC.
Whois Server: whois.networksolutions.com
Referral URL: http://www.networksolutions.com
Name Server: NS1.RESERVEDDOMAINNAME.COM
Name Server: NS2.RESERVEDDOMAINNAME.COM
Status: clientHold
Updated Date: 24-feb-2008
Creation Date: 24-feb-2008
Expiration Date: 24-feb-2009
I would say that this is against Internic Policy whereas Network Solutions
has no right to put an hold to the domain names which has been searched in
their website. Later on, after the phone call they had solved this issue
and let my friend register the domain name.
Though they have cleared my friend’s problem but the actual problem is
still there whereas users would be easily mislead by network solutions. Hope
that you would take a proper action against this company’s unethical
business policies. Even I had a problem with them once.
With regards,
*Ken
HP: +66890548549*
February 28, 2008 — 6:13 pm
kaern says:
i work at an IT place, and this is a HUGE issue with customers registering new domains.
You can call their support line, and they will immeidatly remove the hold on the domain name…. however is there any sort of activist movement to get them to stop doing this??
Besides ICANN, and Network Solutions themselves, who would be worth contacting to protest this unfair registry policy?
April 12, 2008 — 6:55 am