Daily Snippets – 19 February

Here is a round up of some “stuff” that you may find interesting.

Response From auDA …

So I previously wrote this article about the quandary facing dropcatchers. I said that I had written to auDA, and would post as soon as I had a response.

I have received a reply, and as usual, it is short and sharp, and doesn’t exactly spell out the answers to each specific question. Particularly number’s 4 and 5. Sort of a “hedge your bets response” with the standard mantra that “policy covers the issues”. 😉

This was the contents of my email:

As a preface to my questions, I wrote this article on Domainer: www.domainer.com.au/a-drop-catchers-quandary/
 
My reading of policy at http://auda.org.au/policies/2010-07/ – Clause 4.2 – is that “Registrars and resellers are not permitted to use their own contact details as registrant contact information, unless they have received express written consent from the registrant in that regard”.

 
1.    Are Netfleet permitted under auDA policy to use holding@netfleet.com.au as the registrant contact email address
(until such time as they have been paid for the domain)?
 
2.    If they are, does this equally apply to other registrars?
 
3.    If a “new client” doesn’t pay, what happens to the domain?
 
4.    Are there any set time periods for whatever action takes place? Does the registrant have to be notified – and / or
given option to remedy?
 
5.     Can the Registrar award / sell the domain to another party? Or does it have to be deleted?
 
I look forward to auDA’s official response.

This was the official response:

Hi Ned,

All registrars are free to implement their own commercial terms and conditions, provided that there is no conflict with any applicable auDA policy with respect to the management of .au domain names. As you are aware, the relevant policy dealing with registrant contact details is the Registrant Contact Information Policy (2010-07) and it sets out the requirements for using a registrar’s email address as the registrant contact email address.
 
There is no auDA policy that deals specifically with non-payment by a registrant. We understand that most registrars have terms which give them the right to delete a domain name for non-payment, and they are free to set their own timeframes and processes for this to occur, provided that there is no conflict with any other applicable auDA policy. For example, the Transfers (Change of Registrant) Policy (2011-03) sets out the requirements for the transfer of a domain name licence from a registrant to a proposed new registrant.

What’s Happening On The Drops

The top purchase yesterday was for a domain that on the face of it didn’t make a lot of sense – ielts.com.au selling for $2611 plus / plus on Netfleet. The bid on Drop was just $335.  However, having Googled the term, I can understand why the name attracted some bids.

Next up was privateinvestigatormelbourne.com.au for $567 ++. Netfleet were successful again. Bid on Drop was for just $1.

But the most interesting aspect for me was the number of PD’s (policy deletes). I twigged early that Netfleet must have been cleaning up some old unpaid invoices, because when I looked up the WhoIs on a couple of the domains, I noticed that the registrant email was holding@netfleet.com.au.

I rang Jonathan Gleeson from Netfleet, and he confirmed that he has started cleaning up a lot of unpaid invoices from 2014 (yes, 2014!) and 2015. These are people who have bid on domains and simply never paid for them. Whether it was simply “buyer’s remorse” or something more sinister, who knows.

As I have written previously, I have great sympathy for registrars / dropcatchers who are left “holding the baby”. But they are not the only one’s affected – domain investors are also caught up. The integrity of the marketplace is affected by these non-paying bidders. Here is just one example why. EHF.com.au was a Policy Delete yesterday – this was purchased on the drops back in mid 2014, and I was the underbidder back then. So both Netfleet and I have had to wait over 18 months to get some realisation!

I’ll be writing about this more in the next few days. Plenty more examples.

Website Of The Day

Wanted to give a plug for a couple of really smart Queenslander’s who are starting to make their mark in the domain world.

Chris Norris and Sam Scerri have teamed up to create Domain Boutique.

If you have a look at their website, they have acquired some fantastic domain names – and not just Aussie ones either. Plus as you can see they are also working on a number of online projects.

Chris and Sam will be at our Brisbane meetup on Tuesday. The venue is now confirmed as the Pig N Whistle at 446 Brunswick Street, Fortitude Valley.

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If you have any comments on any of the above, I’d love to hear them.

Should you have any suggestions for future stories – or any “hot news”, please let me know.

Best wishes for your online success. 🙂