admin Popularity: 79% [?] January 9th, 2008
Network Solutions, one of the leading domain name registrars, has published a response regarding recent accusations that the company is “front running” domain name registrations. Read the response by Jonathon Nevett, Vice President of Policy at Network Solutions.
This is pretty big news and hot off the press. Whether you own one domain name or many, the implications of what Network Solutions are doing is quite profound - notwithstanding the technology is pretty amazing that performs this task.
In a nutshell and if you are confused about “Front Running” let me offer a very brief explanation: Front running in the domain name business refers to registrars who use customer searches on a particular available name to then “hold” that search on their servers for a period of up to 4 days.
In other words, should you not register the name there and then, when you return to check the availability of the name you will only be able to purchase it exclusively from Network Solutions.
As a test, think up any jumbled up name you can imagine that has absolutely zero appeal to anyone, and search it’s availability via Network Solutions. When it shows available, wait a couple of minutes and then type the same name into your browser, hit refresh a few times and before you know it, up will pop the Network Solutions splash page, giving you the privilege of registering the name with Network Solutions.
To confirm that you can not register with anyone else - go over to another registrar and type the same name into the domain name search bar and see what you get - so far in 24 hours of testing, every dot com name entered has been taken up by Network Solutions.
It is likely the company will get such a huge backlash from other registrars and domain name buyers, the practice will be pulled at any time. Still, it is a sign of some amazing programming and technology, and undeniable proof of what many domain name owners have suspected for some time, that the large registrars do have the power and technology to look at what you are searching for and register names accordingly.
Where does it stop?
Wishing you a very prosperous 2008. Thanks for reading.
Edit: Further reading available at DotSauce.com - even a reply by a Network Solutions emplyee
USA Today picked up the story that is gaining momentum across the domain name world. The heading reads “Network Solutions snarfing your ideas? Snarfing? What the hell does snarfing mean you ask? I have no idea, but I did find a link to a listing in Wikipedia for those that can read German.
I visited a few domain trading forums today to see what was being said. There seems to be a wide range of responses as you would expect. Everything from bemusement to shock and horror.
For now, if you are going to register what you consider is a good name that sits in front of a good idea, do yourself a favor and make sure you register it before you lose it. Personally, I’ve been using either domainsbot or bustaname for searches. They are quick and informative, and as far as I can tell, do not try and snip your name from under your finger tips. Occasionally names will say free and in fact they are registered - but from experience this has led me to double check the whois information and generally those names have either been expired and in redemption period or about to be deleted.
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Jay Westerdal wrote an interesting article on his blog today regarding the Network Solutions fiasco. The title speaks volumes about how many in the domain name industry are feeling tonight. It is titled “Network Solutions steals domain ideas: Confirmed!”
