Network Solutions Stands by Name Policy

[Rockefeller]

Network Solutions is standing by its controversial policy of automatically registering some domain names that are the subject of searches on the company's Web site.

After testing the concept in December, the domain name registration company quietly began doing this over the past weekend. Potential customers who used the company's "Find a domain" search engine would suddenly find the domain names they had been searching for were registered to Network Solutions itself, making them temporarily unable to purchase the domain from another provider.

Industry watchers were quick to blast the new policy, saying that it either forced searchers to become Network Solutions customers, or exposed their ideas to scammers, who would be able to snatch up the domains the second they were released. "It is a deplorable action that Network Solutions would announce potential domain names to the entire world," wrote Jay Westerdal, on the DomainTools blog.

If cutting down on domain name scamming was the goal, "someone should be fired over the implementation," wrote Andrew Allemann, a blogger with Domain Name Wire.

On Wednesday, Network Solutions CEO Champ Mitchell said that his company planned to change the site's design to ensure that users are notified of this policy. The company is also looking into adding a feature that would make give users the option of keeping their searches un-registered, although that would require cooperation from domain name registries, he said.

Ironically, Mitchell said that Network Solutions came up with the search registration process in an effort to cut down on the scamming that has plagued the industry over the past two years. "We are not trying to make a bunch of money off of this," he said.

By registering the domains immediately, Network Solutions is keeping them out of the hands of scammers who take advantage of a loophole in the way names are registered. It has become increasingly common for scammers to register large number of domains for a short period of time and then to keep the ones that generate Web traffic, a practice called domain tasting. Because a domain can be held without charge for up to five days, this practice costs the scammer almost nothing, but it can be lucrative.

In another practice, called front running, scammers have found ways -- some of them illegal -- to keep track of domain name searches and then hold onto those domains themselves, hoping to sell them to the people doing the searching.

Some critics have said that Network Solutions' new practice amounts to front running, but Mitchell disagrees, saying the point of the system is to protect customers from the front-runners.

His company has developed an algorithm, designed to identify legitimate domain name searches and then automatically register the domain names being searched for on behalf of Network Solutions. These domains are held with a Web-page notice saying that they are available for sale for a four-day period. This gives the Network Solutions customer a window of opportunity to purchase the domain before it snatched up by a scammer, Mitchell aid.

Mitchell added that if ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers), the organization that oversees the domain name system, would move to cut down on these type of scams, then his company wouldn't have to engage in this kind of automatic search registration. "We would be perfectly happy to end this process if ICANN or the registries would do something to protect small businesses or other small users," he said.

A US$0.25 non-refundable domain name registration fee would probably be enough to make domain tasting or front running unprofitable, he added.

Source

[Tia Wood]

"We are not trying to make a bunch of money off of this," he said.

Bullcrap

By registering the domains immediately, Network Solutions is keeping them out of the hands of scammers who take advantage of a loophole in the way names are registered.

Also bullcrap.

Scammers can still register domains that have been looked up because Network Solutions freely allows anybody to come in and claim the name after lookup if the potential customer doesn't complete the sale.

The only difference now is scammers now have to go through Network Solutions to register it.

[friday]

In fairness Westerdal can't complain much. He exposes domainers privacy much more than anyone else in the entire industry including Network Solutions. Too many "Industry Watchers" crying foul when they are abusing the whois registry themselves.

[Banned: domain newbie]

the only way to stop is now- ban the tasting or charge the fee

where is icann, did they say anything?

i thought would be over by today...

[nametrader]

Some critics have said that Network Solutions' new practice amounts to front running, but Mitchell disagrees, saying the point of the system is to protect customers from the front-runners.

His company has developed an algorithm, designed to identify legitimate domain name searches and then automatically register the domain names being searched for on behalf of Network Solutions. These domains are held with a Web-page notice saying that they are available for sale for a four-day period. This gives the Network Solutions customer a window of opportunity to purchase the domain before it snatched up by a scammer, Mitchell aid.

Mitchell added that if ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers), the organization that oversees the domain name system, would move to cut down on these type of scams, then his company wouldn't have to engage in this kind of automatic search registration. "We would be perfectly happy to end this process if ICANN or the registries would do something to protect small businesses or other small users," he said.

I wonder who are the scammers, every customer is a customer, what amounts to scamming when it comes to buying a domain name(s) , nothing does in my sense. This all amounts to monetizing their business. It is illegal for a registrar to hold domains hostage like this for 4 days.
But what makes me sick is that the attitude of people heading ICANN taking it easy in every issue like this one, they just give a damn for almost everything. They are the most irresponsible officials governing the most important information lifeline of the planet the internet. I wonder why there is nothing done correctly and promptly when it comes to justice related to domain names.

Why is that all these people are unable to accept the fact that domain name trade is a business now a new one. Why is that Network solutions and other companies charging like $30 bucks a domain name and ripping people off!
Why is that they have no campaign to educate internet novices about domain names and internet. Tell them that there is a place where you can get domains for $6.99 and we charge $35.00 and here is why! Let them justify and let them compare with others and show the advantage the customer is getting than with the $6.99 company. They can never do that. Then how is it justified?

Putting it simply there is something that sucks here, that is no well defined laws protecting the interests of the consumer. This continues so unless there is a common law that applies to all internet domain name operators and registries all over the world which clearly defines and upholds the Fairness in its entirety.

[CureCancer]

they need to expel their ICANN license for domains

[spidergoat]

seems to not be happening anymore.

searched a .com on netsol. went to their congrats-available-wanna-buy section. then went to GoDaddy, and it showed available.

[CureCancer]

we should all take ns to court.. and sue them for 1 billion rubals

[Banned: domain newbie]

yea, looks like "the service" is down, domainers won,

[nametrader]

Their step is not only bad to domainers, more to general public too. What if you and me are competitors offering same kind of product, say baby cradles I went to netsol checked availability and it is available, I thought of registering it later, where as you one day later want to register the same and you see that it's not available at another registrar. It's not fair at all, I haven't registered the domain yet, but you can't register

What's all this isn't it BS. We do not need it. Whoever registers a domain first gets it, why this prying and why this front running. If one do it they loose their dependability as a service provider.

[all4cost]

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5g...8s_bAD8U3AH4O0



Only an article still - but once it hits the AP ...... Zooom ...

[nametrader]

Uphhh!

Quote from that article

"We are not front running," she said. "We are not monetizing the page. We have no intent in keeping it. We have no intent in selling it in secondary markets at inflated prices — that is front running."

Ha Ha funny locking the potential customer to buy the domain looked for at netsol, preventing purchase of the same domain at other registrar where the customer wish to finally register it, may be due to price factor something. They are directly benefiting from locking the domain naming and showing not available at other registrars, just because of the chance that the feared customer runs to netsol and register it for more price.

Isn't it obstruction of justice? that spokesperson got to be kidding.

Man watch out for my well being, someone might hire a hitman and get me beaten up if I am not online for 2 or more days send a PM to DNF administrators and ask them to call my number and find out my well being

[Dave Zan]

Much of what's stated there may be bullcrap, horse manure, or whatever you
want to call it, but take note especially this:

Mitchell added that if ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers), the organization that oversees the domain name system, would move to cut down on these type of scams, then his company wouldn't have to engage in this kind of automatic search registration. "We would be perfectly happy to end this process if ICANN or the registries would do something to protect small businesses or other small users," he said.

Chances are they'll do what their own CEO said should ICANN finally resolve it.
If they don't, they'll be taking a lot of unnecessary risks.

[blacknight]

In fairness Westerdal can't complain much. He exposes domainers privacy much more than anyone else in the entire industry including Network Solutions.

So true!

I get the distinct impression that he likes to play both sides

[Rockefeller]

So true!

I get the distinct impression that he likes to play both sides

If they're standing by their decision why have they stopped doing it? If they truly believed what they were doing wasn't hurting anyone they would just keep doing it. By stopping, they are admitting guilt.