DynDNS Statement on ICANN Transfer Policy

November 10, 2004

DynDNS.org has the following statement to make regarding the updated ICANN domain transfer policy, which takes effect on Friday, November 12th, 2004. The updated ICANN transfer policy can be read at http://www.icann.org/transfers/policy-12jul04.htm.

The updated ICANN transfer policy includes no substantial changes from the policies and procedures already in place at Tucows/OpenSRS, DynDNS.org's ICANN-accredited registration partner. Many media outlets have been reporting what can only be referred to as FUD (Fear, Uncertainty, Doubt) relating to this change. Quotes from Section 3 of the new policy are being used out of context to imply that it will be possible for anyone to steal anyone else's domain name. This is quite simply untrue. Section 2 of the new policy quite clearly spells out that proper verification steps must be taken by the Gaining Registrar before a transfer request is initiated, thus preventing "slamming" of domain registrations.

Other domain registration providers have been instructing their customers to place their domains on lock status to prevent unauthorized transfers. We feel that this is an unnecessary and ill-advised step. The proper course of action is to always ensure that the contact information for your domain(s), particularly the administrative contact e-mail address, is kept up-to-date at all times. This is, in fact, required by your agreement with us. With up-to-date contact information on file, and proper attention to e-mails you receive from us and Tucows/OpenSRS, our registration partner, it will not be possible for your domain(s) to be transferred without your consent.

Much of the fear regarding this change in policy stems from the assumption that a Gaining Registrar will be violating the policy and submitting requests that have not been properly validated. It is our firm belief that no registrar is going to do that, as it would likely result in the termination of their accreditation by ICANN if performed on any significant scale. This policy DOES NOT ALLOW a transfer to be performed with no consent from the domain holder. Consent MUST be provided to the Gaining Registrar before they submit the request to the Registrar of Record. It is only at the Registrar of Record (or Losing Registrar) where the transfer can be allowed to proceed without explicit consent, and that is the case only because the policy assumes (and must assume) that the Gaining Registrar has performed proper authentication and confirmation of the initial request.

There is simply no reason to panic over these changes to the transfer policy. Simple care and vigilance is all that is needed to ensure that your domain remains firmly under your control.

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About Dynamic Network Services Inc.

Founded in 1998, originally as a free DNS service for the Perl and open source communities, Dynamic Network Services Inc. (Dyn Inc.) has grown quietly and steadily to become one of the Internet's largest and most reliable providers of domain, zone and email solutions, through its innovative and well supported services. Still offering its signature free service, the company today plays a key role in keeping the Internet's DNS infrastructure at large running smoothly and stays faithful to its core values of engineering excellence. Additionally, Dyn Inc. also offers Dynect®, an enterprise class dynamic DNS offering.

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