Nominet to streamline domain renewals

By Steve Malone

Posted on 25 Feb 2003 at 11:10

Nominet, the registry for the .uk domains is to change the way in which domain renewals are handled. The plan is to allow both the registrant and the registration agent a 'final chance' to renew before the domain name is released. The company says that the changes will take effect around August time.

When a domain name is not renewed by its expiry date, both the registrant and the domain name registration agent will be sent one final reminder. If there is still no renewal, the domain name will be suspended for 60 days (during which time it can be reactivated) before being cancelled.

This new procedure is designed to make the process clearer for both registrants and tag holders (the registration agents) and to ensure that valuable domain names do not expire accidentally.

Under this 'positive renewal' system, Nominet will continue to provide the current email service to notify tag holders of forthcoming renewals each month.

Tag holders can now renew any domain name on their tag up to six months in advance of the expiry date. Alternatively, they can flag that they want to automatically renew a domain name when it becomes due.

Where the domain name is not renewed before its expiry date, Nominet will send a notice to the registrant and the tag holder telling them that the registration has expired. The registrant will be sent an invoice by post and email (where possible). Registrants will be advised that this is their last opportunity to renew the domain name and that they are likely to receive a preferential rate if they renew through their tag holder. Nominet will also supply their tag holder's details, as well as the URL through which a direct renewal can be made.

If payment is not received from either the registrant or the tag holder, the domain name will be suspended for a fixed period of 60 days before being cancelled. This means that the DNS name servers associated with that domain name will not be entered into the .uk zone file but they will be maintained in the Nominet register database so that if the domain name is subsequently renewed, it can be reinstated at the next zone file rebuild.

After 60 days Nominet will notify the registrant and tag holder that the domain registration has expired. The tag holder will be notified only after cancellation. During this period, the WHOIS output will be modified to show the payment status of a domain name, i.e. either that the domain name is 'paid until expiry date' or that the renewal is 'in invoice cycle'.

Any questions or comments about this new procedure should be emailed to Nominet with the subject line 'positive renewal'.