Domain tasting: Difference between revisions

Edit links
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous editNext edit →
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
domain kiting-->'''domain kiting'''
Adrianeu (talk | contribs)
74 edits
Edited article - ~~~~
Line 1: Line 1:
{{Refimprove|date=March 2009}}
{{Refimprove|date=March 2009}}
'''Domain tasting''' is the practice of a [[domain name]] registrant using the five-day "grace period" (the Add Grace Period or AGP) at the beginning of the registration of an [[ICANN]]-regulated [[second-level domain]] to test the marketability of the domain. During this period, when a registration must be fully refunded by the [[domain name registry]], a [[cost-benefit analysis]] is conducted by the registrant on the viability of deriving income from [[Internet marketing|advertisements]] being placed on the domain's [[website]].
'''Domain tasting''' is the practice of a [[domain name]] registrant using the five-day Add Grace Period (AGP) at the beginning of the registration of an [[ICANN]]-regulated [[second-level domain]] to test the marketability of the domain. During this period, when a registration must be fully refunded by the [[domain name registry]], the registrant conducts a [[cost-benefit analysis]] on the viability of deriving income from potential [[Internet marketing|advertising]]on the domain's [[website]].<ref>{{cite web|title=domain tasting|url=http://whatis.techtarget.com/definition/domain-tasting|publisher=WhatIs.com}}</ref>


Domains that are deemed "successes" and retained in a registrant's portfolio often represent domains that were previously used and have since expired, misspellings of other popular sites, or generic terms that may receive [[type-in traffic]]. These domains are usually still active in [[web search engine|search engine]]s and other [[hyperlink]]s and therefore receive enough traffic such that advertising revenue exceeds the cost of the registration. The registrant may also derive revenue from eventual sale of the domain, at a premium, to a third party or the previous owner.
Domain names that are deemed potentially lucrative and retained in a registrant's portfolio often represent domains that were previously used and have since expired, misspellings of other popular sites, or generic terms that may receive [[type-in traffic]]. These domains are usually still active in [[web search engine|search engine]]s and other [[hyperlink]]s and therefore receive enough traffic such that advertising revenue exceeds the cost of the registration. The registrant may also derive revenue from eventual sale of the domain, at a premium, to a third party or the previous owner.


In January 2008, ICANN proposed several possible solutions, including that the exemption on transaction costs (US$ 0.20) during the five-day grace period be abandoned, which would effectively make the practice of domain tasting not viable.<ref>[http://www.icann.org/minutes/prelim-report-23jan08.htm Preliminary Report for the Special Meeting of the ICANN Board of Directors]. ICANN, 28 January 2008.</ref> The ICANN operating plan and budget for Fiscal Year 2009 included a section intended to deal with the problem of Domain tasting. The transaction fee of $0.20 will be applied to domains deleted in the Add Grace Period where the number of such domains exceeds 10% of the net new registrations or 50 domains, whichever is greater. The "net new registrations" is defined as the number of new registrations less the number of domains deleted in the Add Grace Period. The ICANN operating plan and budget was approved at the ICANN board meeting in Paris, France on 26 June 2008.
In January 2008, ICANN proposed several possible solutions, including the elimination of the exemption on transaction costs (US$ 0.20) during the five-day grace period, which would effectively make the practice of domain tasting not viable.<ref>[http://www.icann.org/minutes/prelim-report-23jan08.htm Preliminary Report for the Special Meeting of the ICANN Board of Directors]. ICANN, 28 January 2008.</ref> The ICANN operating plan and budget for Fiscal Year 2009 included a section intended to deal with the problem of Domain tasting. Now the transaction fee of $0.20 is applied to domains deleted in the Add Grace Period where the number of such domains exceeds 10% of the net new registrations or 50 domains, whichever is greater. The "net new registrations" is defined as the number of new registrations less the number of domains deleted in the Add Grace Period. <ref>{{cite web|title=AGP (Add Grace Period) Limits Policy|url=http://www.icann.org/en/resources/registries/agp/agp-policy-17dec08-en.htm|publisher=ICANN|accessdate=16 October 2012}}</ref>


Starting in April 2009, many [[top level domain]]s (TLDs) began transitioning from the $0.20 fee for excess domains deleted to implementing a policy resulting in a fee equal to registering the domain, generally several dollars in cost.<ref name="tastingfee">{{cite web
Starting in April 2009, many [[top level domain]]s (TLDs) began transitioning from the $0.20 fee for excess domains deleted to implementing a policy resulting in a fee equal to registering the domain.<ref name="tastingfee">{{cite web
|url= http://arstechnica.com/web/news/2009/08/escalating-penalties-bring-domain-tasting-to-a-crashing-halt.ars
|url= http://arstechnica.com/web/news/2009/08/escalating-penalties-bring-domain-tasting-to-a-crashing-halt.ars
|title="Domain tasters" bitter as new fees put an end to their games
|title="Domain tasters" bitter as new fees put an end to their games
Line 15: Line 15:
|accessdate=2009-08-17}}</ref><ref>[http://www.icann.org/en/tlds/agp-status-report-12aug09-en.pdf The End Of Domain Tasting. ICANN Report on AGP Measures 12 August 2009]</ref>
|accessdate=2009-08-17}}</ref><ref>[http://www.icann.org/en/tlds/agp-status-report-12aug09-en.pdf The End Of Domain Tasting. ICANN Report on AGP Measures 12 August 2009]</ref>


ICANN reported in August 2009, that prior to implementing excess domain deletion charges, the peak month for domain tastings was over 15 million domain names. After the $0.20 fee was implemented, this dropped to around 2 million domain names per month. As a result of the further increase in charges for excess domain deletions, implemented starting April 2009, the number of domain tastings dropped to below 60 thousand per month.<ref name="tastingfee"/> However, these statistics only represent reports from the generic TLDs; ICANN does not set policy for the country code TLDs ([[ccTLD]]).
In August 2009, ICANN reported that prior to implementing excess domain deletion charges, the peak month for domain tastings was over 15 million domain names. After the $0.20 fee was implemented, tastings dropped to around 2 million domain names per month. As a result of the further increase in charges for excess domain deletions, implemented starting April 2009, the number of domain tastings dropped to below 60 thousand per month.<ref name="tastingfee"/> However, these statistics only represent reports from the generic TLDs; ICANN does not set policy for the country code TLDs ([[ccTLD]]).


Domain tasting should not be confused with '''domain kiting''', which is the process of deleting a domain name during the five-day grace period and immediately re-registering it for another five-day period. This process is repeated any number of times with the end result of having the domain registered without ever actually paying for it.
Domain tasting should not be confused with '''domain kiting''', which is the process of deleting a domain name during the five-day grace period and immediately re-registering it for another five-day period. This process is repeated any number of times with the end result of having the domain registered without ever actually paying for it.<ref>{{cite web|title=Domain Kiting|url=http://icannwiki.com/index.php/Domain_Kiting|publisher=ICANNWiki|accessdate=21 October 2012}}</ref>


==Controversy==
==Controversy==
{{Criticism section|date=June 2009}}
{{Criticism section|date=June 2009}}

The practice is controversial as practitioners typically register and delete many hundreds of thousands of domain names under this practice, with these temporary registrations far exceeding the number of domain names actually purchased.
Domain tasting is controversial as registrars typically register and delete many hundreds of thousands of domain names under this practice, with these temporary registrations far exceeding the number of domain names actually purchased. For example:


In April 2006, out of 35 million registrations, about 2 million were permanent or actually purchased. By February 2007, the CEO of [[Go Daddy]] reported that of 55.1 million domain names registered, 51.5 million were canceled and refunded just before the 5 day grace period expired and only 3.6 million domain names were actually kept.<ref>[http://www.bobparsons.com/WhyyoucantgetthedomainnameyouwantGoDaddyrescuesRegisterflycustomers.html Bob Parsons: Why it's getting harder to get the domain names you want]</ref>
In April 2006, out of 35 million registrations, about 2 million were permanent or actually purchased. By February 2007, the CEO of [[Go Daddy]] reported that of 55.1 million domain names registered, 51.5 million were canceled and refunded just before the 5 day grace period expired and only 3.6 million domain names were actually kept.<ref>[http://www.bobparsons.com/WhyyoucantgetthedomainnameyouwantGoDaddyrescuesRegisterflycustomers.html Bob Parsons: Why it's getting harder to get the domain names you want]</ref>


⚫
In January 2008, [[Network Solutions]] was accused of this practice when the company began reserving all domain names searched on their website for five days,<ref>[http://www.domainnamenews.com/featured/domain-registrar-network-solutions-front-running-on-whois-searches/1359 Domain Registrar Network Solutions Front Running On Whois Searches]</ref> a practice known as [[domain name front running]].
Some claim domain name [[Domain name registry|registries]] such as [[VeriSign]] and the [[Public Interest Registry]] have turned a blind eye to the practice as it has dramatically increased the number of registrations secured and renewed.<ref>[http://www.moderndomainer.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=78&Itemid=1 Modern Domainer: Passing the Taste Test: The Evolution of Domain Buying]</ref> However, there are proposals by registries to introduce measures that would reduce or eliminate the practice.<ref>[http://www.icann.org/registries/rsep/PIR_request.pdf Public Interest Registry proposal to reduce domain tasting]</ref>


Google said in 2008 that their [[AdSense]] program would now look for domain names that are repeatedly registered and dropped. These domains will automatically be dropped from the AdSense program. <ref>{{cite web|title=Google cracks down on "domain tasters"|url=http://www.pcpro.co.uk/news/160158/google-cracks-down-on-domain-tasters|publisher=PC Pro|accessdate=16 October 2012|author=Simon Aughton|date=28 Jan 2008}}</ref>
⚫
In January 2008, [[Network Solutions]] was publicly accused of this practice when the company began reserving all domain names searched on their website for five days,<ref>[http://www.domainnamenews.com/featured/domain-registrar-network-solutions-front-running-on-whois-searches/1359 Domain Registrar Network Solutions Front Running On Whois Searches]</ref> a practice known as [[domain name front running]].

[[Google]] said in 2008 that their [[AdSense]] program will now look for domain names that are repeatedly registered and dropped. They say they will drop these domains from the AdSense program.


==Reverse domain tasting==
==Reverse domain tasting==

A number of registrars routinely change a domain's nameservers to those of their own, or a parking service when a domain has gone past its expiration or renewal date. Often, domains will still resolve for up to 30 days or more after they have technically expired. The advantage of this 'reverse tasting' is that the registrars or parking services can determine which domains have traffic before they are deleted, and hence maintain a list of domains that they might re-register (or even transfer) after the deletion date.{{Or|date=June 2009}}
A number of registrars routinely change a domain's name servers to those of their own, or a parking service, when a domain has gone past its expiration or renewal date.<ref>{{cite web|title=The End of Domain Tasting {{!}} AGP Deletes Decrease 99.7%|url=http://www.icann.org/en/news/announcements/announcement-12aug09-en.htm|publisher=ICANN|accessdate=16 October 2012}}</ref> Domains continue to resolve for up to 30 days or more after their registration and redemption grace period have expired. The advantage of this 'reverse tasting' is that the registrars or parking services can determine which domains have traffic before they are deleted, and hence maintain a list of domains that they might re-register (or even transfer) after the deletion date, as part of [https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/wiki/Domain_sniping drop catch] services.


==References==
==References==

Revision as of 07:41, 21 October 2012

Domain tasting is the practice of a domain name registrant using the five-day Add Grace Period (AGP) at the beginning of the registration of an ICANN-regulated second-level domain to test the marketability of the domain. During this period, when a registration must be fully refunded by the domain name registry, the registrant conducts a cost-benefit analysis on the viability of deriving income from potential advertisingon the domain's website.[1]

Domain names that are deemed potentially lucrative and retained in a registrant's portfolio often represent domains that were previously used and have since expired, misspellings of other popular sites, or generic terms that may receive type-in traffic. These domains are usually still active in search engines and other hyperlinks and therefore receive enough traffic such that advertising revenue exceeds the cost of the registration. The registrant may also derive revenue from eventual sale of the domain, at a premium, to a third party or the previous owner.

In January 2008, ICANN proposed several possible solutions, including the elimination of the exemption on transaction costs (US$ 0.20) during the five-day grace period, which would effectively make the practice of domain tasting not viable.[2] The ICANN operating plan and budget for Fiscal Year 2009 included a section intended to deal with the problem of Domain tasting. Now the transaction fee of $0.20 is applied to domains deleted in the Add Grace Period where the number of such domains exceeds 10% of the net new registrations or 50 domains, whichever is greater. The "net new registrations" is defined as the number of new registrations less the number of domains deleted in the Add Grace Period. [3]

Starting in April 2009, many top level domains (TLDs) began transitioning from the $0.20 fee for excess domains deleted to implementing a policy resulting in a fee equal to registering the domain.[4][5]

In August 2009, ICANN reported that prior to implementing excess domain deletion charges, the peak month for domain tastings was over 15 million domain names. After the $0.20 fee was implemented, tastings dropped to around 2 million domain names per month. As a result of the further increase in charges for excess domain deletions, implemented starting April 2009, the number of domain tastings dropped to below 60 thousand per month.[4] However, these statistics only represent reports from the generic TLDs; ICANN does not set policy for the country code TLDs (ccTLD).

Domain tasting should not be confused with domain kiting, which is the process of deleting a domain name during the five-day grace period and immediately re-registering it for another five-day period. This process is repeated any number of times with the end result of having the domain registered without ever actually paying for it.[6]

Controversy

Domain tasting is controversial as registrars typically register and delete many hundreds of thousands of domain names under this practice, with these temporary registrations far exceeding the number of domain names actually purchased. For example:

In April 2006, out of 35 million registrations, about 2 million were permanent or actually purchased. By February 2007, the CEO of Go Daddy reported that of 55.1 million domain names registered, 51.5 million were canceled and refunded just before the 5 day grace period expired and only 3.6 million domain names were actually kept.[7]

In January 2008, Network Solutions was accused of this practice when the company began reserving all domain names searched on their website for five days,[8] a practice known as domain name front running.

Google said in 2008 that their AdSense program would now look for domain names that are repeatedly registered and dropped. These domains will automatically be dropped from the AdSense program. [9]

Reverse domain tasting

A number of registrars routinely change a domain's name servers to those of their own, or a parking service, when a domain has gone past its expiration or renewal date.[10] Domains continue to resolve for up to 30 days or more after their registration and redemption grace period have expired. The advantage of this 'reverse tasting' is that the registrars or parking services can determine which domains have traffic before they are deleted, and hence maintain a list of domains that they might re-register (or even transfer) after the deletion date, as part of drop catch services.

References

  1. ^ "domain tasting". WhatIs.com.
  2. ^ Preliminary Report for the Special Meeting of the ICANN Board of Directors. ICANN, 28 January 2008.
  3. ^ "AGP (Add Grace Period) Limits Policy". ICANN. Retrieved 16 October 2012.
  4. ^ a b Timmer, John (2009-08-13). ""Domain tasters" bitter as new fees put an end to their games". Ars Technica. Retrieved 2009-08-17.
  5. ^ The End Of Domain Tasting. ICANN Report on AGP Measures 12 August 2009
  6. ^ "Domain Kiting". ICANNWiki. Retrieved 21 October 2012.
  7. ^ Bob Parsons: Why it's getting harder to get the domain names you want
  8. ^ Domain Registrar Network Solutions Front Running On Whois Searches
  9. ^ Simon Aughton (28 Jan 2008). "Google cracks down on "domain tasters"". PC Pro. Retrieved 16 October 2012.
  10. ^ "The End of Domain Tasting | AGP Deletes Decrease 99.7%". ICANN. Retrieved 16 October 2012.

See also

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Domain_tasting&oldid=518985845"