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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#467886" vlink="#96607D" style='word-wrap:break-word'><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-GB>Hello Fellow NCSG Members:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-GB><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-GB>I request your input regarding an issue under discussed by the Transfer Policy Review Working Group (TPRWG).<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-GB><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span lang=EN-GB>The issue concerns whether to allow for the transfer of a domain to a different registrar in fewer than 30 days after an initial transfer. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span lang=EN-GB><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span lang=EN-GB>My recommended NCSG position: Under no circumstances should a registrar allow for a transfer in fewer than 30 days.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span lang=EN-GB><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span lang=EN-GB>Please review the points below and let me know if you agree with my position or prefer for me to present some other position. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-GB><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-GB>Certainly, let me know if you have any questions.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-GB><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:6.0pt'><span lang=EN-GB>I look forward to hearing from you.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:6.0pt'><span lang=EN-GB>Ken<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-GB><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-GB>Major points regarding the issue include:<o:p></o:p></span></p><ol style='margin-top:0in' start=1 type=1><li class=MsoListParagraph style='margin-bottom:6.0pt;margin-left:0in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo1'><span lang=EN-GB>Current policy imposes a 60-day restriction on any inter-registrar transfers after a transfer. In other words, if I move my registered domain name to a new registrar, I could not move my domain name again for 60 days. No exceptions (at least that I am aware of). My understanding is that this is a measure to protect against domain name theft.<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class=MsoListParagraph style='margin-bottom:6.0pt;margin-left:0in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo1'><span lang=EN-GB>In previous discussions, the working group recommended changing the lock to 30 days and would require all registries to adhere to this timeframe. The proposed preliminary recommendation reads as follows:<br><br><b>GROUP 1(a) Rec 17(a): The Registrar MUST restrict the Registered Name Holder (RNH) from transferring a domain name to a new Registrar within 30 days / 720 hours of the completion of an inter-Registrar transfer. To the extent that a Registry and/or Registrar has an existing policy and/or practice of restricting the RNH from transferring a domain name to a new Registrar for a different period of time following an inter-Registrar transfer, all policies and practices MUST be updated to be consistent with this new requirement.</b><o:p></o:p></span></li><li class=MsoListParagraph style='margin-bottom:6.0pt;margin-left:0in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo1'><span lang=EN-GB>This preliminary recommendation has been reopened in light of current discussions around the Change of Registrant Data policies.<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class=MsoListParagraph style='margin-bottom:6.0pt;margin-left:0in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo1'><span lang=EN-GB>The proposed revision would allow a registrar to initiate a transfer in fewer than 30 days under certain circumstances. The circumstances proposed include cases where the registrant has an established relationship with the registrar. <o:p></o:p></span></li><li class=MsoListParagraph style='margin-bottom:6.0pt;margin-left:0in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo1'><span lang=EN-GB>Some registrants have a problem with the lock, as indicated in the Charter for the WG, which notes in paragraph d4 that “Survey responses and data provided by ICANN’s Global Support Center indicate that registrants do not understand the 60-day lock and express frustration when it prevents them from completing an inter-registrar transfer.”<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class=MsoListParagraph style='margin-bottom:6.0pt;margin-left:0in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo1'><span lang=EN-GB>Some registrars have explained that in a small number of cases the 30-day lock imposes a business hardship, and this is mentioned in the charter in paragraph d7, “In its survey response, the Registrar Stakeholder Group indicated that the 60-day lock hinders corporate acquisitions, consolidations, and divestitures of large lists of domains to new legal entities”.<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class=MsoListParagraph style='margin-bottom:6.0pt;margin-left:0in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo1'><span lang=EN-GB>Some registrars even suggest that having any lock after a transfer only offers limited protection from domain theft (which is the main reason for imposing a lock in the first place). Some registrars report many complaints about having a lock.<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class=MsoListParagraph style='margin-bottom:6.0pt;margin-left:0in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo1'><span lang=EN-GB>Some stakeholder groups express in the WG meetings discomfort with any reason to remove the lock, and feel the lock remains an important security control.. <o:p></o:p></span></li><li class=MsoListParagraph style='margin-bottom:6.0pt;margin-left:0in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo1'><span lang=EN-GB>In my opinion, evidence of the impact of a lock for reducing domain theft is slim. As noted, my understanding is that the lock was initially included in the policy since moving domains quickly across many registrars was an indication of potential domain theft and locking the domain for a period of time allowed for registrants to recover these domains.<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class=MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle style='margin-left:0in;mso-add-space:auto;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo1'><b><span lang=EN-GB>Given that:</span></b><span lang=EN-GB><o:p></o:p></span></li><ol style='margin-top:0in' start=1 type=a><li class=MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle style='margin-left:0in;mso-add-space:auto;mso-list:l1 level2 lfo1'><b><span lang=EN-GB>Evidence of the impact of the lock is inconclusive, and</span></b><span lang=EN-GB><o:p></o:p></span></li><li class=MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle style='margin-left:0in;mso-add-space:auto;mso-list:l1 level2 lfo1'><b><span lang=EN-GB>Professional domain managers have for many years coped with having the lock, and</span></b><span lang=EN-GB><o:p></o:p></span></li><li class=MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle style='margin-left:0in;mso-add-space:auto;mso-list:l1 level2 lfo1'><b><span lang=EN-GB>Providing the ability of registrars to undo a lock enables a registrar to manipulate, and potentially undermine, the trust of registrants, and<o:p></o:p></span></b></li><li class=MsoListParagraphCxSpLast style='margin-left:0in;mso-add-space:auto;mso-list:l1 level2 lfo1'><b><span lang=EN-GB>Reducing the lock to 30 days provides a reasonable compromise.</span></b><span lang=EN-GB><o:p></o:p></span></li></ol></ol><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.75in'><b><span lang=EN-GB><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:6.0pt;margin-left:.75in'><b><span lang=EN-GB>My suggestion is for NCSG to take the position to retain the current language of recommendation 17(a); i.e. to maintain the 30-day lock. I further suggest that the working group call on ICANN to more intensively study the impact of having a transfer lock, both of the <o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:6.0pt;margin-left:.75in'><b><span lang=EN-GB>While I would need to confirm, I believe ALAC and the Business Constituency have a similar position.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:6.0pt'><b><span lang=EN-GB><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:6.0pt'><b><span lang=EN-GB>References: all documents (Charter, preliminary reports, etc) can be found here: <a href="https://community.icann.org/display/TPRPDP">https://community.icann.org/display/TPRPDP</a><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:6.0pt'><b><span lang=EN-GB><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div></body></html>