Background
The Inter-Registrar Transfer Policy (IRTP) aims to provide a straightforward procedure for domain name holders to transfer their names from one ICANN-accredited registrar to another should they wish to do so. The policy also provides standardized requirements for registrar handling of such transfer requests from domain name holders.
The IRTP Part C Policy Development Process (PDP) is the third in a series of five PDPs that address areas for improvements in the existing transfer policy. Part C has been implemented to address the following issues:
- Change of Control of a domain name
- Time-limiting Form Of Authorization (FOA)s to avoid fraudulent transfer of domains
Description
The policy now defines a ‘Change of Registrant’ to be a change to any of the following fields of a domain registration.
- Registrant name
- Registrant organisation
- Registrant email address or Administrative email address where there is no Registrant email address
What is the policy?
- ‘Change of Registrant’ is now a defined term, meaning a material change to the registrant’s name, organization or email address, or the administrative contact’s email address if there is no registrant email address.
- Registrars must use a secure mechanism to confirm that both the prior registrant and new registrant have consented to any Change of Registrant.
- Registrars must notify the prior registrant and new registrant of a Change of Registrant and provide the notice described in the policy which includes, for example, an explanation of the request, information on how to approve of cancel the change of registrant, etc.
- Registrars must process the Change of Registrant within one (1) day of receiving the confirmation of Change of Registrant from the prior registrant and the new registrant.
- Registrars must impose a 60-day inter-registrar transfer lock following a Change of Registrant but registrars may allow registered name holders to opt out of the lock prior to any Change of Registrant request.
- The Form of Authorization used by gaining registrars, labelled “Initial Authorization for Registrar Transfer” shall expire under the following circumstances:
- A period of 60 days has passed since the FOA was sent by the gaining registrar (unless the registrar allows automatic renewal of FOAs)
- The domain name expires before the transfer is completed.
- A Change of Registrant is completed.
- The inter-registrar transfer is completed.
When does the policy apply?
ICANN accredited registrars must adhere to the policy when processing an inter-registrar transfer of a domain where material details of the Registrant are changed during the transfer or during a ‘Change of Registrant’ at the registrar of record.
How has Ascio implemented the policy?
We now deem any change, however small, to the Registrant name, Registrant organisation or registrant email address a material change
All changes to these fields must be approved by the losing and gaining registrant, even if the email address remains the same. Details of the changes will be clearly communicated and visually represented to all parties and can be approved or declined through the secure online approval site.
After a change is processed the domain will be transfer locked for 60 days preventing the Registrant from transferring the domain to another ICANN accredited registrar. The losing registrant may opt-out of locking the domain by explicitly selecting to opt-out on the secure online approval site. If the decision to opt-out is not selected the domain will be transfer locked for 60 days automatically and that lock cannot be removed.
NetNames / Ascio have always limited the validity of the Form of Authorisation to transfer a domain to 30 days. That process will remain in place.
Who does this policy apply to?
No matter which brand the customer uses they will need to follow the new process
What changes will I see internally?
From 1st December 2016 you may no longer use a ‘Registrant Details Update’ order to amend any data in the Registrant name, Registrant organisation or registrant email address fields. You may continue to use that order type for changes to any other aspect of the social data. Changes to the Registrant name, Registrant organisation or registrant email address fields must be done through an ‘Owner Change’ order.
When does the policy take effect?
The policy comes into effect on the 1st December 2016. NetNames / Ascio will not enable this feature until 00:00 UTC 1st December 2016.
What about bulk changes and Legal Owner Change projects?
Ascio has also elected to allow customers to confirm ‘Changes of Registrant’ through a standardised document. This can be used to process large orders where the prior and new registrant are the same. We will also capture the Opt-Out decision in the form.
What if my customer does not have access to their email address?
In the event a customer cannot access their email address to accept a change you may use the standardised document as a means of approval subject to verifying their identity through the brand specific rules for doing so.
Please contact [email protected] for further information.