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The GNSO Post-Expiration Domain Name Recovery (PEDNR) Policy Development Process (PDP) Working Group has published its Initial Report today. The PEDNR WG was tasked to address questions in relation to what extent should registrants be able to reclaim their domain names after they expire. At issue is whether the current policies of registrars on the renewal, transfer and deletion of expired domain names are adequate.

In addressing these issues, the WG has reviewed current registrar and ICANN practices regarding domain name expiration, renewal, and post-expiration recovery. Furthermore, in order to assess the views of the WG members and determine where there might be agreement or consensus on a possible approach forward, a survey was conducted amongst the WG membership, details of which are included in the Initial Report. The WG is encouraging the ICANN Community to provide input on the different questions and options outlined in the Initial Report. Further details on how to provide input will be provided as part of the public comment period that will be launched following the ICANN meeting in Brussels. This will allow the widest possible input to be taken into account during the second phase of the PDP during which the WG hopes to reach consensus on a proposed way forward for each of the charter questions. The PEDNR WG will also be organizing a public information and consultation session at the ICANN meeting in Brussels (for further details, please see http://brussels38.icann.org/).

Background

At the ICANN Meeting in Cairo in November 2008, the At-Large Advisory Committee (ALAC), voted to request an Issues Report on the subject of registrants being able to recover domain names after their formal expiration date. The ALAC request was submitted to ICANN policy staff and the GNSO Council on 20 November 2008. The Issues Report on Post-Expiration Domain Name Recovery [PDF, 422 KB] was submitted to the GNSO Council on 5 December 2008. The GNSO Council initiated a PDP on 7 May 2009 and tasked a Working Group to answer the following charter questions:

• Whether adequate opportunity exists for registrants to redeem their expired domain names;
• Whether expiration-related provisions in typical registration agreements are clear and conspicuous enough;
• Whether adequate notice exists to alert registrants of upcoming expirations;
• Whether additional measures need to be implemented to indicate that once a domain name enters the Auto-Renew Grace Period, it has expired (e.g., hold status, a notice on the site with a link to information on how to renew, or other options to be determined);
• Whether to allow the transfer of a domain name during the RGP.

The Post-Expiration Domain Name Recovery (PEDNR) PDP Working Group started its deliberations in July 2009.

Further information:

• PEDNR PDP Initial Report – http://gnso.icann.org/issues/pednr/pednr-initial-report-31may10-en.pdf [PDF, 1.02 MB]
• PEDNR PDP Initial Report - Executive Summary
• English [PDF, 128 KB]
• العربية [PDF, 149 KB]
• 中文 [PDF, 270 KB]
• Français [PDF, 220 KB]
• Español [PDF, 191 KB]
• Русский [PDF, 275 KB]
• PEDNR WG workspace - https://st.icann.org/post-expiration-dn-recovery-wg/

Staff responsible: Marika Konings