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ICANN Org Initiates Next Steps to Provide Relief to Former Net 4 India Registrants

28 April 2021

The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) today announced that it has invoked the De-Accredited Registrar Transition Procedure (DARTP) to enable the successful transition of domain names currently registered with Net 4 India Limited (IANA 1007) to an ICANN-accredited registrar that can appropriately serve registrants.

This action follows the effective termination of Net 4 India Limited's Registrar Accreditation Agreement (RAA), which was delayed for a time due to insolvency proceedings in India relating to Net 4 India Limited.

Next Steps

ICANN org is initiating the DARTP process to identify and select a gaining registrar(s) as quickly as possible. The gaining registrar(s) will assume various responsibilities, including supporting former Net 4 India Limited domain name registrants with the renewal, transfer, and management of their domain names as required in the RAA. Once the gaining registrar(s) is identified and confirmed, it will be listed on the Bulk Transfers page. ICANN expects to announce the gaining registrar(s) within the next two weeks.

Once the transfer of registrations has been completed, the new registrar(s) will contact registrants with information on how to access and maintain their domain name registrations. It is critical that registrants follow the instructions provided by the gaining registrar(s) regarding how to manage their domain name registrations. There is no cost to registrants for the bulk transfer.

All domain name registrants are encouraged to visit this page for important information about managing their domain names.

Exceptions to Bulk Transfer Process: ccTLDs and TLDs Registered with Net 4 India Limited Resellers

Domain names registered under country code top-level domains (ccTLDs) (e.g., .IN) will not be subject to the bulk transfer as ICANN does not accredit registrars for, or set policy for, ccTLDs. ccTLD registrants may wish to contact the relevant ccTLD manager using the contact details published at https://www.iana.org/domains/root/db.

Additionally, domain names registered with registrars through Net 4 India Limited's reseller services are not part of this DARTP. As such, they do not qualify for the bulk transfer to a gaining registrar. Registrants can check the publicly available registration information for domain names in order to verify the name of the operative registrar here.

Background

ICANN terminated the RAA with Net 4 India Limited following its failure to cure three separate breach notices, and its continued lack of support to thousands of registrants. Additional information is below.

Related litigation: https://www.icann.org/resources/pages/litigation-bajaj-v-icann-2021-01-29-en

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About ICANN

ICANN's mission is to help ensure a stable, secure, and unified global Internet. To reach another person on the Internet, you need to type an address – a name or a number – into your computer or other device. That address must be unique so computers know where to find each other. ICANN helps coordinate and support these unique identifiers across the world. ICANN was formed in 1998 as a nonprofit public benefit corporation with a community of participants from all over the world.