It’s all over the online world: domain registrar Network Solutions holds an available domain name after it’s searched for but never registered.

I tested this out for myself. It’s true.

It began about 2 days ago when I looked through one of my bookmarked forums. I read the discussion to see what’s going on.

What happens is a user goes to Network Solutions’ website, searches and finds the domain name is available, doesn’t complete the registration order, and it’s later held in a holding account of sorts. I tested this out yesterday using both their search function and their WHOIS, and it got “held up” roughly a minute later.

When I looked up the domain name’s WHOIS record, here’s what it shows:

Registrant: Make this info private
This Domain is available at NetworkSolutions.com
13681 Sunrise Valley Drive, Suite 300
HERNDON, VA 20171
US

Domain Name: TESTERTESTER123.COM

This Domain is Available
600,000 domain names are registered daily! Don’t delay; there’s no guarantee that a domain name you see today will still be here tomorrow!

Register it Now

Administrative Contact :
Network Solutions, LLC
domainsupport@networksolutions.com
13681 Sunrise Valley Drive, Suite 300
HERNDON, VA 20171
US
Phone: 1-888-642-9675
Fax: 571-434-4620

Technical Contact :
Network Solutions, LLC
domainsupport@networksolutions.com
13681 Sunrise Valley Drive, Suite 300
HERNDON, VA 20171
US
Phone: 1-888-642-9675
Fax: 571-434-4620

Record expires on 09-Jan-2009
Record created on 09-Jan-2008
Database last updated on 09-Jan-2008

Domain servers in listed order: Manage DNS

ns1.reserveddomainname.com 205.178.190.55
ns2.reserveddomainname.com 205.178.189.55

Their WHOIS includes a link to register the domain name via their site. If you typed the domain name on the browser, it showed a page letting you register it there as well.

As of this post, though, that’s been somewhat changed since then. Domain names in their holding account now show their non-commercial parking pages.

Eventually I found this response from Network Solutions’ Vice President of Policy Jonathon Nevett:

http://www.circleid.com/posts/81082_network_solutions_front_running/

I’d like to clarify what we are doing. In response to customer concerns about Domain Name Front Running (domains being registered by someone else just after they have conducted a domain name search), we have implemented a security measure to protect our customers. The measure will kick in when a customer searches for an available domain name at our website, but decides not to purchase the name immediately after conducting the search.

After the search ends, we will put the domain name on reserve. During this reservation period, the name is not active and we do not monetize the traffic on these domains. If a customer searches for the domain again during the next 4 days at networksolutions.com, the domain will be available to register. If the domain name is not purchased within 4 days, it will be released back to the registry and will be generally available for registration.

This protection measure provides our customers the opportunity to register domains they have previously searched without the fear that the name will be already taken through Front Running.

You are correct that we are trying to take an arrow out of the quiver of the tasters. As you know, domain tasters are the largest Front Runners. Due to no fault of registrars, Front Runners purchase search data from Internet Service Providers and/or registries and then taste those names. Some folks may not agree with our approach, but we are trying to prevent this malicious activity from impacting our customers.

So based on that, the searched domain name will be “held up” for the next 4 days and will eventually be released. I don’t know if that’s happened yet, but somehow I’m guessing that’s what will occur.

The words “domain front running” is actually “domain tasting”. Here’s the general definition of it via Wikipedia:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Domain_tasting

Domain tasting, is a practice of registrants using the five-day “grace period” at the beginning of a domain registration for ICANN-regulated generic top-level domains to test the marketability of a domain name. During this period, when a registration must be fully refunded by the domain registry, a cost-benefit analysis is conducted by the registrant on the viability of deriving income from advertisements being placed on the domain’s web site.

The main reason why various people hate this is because they feel they’re being “deprived” of the ability to register their desired domain names at their leisure. As in you search a domain name, saw it’s available, is later taken by someone else just before you finish the process, then wait for 120 hours hoping it’ll be available again.

It’s all around the blogosphere:

http://www.dotsauce.com/2008/01/08/networksolutions-scandal-hijacking-domain-searches/

http://domainnamewire.com/2008/01/08/network-solutions-faces-pr-nightmare-over-domain-frontrunning/

http://blog.domaintools.com/2008/01/network-solutions-steals-domain-ideas-confirmed/

Personally, I think people are taking it too far believing others are “stealing” their ideas. As far as I know, ideas aren’t proprietary, and there’s always the saying “ideas are a dime a dozen.”

I can understand why Network Solutions is doing this. I’ve communicated with some of my former peers at other registrars, and all confirm they’re being blamed for supposedly selling their search results or registering them for themselves.

One problem here is no registrar really knows how this is happening. They have some speculations, actually, but no hard evidence of sorts to back them up.

Naturally a lot of people are in an uproar about this, calling Network Solutions all sorts of names. Given their past history and practices, I can’t really blame some of them.

Last year, the Public Interest Registry (PIR) imposed a fee for cancelling a .org domain name within 120 hours of its registration. This effectively limited domain tasting .org domain names, making it more costly.

It’ll sure be nice if VeriSign does the same since they manage the .com Registry. But since they don’t seem “interested” in doing so, then others are looking to ICANN to come up with something…and fast.

Eventually I found a followup from one of Network Solutions’ people about this issue:

http://www.domainnamenews.com/registrars/network-solutions-responds-to-front-running-allegations-part-ii/1364

1) We have changed the current webpage to which reserved domain names resolve to a general under construction page. Additionally, all new reserved names after tonight will not resolve to any page at all.

2) This week, we will be making enhancements that will address the concerns related to disclosure of zone file and DNS server information of the reserved names. This should address some of the concerns recently raised.

3) Very soon we will remove our customer protection measure from our WHOIS search page, so that no domains searched on this page will be reserved. We will continue to reserve, however, domains searched from our homepage.

For their sakes, they’d better put those disclosures on their site soon. I already found they’ve included bits about this in their FAQ, but naturally they’re being demanded more.

I find it a shame it’s come to this. But until ICANN (or an intervening government agency, knock on wood) resolves this, we’re going to see registrars coming up with measures to address domain tasting.

What a way to start 2008.

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