We asked several domain registrars about how to opt out from the new 60-day domain lock down period that ICANN imposed, when WHOIS changes are made to a domain.
First, a backgrounder on what the heck is going on.
Effective today, December 1st, domain updates that in the past were handled internally by a Registrar, are now handled as “domain transfers.”
For example, if you change parts of a domain’s ownership records, even if they are to fix a typo or to update the email address of choice, this will trigger the new ICANN process.
Practically, emails will be sent out to the old and the new contact, even if that contact is still one and the same, to confirm these changes.
ICANN’s bureaucratic inefficiency is thus paramount; the policy was created to curtail domain theft, allegedly, but in doing so ICANN is trying to hit a bug with a large sledgehammer.
Yesterday, we asked Name.com and they responded with wonderful news: account holders can opt out of the 60-day lockdown following WHOIS changes.
Uniregistry, another popular domain registrar, sent out their response, which we share below:
“Only updates to Registrant contact data (independent of Admin, Technical and Billing) will trigger the lock.
So our approach will be that all such changes submitted will provide a clear dialogue box with the opt-out already enabled.
It will confirm understanding of the change and the lock being opted-out of. So long as you keep the opt-out box checked whenever you make an update, you will be able to continue managing your domains normally.
The UI will go live before the end of day today and will only be triggered when you submit a change to the Registrant contact for a domain. The point of the lock is to provide greater security when transferring domains between registrants.
Thankfully it’s acknowledged that the lock may not be wanted or warranted so the opt-out is there. The prior registrant has the authority on opting out and our UI will have the opt-out pre-selected so it shouldn’t affect current workflows too much.”
It is crystal clear that Uniregistry will be making things easier for domain investors, who rely on efficiency and timely updates to their portfolios.
No wonder their motto is, “We Make Domain Names Easy.” 😀
Update: Uniregistry now has an FAQ page as well.
Not every domain registrar does this, nor they are required to provide an alternative to the 60-day lock down period.
We will share what other domain registrars plan to do, once we receive their responses.
