(WEB HOST INDUSTRY REVIEW) — The not-for-profit body responsible for the assignment of domain names and IP addresses has authorized a bulk transfer of Red Register domain names to DirectNIC (www.directnic.com), after it was found that Red Register had violated several conditions of the Registrar Accreditation Agreement.
According to Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (www.icann.org) documents, it had terminated its RAA with Red Registrar on September 26, 2009 for neglecting to pay accreditation fees, maintain accurate contact information, provide public access to data on registered names, and have a working webpage.
Red Register is no longer permitted to register or manage gTLD registrations and must repay the money owed to ICANN, which is in excess of $15,600.
On 16 September 2009, ICANN initiated a Request for Expressions of Interest to identify an ICANN-accredited registrar to manage the registrations formerly managed by Red Register. ICANN received 15 statements of interest from registrars, and, through the procedure, ICANN selected DirectNIC to receive the bulk transfer from Red Register.
Former customers of Red Register should expect a notice of the transfer and instructions for continued management of their names from DirectNIC. Those who do not receive notices are advised to contact DirectNIC directly.
Influential blog Domain Name Wire notes that ICANN has been much bolder in cutting off registrars over the past few months, however, it would have been wise to act faster on Red Register, which was sent unpaid accreditation fee notices in December 2008 and April 2009.
