Regular readers will know about all of the controversy surrounding a new practice by Network Solutions. When someone searches for a domain name using Network Solutions but does not register it, Network Solutions goes ahead and registers it for a five day period. If you want to register that domain name during that period, you must do so through Network Solutions.
One issue raised in all of the recent discussions about Network Solutions was how other registrars would react. Would they copy what was done or fight against it? Now, Larry Kutscher, CEO of Register.com has taken a strong stand against this in an interview on Domain Bits. What I found most interesting is the fact that Register.com actually manages to accomplish what Network Solutions said they were doing, without the deleterious effects. From the interview:
3. Recently, Network Solutions has started registering names that were searched on their website but not purchased. What is your opinion of their actions?
Register.com has serious concern over Network Solutions’ recent practice of registering searched but not purchased names via their website. As a registrar, Register.com takes very seriously the need to protect the ideas and domain searches of our customers. If it were to become standard practice that anytime you search for a domain name, the registrar purchases it, the customer loses.
You can be sure that if you search for a domain name on Register.com, we won’t use any information that you provide us to take it away from you. In addition, Register.com offers Domain Hold, a service customers can opt into to protect their idea by reserving a domain name for free for up to four days and then only they can come back to us to buy it.
It is a betrayal of the customers trust for Network Solutions to continue this practice. We hope we can put an end to this and focus as an industry on the ways we can help our customers.
You can find out more about the Domain Hold and Mr Kutscher’s thoughts by reading the rest of the interview.
Register.com has also issued a public statement about this:
Register.com has serious concern over Network Solutions’ recent practice of registering searched but not purchased names via their website. As a registrar, Register.com takes very seriously the need to protect the ideas and domain
searches of our customers. If it were to become standard practice that anytime you search for a domain name, the registrar purchases it, the customer loses.
You can be sure that if you search for a domain name on Register.com, we won’t use any information that you provide us to take it away from you.
In addition, Register.com offers Domain Hold, a service customers can opt into to protect their idea by reserving a domain name for free for up to four days and then only they can come back to us to buy it.
It betrays the customer for Network Solutions to do this and put their own interests before their customers. We hope we can put an end to this and focus as an industry on the ways we can help our customers.
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