3 Deadbeat Domain Registrars Bite the Dust
Friday, June 18th, 2010
Three inactive registrars terminated for failure to pay accreditation fees.
ICANN has sent notices of termination to three domain name registrars for failure to pay past due accreditation fees.
Each of the three domain name registrars — Abansys & Hostytec, S.L, NameHouse, Inc., and Gee Whiz Domains, In.c — owe between $7,000 and $13,500 each. According to the termination notices sent to each registrar, ICANN sent numerous notices to the registrars notifying them that they were past due on payments. NameHouse has been receiving past due notices since 2008.
But these aren’t just deadbeat registrars — they’ve literally been dead for a while. ICANN records show that none of the three domain registrars currently have any domains registered to them. Perhaps it’s time for ICANN to do a little cleansing of its own. If any registrars currently have no domains registered, send them a letter and see if they wish to continue their accredited status. If they’re more than 6 months behind on payments, send them a notice of breach. It’s time to cull the list, which will make it easier for ICANN to focus on compliance.
Further Reading:
- Business 2.0 May Bite the Dust
- ICANN Kills Two More Domain Name Registrars
- Three Registrars Lose ICANN Accreditation
Tags: icann
Is it possible to buy one of these registrars and become a registrar by that way, avoiding all the paperwork and time that is needed to become from scratch?
@Carla: While it’s possible I personally wouldn’t recommend it – there are advantages and disadvantages to buying a previously accredited registrar. In this case I would say the disadvantages outweigh the advantages, especially now that the warning has been sent.
If the majority owner of a registrar company changes, you are obliged to notify ICANN about the changes. While you will be able to use the registrar at the same time, they will make you jump through some of the same hoops you have to go through for a new accreditation.
I wrote more about this topic a while ago on our DomainCocoon blog: Becoming an ICANN accredited Registrar
Frank is 100% correct.
There are many registrars for sale through Logicboxes that have no issues. Try contacting them if you want one.
Stevan Lieberman also mentioned recently that he knows of a few registrars for sale.
I would not buy a registrar thru someone like LogicBox. I would only buy a ‘used’ registrar through a lawyer.
When purchasing a registrar, you are also purchasing all of the known and unknown fiancial obligations of the registrar.
“Trust me” doesn’t go well in a situation like this.
Someone just pointed out to me your quote.
I reread it and he was right.
Quote-
“If any registrars currently have no domains registered, send them a letter and see if they wish to continue their accredited status.”
Sounds like the emails I receive that say -
“Since, you are not using your domain, I would like for you to give the domain to me.”
I wonder if Google who is a registrar with no domains in their account would like to give up their accreditation?
Your second point regarding being in the rears with Icann, Icann over the past year has gotten very unforgiving when a registrar is past due. That is why we are seeing some registrars de-accredited.
Verisign is also aggressive about registrars paying the bill immediately. I remember seeing a threatening email (automated) for $ 2. being past due. And, they wanted us to wire the money to them.
Here are 25 that lost accreditation over the past year or two.
A Rite Tern, LLC
Atlas Advanced Internet Solutions Ltd. dba Atlas Internet
Best Site Names, Inc.
Broadspire Inc.
Deviation, LLC, d/b/a Domoden
DevStart, Inc.
DropLimited.com, Inc.
ESTDOMAINS, Inc.
FarStar Domains, Inc.
General Names, Inc.
Genuine Names, Inc.
Get Real Names, Inc.
Global Names Online, Inc.
Innerwise, Inc. d/b/a ItsYourDomain.com
Interland, Inc.
Names Bond, Inc.
Names Real, Inc.
Naming Associate, Inc.
NGI SpA
Parava Networks, Inc. dba 10-Domains.com
Specific Name, Inc.
The Names Registration, Inc.
Tzolkin Corporation dba: TZO.COM
Vista.com, Inc.
http://www.com
Good advice everybody – I would always go with a lawyer and a technical consultant to verify if everything is in order for buying an existing registrar. We usually work with Zak Muscovitch and even have him review our ICANN accreditation applications for our clients.
I’m sure John Berryhill can also help if you’re looking to acquire an existing registrar.
“I wonder if Google who is a registrar with no domains in their account would like to give up their accreditation?”
Of course they don’t. That’s why you just ask them. It’s not like a failure to respond means you get de-accredited. I suspect the total number of zero domain registrars that are actually used for something are quite small.
Registrars are reminded every quarter when they receive the quarterly invoice for accreditation.
I’m sure the owners often ask themselves –
“do we need this registrar?”
I don’t know if Elequa still has his registrar. He had one for many years (public knowledge) even though he kept his 100k domains with Moniker.
Elequa appears to still have his Registrar…
“I.NET is a registrar that manages the domain inventory of Future Media Architects, Inc.”
http://www.i.net
Joe,
I know. But, I couldn’t locate it on the current list of registrars.
“I wonder if Google who is a registrar with no domains in their account would like to give up their accreditation?”
Based on the number of registrars de-accredited for failure to pay over the past year or so, I think a lot of people view these quarterly invoices like they do renewal invoices
Microsoft also owns a registrar credential.
It appears they only have a few or zero domains in it.
Microsoft owns over 32K domains which they keep elsewhere.