Company warns that it may suspend domains or de-accredit domain registrars.
NIXI, the organization that manages India’s .in country code domain, has issued an advisory warning domain registrants and registrars not to sell (or help to sell) .in domain names.
The organization previously forbade only domain name registrars from investing in domain names. But in 2023, it determined that some registrars were getting around this by registering domains through registrants, so it put in motion a ban on anyone investing in its domains. The rules apply retroactively to all .in domain names.
Recently, NIXI issued a reminder, stating that it had become aware of some domain trading and reminding people that domain investing is forbidden.
It warned that it will “take strict action against any domain name, registrant, registrar, or entity” that buys, sells, or facilitates aftermarket .in domain sales.
NIXI said possible actions include domain suspensions, de-accrediting registrars, or “Initiation of any other appropriate legal or regulatory action.”
If your .in domain name resolves to a for sale page, consider taking it down.
“It warned that it will “take strict action against any domain name, registrant, registrar, or entity” that buys, sells, or facilitates aftermarket .in domain sales.”
And many Domainers still hype up cctlds, knowing there are all sorts of political, religious, or arbitrary reasons they can clawback your domains. I see the same or similar fate coming for (.io) sooner and (.ai) later.
But trusty dotCom will be there waiting.
This is what happens when moralists get their hands on power, imo, they don’t respect freedom of speech, freedom of commerce and many kinds of innocent activities. Have they proven that domain investing if fundamentally different from other kinds of financial speculation or causes any kind of societal harm? I think they just don’t like the idea of people making what they consider to be easy money, a very large return on investment, which they consider to be sinful. Hopefully they’ll be out of power soon.
As someone who has invested in .IN domains for years, my experience has been extremely frustrating.
NIXI talks a lot about compliance and KYC, but what happens when your domains get suspended and nobody responds? In my case, it wasn’t just one or two domains – multiple domains were affected. I completed the requested KYC, sent follow-up emails, opened support requests, and still received little to no meaningful response.
The money spent on registrations, acquisitions, and renewals doesn’t magically come back. More importantly, the time and effort invested in building a portfolio are lost. What concerns me most is that domains can be suspended without clear communication, leaving owners to discover the problem only when they happen to check their portfolio.
If you’re holding a large number of .IN domains, I would strongly recommend regularly checking your WHOIS records and domain status. Don’t assume everything is fine just because you haven’t received any notification.
Another thing that surprised me is the quality of communication. After registering a domain, NIXI sends an automated “Your domain has been successfully registered” email, yet the email doesn’t even mention which domain was registered. No domain name, no registration details, no transaction reference – just a generic message. These are basic details that should be included in any registration confirmation.
When even simple automated emails lack essential information, it’s hard not to question the attention given to registrant experience and communication overall.
The .IN namespace has huge potential, but uncertainty, inconsistent communication, and a lack of timely support do not inspire confidence among legitimate registrants and investors. Before committing significant money to .IN domains, investors should carefully consider these risks.