[council] Bulk Transfer of gTLD Names Formerly Managed by De-Accredited Registrar DotForce Corp.

[Glen de Saint Géry]

[To: council[at]gnso.icann.org; liaison6c[at]gnso.icann.org]
[To: ga[at]gnso.icann.org; announce[at]gnso.icann.org]
[To: regional-liaisons[at]icann.org]
http://www.icann.org/en/announcements/announcement-14aug08-en.htm

Bulk Transfer of gTLD Names Formerly Managed by De-Accredited Registrar DotForce Corp.
14 August 2008

As a result of the de-accreditation of registrar DotForce Corp., ICANN initiated a process to identify a gaining registrar to receive the gTLD names that had been formerly managed by DotForce Corp. In accordance with ICANN's Interim Terminated Registrar Transition Procedure (see http://www.icann.org/en/announcements/announcement-2-06jun08-en.htm), on 6 June 2008, ICANN initiated a Request for Statements of Interest (RFI) from registrars interested in receiving the names.

ICANN received eight statements of interest from registrars in response to the RFI. As a result of the procedure, ICANN selected Yesnic Co., Ltd. to receive the bulk transfer from DotForce Corp.

The gTLD registries that have registered DotForce names have taken steps to effect the bulk transfers. Former registrant-customers of DotForce Corp. should soon receive notices of the transfer from Yesnic Co., Ltd. Customer questions about the transfer should be directed to Yesnic Co., Ltd. Contact information is available at: http://www.internic.net/registrars/registrar-100.html.

FAQs

Q. Why was this transfer authorized by ICANN?

A. DotForce Corp's Registrar Accreditation Agreement (RAA) expired and DotForce was not eligible for renewal due to RAA compliance issues. As a result, DotForce was no longer permitted to register or manage gTLD registrations. In order to protect the customers of DotForce Corp., ICANN initiated this process to identify a new ICANN-accredited registrar to manage the registrations.

Q. Will Yesnic Co., Ltd. attempt to contact the affected registrants? What should current/former DotForce Corp. customers do?

A. Former customers of DotForce Corp. should receive a notice of the transfer and instructions for continued management of their names from Yesnic Co., Ltd. Affected customers who do not receive notices from Yesnic should contact Yesnic directly, using the information provided at http://www.internic.net/registrars/registrar-100.html.

Q. Do registrants have to pay a fee for the bulk transfer?

A. No, there is no cost to registrants for the bulk transfer. Unlike a normal inter-registrar transfer, the registration terms will not be extended by a year. Accordingly, it is important to contact Yesnic Co., Ltd. if your registration will expire soon in order to maintain your registration.

Q. Why do former DotForce customers need to contact Yesnic Co., Ltd.?

A. DotForce Corp. did not participate in the bulk transfer and did not share data with Yesnic Co., Ltd. Accordingly, all registrants must provide updated billing information or transfer their names to other registrars..

Q. What if former DotForce customers want to use a different registrar?

A. Registrants will continue to be able to transfer their registrations to other registrars under the Inter-Registrar Transfer Policy (see http://www.icann.org/en/transfers/). Note that Yesnic Co., Ltd. may deny transfers for the first 60 days following the bulk transfer, at Yesnic's discretion. This 60-day period is permissible under the Inter-Registrar Transfer Policy, and is intended to help protect registrants. Names that will expire during the first 60 days following the transfer to Yesnic Co., Ltd. should be renewed by the registrant by contacting Yesnic using the information provided at http://www.internic.net/registrars/registrar-100.html.

Q. How will DotForce Corp. customers know if a message purportedly from Yesnic Co., Ltd. is legitimate?

A. The message from Yesnic should direct you to their website hosted at http://www.yesnic.com or refer you to other contact information listed at http://www.internic.net/registrars/registrar-100.html. For general advice about avoiding phishing email messages, you may also wish to refer to the materials prepared by the Anti-Phishing Working Group (see http://www.antiphishing.org/consumer_recs.html).

Glen de Saint Géry
GNSO Secretariat
gnso.secretariat at gnso.icann.org
http://gnso.icann.org