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<P><FONT size=+2>Transfers</FONT><BR><FONT size=+1>Inter-Registrar
Transfers Policy Information</FONT><BR>Last Updated 5 November
2003</P></TD></TR>
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<P>The new transfer policy is intended to provide a procedure for the
smooth transition of a domain name from one registrar to another when such
a change is requested by the domain name holder. The Transfer Task Force
Group has developed 29 policy recommendations for guiding such transfers.
The Transfer Assistance Group (TAG) along with ICANN Staff, is currently
in the process of implementing the new transfer procedures, based on the
29 policy recommendations, approved by the ICANN Board.</P>
<P><B>Background</B></P>
<P>The shared registry system implemented for the .com, .net, and .org
top-level domains (TLDs) in 1999 (and extended to the other new TLDs as
they were introduced in 2001) creates a competitive environment among
accredited registrars. To permit effective competition, registrants not
only may choose among registrars at the time of their initial
registration, but also may choose to transfer their registrations between
registrars during the term of their registration.</P>
<P>For the unsponsored gTLDs (.biz, .com, .info, .name, .net, .org, and
.pro), the procedure for transfers of registrations between registrars is
described in each registrar's agreement with each registry operator. The
procedure is essentially the same in all unsponsored TLDs. For sponsored
TLDs (.aero, .coop, and .museum), the procedure for transfers between
registrars are set by the top-level domain's sponsor.</P>
<P>When several members of the community expressed concerns regarding the
current procedure for transfer of domain names between registrars, the
GNSO Transfer Task Force Group was formed.</P>
<P>At its meeting on 20 February 2003, the GNSO Council voted unanimously
to accept the Final Report of the GNSO Transfers Task Force and to forward
it to the ICANN Board as a consensus-policy recommendation. That report
included 29 specific policy recommendations with direction that the new
transfer procedure must comply with those recommendations. The final
report can be found <A
href="http://www.icann.org/gnso/transfers-tf/report-12feb03.htm">here</A>.</P>
<P>It was resolved at the ICANN Board meeting 25 April 2003 that the Board
adopts the recommendations from the GNSO Transfer Task Force Group, and
further that the President and General Counsel are authorized to ensure
implementation of the new procedures contained in the 29 policy
recommendations. The implementation was requested to be performed with
guidance from relevant knowledgeable parties and to be pursuant to ICANN's
agreements with registries and registrars.</P>
<P><B>Formation of Transfers Assistance Group</B></P>
<P>In order to adopt the findings of the GNSO report, ICANN Staff formed
the Transfer Assistance Group (TAG) in July 2003 in consultation with the
Registry and Registrars Constituencies, the GNSO Transfers Task Force
Group, and the ALAC. Each of these groups returned nominees and the group
first met in August 2003.</P>
<P>The members of the TAG are charged with the implementation of the new
transfer policy. The TAG's scope is limited to the findings of the GNSO
report of the 29 policy recommendations therein.</P>
<P>Hence, this group is not charged with undertaking any outreach or
consensus development itself; its only charge is to provide, from its
members as a group, input and assistance in implementing these policy
recommendations.</P>
<P><B>Members of the Transfers Assistance Group</B></P>
<P>The Transfer Assistance group members are:</B>
<UL>
<LI>Bruce Tonkin - Melbourne IT
<LI>Chuck Gomes - Verisign Registry
<LI>Elana Broitman - register.com
<LI>Grant Forsyth - TelstraClear
<LI>Jeff Neuman - NeuLevel
<LI>Paul Westley - Internetters
<LI>Ross Rader - Tucows
<LI>Sebastian Riccardi - ALAC member
<LI>Thomas Roessler - ALAC member </LI></UL>
<P>For comment to the TAG group please email ICANN's Chief Registry
Liaison, Tina Dam at <<A
href="mailto:dam@icann.org">dam@icann.org</A>>.</P>
<P><B>Status of the New Transfer Procedures</B></P>
<P>12 February 2003: The GNSO Transfer Task Force Group finalized their
recommendation in a <A href="/gnso/transfers-tf/report-12feb03.htm">Final
Report on Gaining and Losing Registrars</A> to the GNSO Council. (The 29
policy recommendations).</P>
<P>20 February 2003: the GNSO Council voted unanimously to accept the GNSO
Transfer Task Force Report. The report was then forwarded to ICANN's Board
for further action and approval.</P>
<P>25 April 2003: the ICANN Board adopted the 29 policy recommendations,
and further the President and General Counsel of ICANN were authorized to
implement the policy recommendations, by consulting with knowledgeable
parties.</P>
<P>July 2003: In consulting with such parties ICANN staff formed the TAG
group.</P>
<P>To date the TAG has met four times, most recently at the ICANN
conference in Carthage. During these meetings the 29 policy
recommendations have been divided into subgroups according to the
categories listed below.</P>
<OL>
<LI>Registrar Accreditation Agreement
<LI>Standardized Form of Authorization
<LI>Dispute Resolution Policy
<LI>Registry-Registrar Agreement
<LI>Timeline for completing transfers
<LI>Advisories to registries and registrars regarding new policies
</LI></OL>
<P>To date categories 1, 2 and 5 have been finalized on a preliminary
basis. The categories are not viewed as finalized until all 29 policy
recommendations have been included in one of these, or in a new
established category.</P>
<P>All categories are being discussed by ALAC, and on Registry and
Registrar Constituency mailing lists, and the new policy procedures will
be released simultaneously to provide a complete overview of the
requirements to Registries and Registrars. Once the new procedures are
released Registrars and Registries will be presented with a timeline for
the implementation of the new transfer procedure.</P>
<P>Further, once the new transfer procedures are in place, the
implementation and execution of the procedures will be monitored by the
GNSO. More specifically, the policy recommendations require the ICANN
Staff to analyze and report to the GNSO at three, six and twelve month
intervals after implementation of the procedure with the goal of
determining various effects of the new procedures.</P>
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