Back-Ordering Domain Names

gunner800 writes: "CNN.com has a decently-researched story about SnapNames, which offers a service to monitor domain expiration. Working with several registrars, they can purchase a domain name on your behalf as soon as it becomes available. Future plans include watching for registration of typos and 'malicious derivatives' (yournamesucks.com). My first thought was 'What if someone competes with SnapNames and offers the same 'back-order' service?'"

Comments

Re:Why should domains *ever* expire?

[JimDabell]

There is a flaw with your analogy: you aren't actually buying the domain name. You are paying a company to tell people where you want the domain to point to, over and over again.

A better analogy would be: it's like paying somebody who owns a plot of land on the corner of a street to put up a signpost telling everyone where you live.

Re:Why should domains *ever* expire?

[new500]

you aren't actually buying the domain name

In a sense you are, and you are not. What makes this confusing is you are buying an exclusive use of a domain on renewable terms with a period of contract defined therein. Actual ownership of a domain is subject to interpretaion of what a domain constitutes. IMO, absolute ownership would not be clear until you have rights such that neither a registrar nor any root server owner nor anyone else may alter or interfere with the domain name you registered and corresponding DNS entries, in perpetuity.

If you would like to register a domain wherein the contract with the registrar confers you explicit title in ownership (albeit, once again the derivative rights from that are unclear and subject to interpretation) take a look at Gandi.net who have Terms and conditions in contract which appear very favourable to the registrant.

A more philosophical way to look at this is ask yourself, if you are a home owner, whether you own that house outright, or if, as is usual, the deeds are owned by your mortgage lender and you will be paying them interest on a loan for any number of years to come. Many aspects of control derive from lend or lease variations, see Marx for some good rants.

hmm....

[slashdoter]

I think I'll sign up for Slashdot.org, maybe taco will get a little cought up in a game of TF2, Diablo III or whatevers out when the domain expires. muhhahahhha let the ransom money roll in! If not I rederect to goatse.cx, that would be the best Troll ever, I can hardly contain myself.

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