Intellectual Property Constituency (“IPC”)
Supplemental Request for Information on Domain Tasting

In view of the increase in domain tasting (definitions below), the GNSO Council recently considered an Issues Report on Domain Tasting and resolved to form an ad hoc group for further fact-finding on the effects of this practice. The ad hoc group prepared questions to assist in gathering facts and opinions, while inviting both qualitative and quantitative input. The ad hoc group's questions are available here (as an online survey here).

Please note: You must select "Proceed" below or follow this link to begin completing the IPC's Supplemental Request for Information on Domain Tasting.

The ad hoc group decided that its questions should be general in scope, and that each constituency could pose its own additional questions if it so desired.

The IPC has prepared these questions to gather facts and opinions about domain tasting from its members, trademark owners, and their representatives. The results will be provided in aggregate form to the ad hoc group as additional qualitative and quantitative input. Although the results will be provided in aggregate form, identifying information such as name, organization, telephone number, and email address has been requested to enable IPC representatives to verify a random sampling of responses. Accordingly, while the IPC encourages and welcomes broad participation, please participate in this request for information only if you are willing to provide the requested identifying information and to discuss your responses if contacted.

To be considered by the group, information should be submitted no later than 15 September 2007.

The IPC is conducting this supplemental RFI to provide additional information to the ad hoc group. It was designed and written in full by IPC members. The IPC would, however, like to thank ICANN staff for its assistance in making the RFI available as an online survey.

Completing this survey

We estimate it will take about 20 minutes to complete this supplemental RFI.

It seeks very specific data. As such, you may wish to read the questions, collect your data, and then begin answering them. You can see the full list of questions on this one page. The page will be accessible on each page at the top by clicking on "Poll Menu".

You will need to register before answering questions. This information will be used to verify a random sampling of responses.

The polling software does allow you to leave it and return to it at a later date (the session will time out after approximately 30 minutes). On those questions you have already voted on, you will be informed how you have voted in the box above the question. You are able to change your vote(s) three times. You can jump questions by clicking on "jump to next question".

Definitions

Domain Tasting: Domain tasting is a monetization practice employed by registrants to use the Add Grace period to register domain names in order to test their profitability. During this period, registrants conduct a cost-benefit analysis to determine if the tested domain names return enough traffic to offset the annual registration fee paid to the registry over the course of the registration period (e.g., currently 6.00 USD for a .NAME domain name) and the annual transaction fee paid to ICANN (currently 0.20 USD). A domain name is considered to be tasted only if it is registered and then deleted within the five-day Add Grace Period. A domain name is not considered to be tasted if the registration lasts for more than five days. Domain tasting and cybersquatting are not the same practice.

Add Grace Period (AGP): Add Grace Period refers to a specified number of calendar days following a Registry operation in which a domain action may be reversed and a credit may be issued to a registrar. AGP is typically the five day period following the initial registration of a domain name. AGP appears as a contractual term in some, but not all gTLD registry agreements. AGP allows, among other things, for the correction of typos and other errors by registrants. Once a domain name is deleted by the registry at this stage, it is immediately available for registration by any registrant through any registrar. When a domain name is registered through an ICANN accredited registrar, that registrar may cancel the domain name at any time during the first five calendar days of the registration and receive a full credit for the registration fee from the registry and also avoid the ICANN transaction fee.