It looks like Network Solutions is engaging in a process called “Front Running“. I found out about this last night when my girlfriend’s brother tried to register a domain name and wanted to see how much each registrar would charge him.
The process to register a domain name is rather simple:
1. Go to registrar’s web site
2. Use their web site to see if the domain name is available
3. Pay for the domain name
4. The registrar registers it
Steps 3 and 4 are rather atomic, happening almost simultaneously (the money gets to them and the name gets registered).
Unfortunately, Network Solutions has been engaging in “Front Running”, whereby the process goes a little differently:
1. Go to Network Solution’s web site
2. Use their web site to see if the domain name is available
3. Network Solutions registers the domain name
4. Now you can only buy the domain name from Network Solutions
This is a process called Front Running. If you decide that you’d rather go with a more honorable company like Register.com, but you have already completed step 2, it is too late. It’s over, you can not change your mind. No money has changed hands, but Network Solutions has trapped you into buying the domain name from them.
Shady!
ICANN has begun an investigation into the practice.
References:
http://www.webmasterworld.com/domain_names/3543456.htm
http://www.news.com/8301-10784_3-9846487-7.html
http://blog.domaintools.com/2007/03/stealing-domain-name-research/
http://www.circleid.com/posts/81082_network_solutions_front_running/
http://slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=08/01/08/1920215