At present, Nominet, the registry for all .uk domain names, assumes that all .uk domain name registrations will be renewed. As a result, even if the registration agent does not pay the renewal fee, Nominet makes substantial efforts to contact the registrant (i.e. the domain name holder) to check that they do not wish to renew the registration before it is cancelled.
Under the new system, if a domain name is not renewed by the due date, Nominet will make one final attempt to contact the registrant. If the renewal fee is not paid within 30 days, the domain name will be suspended for 60 days before it is cancelled.
"These moves are designed to release .uk domain names that are no longer wanted as quickly as possible," explained Lesley Cowley, managing director of Nominet UK.
"At the same time, the 60-day suspension period - during which the domain name remains in the register but does not function - will serve as an additional reminder to registrants to renew the name and therefore help to prevent the inappropriate cancellation of domain names."
One of the most common reasons for domain names lapsing is that the contact e-mail address for the registrant is no longer valid - for example, where it was an individual who has left the company. The new system heightens the risk that a failure to renew will go unnoticed - particularly if the address is not used for a web site.
As part of the change, Nominet will be allowing renewals to be requested up to six months ahead of the due date, giving both registration agents and registrants peace of mind that the renewal is completed in good time. There will also be a new option of automatic renewal, whereby the domain name will be renewed every two years and the fee included on the next invoice sent to the registration agent, with neither the registrant nor their agent needing to take further action.
The redesigned procedure will run parallel to the existing system from Friday, 1st August 2003, with the full switchover planned to take place on 1st November 2003.
The deadlines suggested by Nominet may change in the future. According to its web site, Nominet is considering reducing the time period within which the renewal fee must be paid from 30 days to seven, after which the domain name will be suspended. The proposal is still out for consultation.
Further details of the changes are available here.