All top level domain names have a single registry and they are sold by registrars. The registry controls the database of ownership; the registrar sells names for adding to that database. The best known registry is VeriSign – which controls .com, .net and .org domain names. Controversially, it also acts as a registrar. As .uk registry, Nominet maintains the database of .uk domain name ownership. However, it is a not-for-profit company and it does not promote registrar services.
At present, Nominet makes no charge for domain name transfers. But with around 2,500 transfers taking place per month, its administrative costs are increasing.
In a statement, Managing Director Lesley Cowley said: "We take a lot of care to make sure that domain names are not transferred in error." She added that, "While this process creates additional work for Nominet, it is essential to preserve the integrity of the system and the accuracy of the register database."
A Nominet spokeswoman told PC Advisor that they had chosen to charge a separate fee rather than increasing the blanket charge that registrars pay for registering names, saying, "We thought this was a fairer way of doing things, so that the people who use the service pay for it."