[nc-transfer] Re: [ga] Domain Transfers

["Ross Wm. Rader" <ross@tucows.com>]

[For those of you reading this on the NC Transfers TF mailing list, this
message is a response to a lively discussion on transfers on the GA mailing
list. -rwr]

Folks,

A domain name is really composed of three portions - the record that lives
in the registry database, the record that lives in the registrar database
and the record that lives in the DNS. For the purposes of transfers, the one
that only really matters is the one that lives in the registry database.

As the domain, in this case, is nothing more than a record in a database
(mostly unaffected by what lives in the DNS or the Registrar database) there
are really only three things that can happen to a domain name - it can be
Added/Created, Modified or Deleted. They can't be "transferred" per se.

A transfer of a domain name is nothing more than a modification to the
domain name record in the database that changes the registrar of record and
the last updated fields. Nothing more.

For instance, a transfer of "example.com" from its current registrar to a
new one means that the record is changed from:

(note: the line numbers below have been added by me for clarity)

1.   Domain Name: EXAMPLE.COM
2.   Registrar: NETWORK SOLUTIONS, INC.
3.   Whois Server: whois.networksolutions.com
4.   Referral URL: http://www.networksolutions.com
5.   Name Server: NS.ISI.EDU
6.   Name Server: VENERA.ISI.EDU
7.   Updated Date: 05-nov-2001

to

1.   Domain Name: EXAMPLE.COM
2.   Registrar: TUCOWS, INC.
3.   Whois Server: whois.networksolutions.com
4.   Referral URL: http://www.networksolutions.com
5.   Name Server: NS.ISI.EDU
6.   Name Server: VENERA.ISI.EDU
7.   Updated Date: 14-dec-2001

Only lines #2 and #7 actually change - there is no transfer of the record in
any sort of technical or physical sense (ie - it doesn't move to a new
database or get transported to another registrar.

This is why the proper name of a transfer is actually "transfer of
sponsorship" - a new registrar is sponsoring the domain name in the registry
database.

As such, it is extremely unlikely (to the point of being impossible) that a
domain name would get "lost" during a transfer, nor would resolution be
effected purely by the transfer.

This doesn't change the fact that domain names can;

- be hijacked by a third party posing as the registrant and requesting a
transfer to a new registrar.
- get deleted and subsequently reregistered by a third party, effectively
hijacking a name.
- get lost during transfers of ownership depending on the practices of the
sponsoring registrar.
- stop resolving properly because of a botched transfer of nameservers.
- etc.

Hopefully this clarifies the discussion somewhat. There are a few more steps
to the process of a transfer of sponsorhip, but they have no effect on these
statements (for instance, the new registrar must add the domain name to the
whois etc.)

-rwr