Zamboni - 3:30 pm on Sep 13, 2004 (gmt 0)

I don't think making it easier to steal domain names from the non-technical owners can be a good thing in anyones book. Not very many users will know how to or will choose to ignore (too technical) to lock their domains. What ICANN needs to do is ensure that every registar follows the same rules and utilises the same methods for locking, transferring, passwording and/or email notifications.

Most of the problems I've encountered in trying to transfer a clients domain is the e-mail addresses are from a long dead ISP. I was very thankful to see registrar's at least allowing you to change an e-mail address as long as you know the user name and password to the account. Now as long as you know the user name and password to an account you should be able to transfer it as well. But you shouldn't be able to transfer without the user name and password.

If the user name and password info is forgotten then there should be a standard process of proving you own or represent the owners of the domain name to regain access.