ritch_b - 1:00 pm on Jul 25, 2006 (gmt 0)

I've not heard of any such thing; to try to introduce such a policy would be both foolhardy and difficult.

How would you define a domain as being sat on? There are undoubtedly many domains that are registered and used for e-mail or other 'hidden' services, with no public facing website ever to be seen. Many domains are bought well in advance and developed as time permits, hence may be free from a web site for a potentially lengthy period of time.

Similarly, how would you define a domain as being used? Would this definition be based on visitor numbers or quality and quantity of content perhaps? When would a domain cease to be a valid domain and become a squatted domain? The difficulties here are many.

I should point out that this isn't me having a go at the original poster; their question is valid and it's one that I'm asked surprisingly often.

On the flip side, I've had plenty of experience of domains that have clearly been bought by speculators. The joy of a free market means that I've been able to enquire about these, and even bought a few at a reasonable price. The others I've simply passed by; there's always something else available that fits the bill.

R.