Forum Moderators: buckworks & webwork

Message Too Old, No Replies

Are .WS domains non- transferable (to a new registrar)?

Must they be deleted in order to transfer/register them to a new registrar?

         

SlyOldDog

9:12 am on Sep 22, 2005 (gmt 0)

WebmasterWorld Senior Member 10+ Year Member



Much to my dismay I have found it is not possible to transfer WS domains to a different registrar. I have about 50 of them and I am in dispute with my registrar and would prefer to move.

This is an absolute nightmare. The only way to transfer is to cancel the domain and re-register it, and of course there are plenty of automated softwares waiting to snap them up so I cannot do that.

I feel duped. I paid to register the domains for 1 year, but now I am stuck with my current registrar for life. I have looked everywhere on the net but it's true. These domains cannot be transfered!

Webwork

12:50 pm on Sep 22, 2005 (gmt 0)

WebmasterWorld Administrator 10+ Year Member Top Contributors Of The Month



Can you post up a link to an official webpage that contains language that confirms that there is a no-transfer rule/policy?

If not, how deeply is this fact buried?

Is it only found somewhere deep in the registration process, on a dynamic page that is only viewable during registration?

Is this disclosed - publicly - anywhere? Where?

If this isn't disclosed during the registration process OR prior to registration on a permanent TOS page then I'd be pretty miffed too.

Webwork

12:37 pm on Sep 12, 2005 (gmt 0)

WebmasterWorld Administrator 10+ Year Member Top Contributors Of The Month



Take a look here: [samoanic.ws...] and here [website.ws...] I can't tell if samoanic is the real deal central authority OR if, by contract, all authority has been vested in Website.ws (d/b/a for operating company).

I'm not experienced with .ws domains so, unless a .ws expert steps forward, this is a case of the blind leading the blind. (How much is there to know?)

If the central registry doesn't support the restriction I'd be surprised if they would tolerate such a restriction by authorized resellers.

Perhaps you might address the question "to the source" and report back what they say?

Crush

9:05 am on Sep 22, 2005 (gmt 0)

WebmasterWorld Senior Member 10+ Year Member



FYI, if you buy a WS domain name you are stuck with your registrar and cannot transfer it. Ridiculous. I have been looking for days and even phoned Western Samoa (had nice hula hula music when I was on hold).

[edited by: Webwork at 1:24 pm (utc) on Sep. 22, 2005]
[edit reason] Understand your frustration. Just editing lightly to conform to TOS. [/edit]

SlyOldDog

6:34 pm on Sep 22, 2005 (gmt 0)

WebmasterWorld Senior Member 10+ Year Member



I am not allowed to quote correspondence according to TOS, but this one from a main registrar is pretty brief, so I guess the Mods will allow it:

Currently, domains with the .ws extension can not be transferred between registrars.

Kindest Regards,

Paul
.WS Affiliate Support

For more more info:
[samoanic.ws...]

b. Changing Registrars. You may not transfer your domain name registration to another registrar during a pending administrative proceeding brought pursuant to Paragraph 4 or for a period of fifteen (15) business days (as observed in the location of our principal place of business) after such proceeding is concluded. You may transfer administration of your domain name registration to another registrar during a pending court action or arbitration, provided that the domain name you have registered with us shall continue to be subject to the proceedings commenced against you in accordance with the terms of this Policy. In the event that you transfer a domain name registration to us during the pendency of a court action or arbitration, such dispute shall remain subject to the domain name dispute policy of the registrar from which the domain name registration was transferred.

So they say in theory it's possible to not to transfer to a new registrar whilst in legal dispute, but they say nothing about when and how you can transfer it :(

Webwork

7:00 pm on Sep 22, 2005 (gmt 0)

WebmasterWorld Administrator 10+ Year Member Top Contributors Of The Month



I'd run this by the central registry, asking for an official statement, and at the same time I'd attempt to get ICANN's input.

It all seems a bit odd if this restriction isn't posted anywhere public.

As to restricted movement pending resolution of a domain dispute that's a restriction that makes sense.

SlyOldDog

7:42 pm on Sep 22, 2005 (gmt 0)

WebmasterWorld Senior Member 10+ Year Member



ICANN said "dunno", so I am waiting for an an answer from Western Samoa.

SlyOldDog

7:45 pm on Sep 22, 2005 (gmt 0)

WebmasterWorld Senior Member 10+ Year Member



oh dear


The original message was received at Thu, 22 Sep 2005 12:41:32 -0700
from host-96-162.tele2 (edited)

----- The following addresses had permanent fatal errors -----
<WS_Support@SamoaNIC.ws>

Crush

7:49 pm on Sep 22, 2005 (gmt 0)

WebmasterWorld Senior Member 10+ Year Member



ICANN said they are not responsible for ws domains and we have to take it up with the Somoans.

SlyOldDog

8:02 pm on Sep 22, 2005 (gmt 0)

WebmasterWorld Senior Member 10+ Year Member



Called Western Samoa - they are just a reseller. The main men are website.ws

dauction

8:15 pm on Sep 22, 2005 (gmt 0)

WebmasterWorld Senior Member 10+ Year Member




.WS is NOT under Icanns Control ..Thank God!

I own at least a few hundred .WS and yes it is true you cannot transfer .ws from one registra to another..it is their security feature. You cant steal what you cant transfer .

That said ..I also feel it is to restrictive..but that is the way it is .. I no longer purchase and .ws from anyone that uses an obscure register or wild west domain affiliate type places.

You may lodge your complaint to .ws here

[website.ws...]

phone number bottom of the page

I love .ws for development and just assume that someday down the road after enough complaints they'll ease the transfer restrctions ...but itwil never change if people dont actually call and lodge a compalint

SlyOldDog

8:29 pm on Sep 22, 2005 (gmt 0)

WebmasterWorld Senior Member 10+ Year Member



I did

[website.ws...]

b. Changing Registrars. You may not transfer your domain name registration to another registrar during a pending administrative proceeding brought pursuant to Paragraph 4 or for a period of fifteen (15) business days (as observed in the location of our principal place of business) after such proceeding is concluded. You may transfer administration of your domain name registration to another registrar during a pending court action or arbitration, provided that the domain name you have registered with us shall continue to be subject to the proceedings commenced against you in accordance with the terms of this Policy. In the event that you transfer a domain name registration to usduring the pendency of a court action or arbitration, such dispute shall remain subject to the domain name dispute policy of the registrar from which the domain name registration was transferred.

I have asked them for an official statement on why they say it's possible here.

dauction

8:44 pm on Sep 22, 2005 (gmt 0)

WebmasterWorld Senior Member 10+ Year Member



Sly you are reading the Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy..

that policy covers tm infringemnets and such... .WS does follow the Uniform dispute policy

Has nothing to do with .WS regular transfers

SlyOldDog

8:53 pm on Sep 22, 2005 (gmt 0)

WebmasterWorld Senior Member 10+ Year Member



I know by now they don't make transfers, but this is the only information on their website I can find about registrar change.

If they are following the ICANN policy why don't they follow it all?

dauction

9:13 pm on Sep 22, 2005 (gmt 0)

WebmasterWorld Senior Member 10+ Year Member



If they are following the ICANN policy why don't they follow it all?

Umm because were talking about ICANN that has neevr been able to stop domain thefts ...in fact they've made it easier

I understand your frustration but screaming and kicking isnt going to change the reality (i've tried ..trust me it dosent work ;))

Try and work on repairing your differences with your current registrar

good luck

Webwork

10:11 pm on Sep 22, 2005 (gmt 0)

WebmasterWorld Administrator 10+ Year Member Top Contributors Of The Month



FYI - I have contacted the admin contact for the Website.ws domain and asked for an offical clarification of the .ws transfer policy. I'd like to clear this up and certainly a representative for the registry ought to be able to answer the questions I posed.

Stay tuned.

Webwork

11:29 pm on Sep 22, 2005 (gmt 0)

WebmasterWorld Administrator 10+ Year Member Top Contributors Of The Month



In reply to my email to the admin contact at Website.ws, Issac (in .WS Suport at WSDomains.ws) has responded as follows:

.WS domains cannot be transferred between registrars

Still wish there was an authoritative online document stating this, but this may be as good as it gets.

SlyOldDog

5:59 am on Sep 23, 2005 (gmt 0)

WebmasterWorld Senior Member 10+ Year Member



>>Umm because were talking about ICANN that has neevr been able to stop domain thefts ...in fact they've made it easier

Grrrr. Why doesn't WebmasterWorld have an angry smiley?

ICANN don't give a #$%^ about WS domains, so it's just lip service anyway.

dauction

1:56 pm on Sep 23, 2005 (gmt 0)

WebmasterWorld Senior Member 10+ Year Member



All ccTLDs had a choice to either come under the ICANN umbrella or not .. .WS wisely chose not too

So you have it ass back words..it's .WS that dosent need ICANN

Webwork

2:04 pm on Sep 23, 2005 (gmt 0)

WebmasterWorld Administrator 10+ Year Member Top Contributors Of The Month



Folks, thanks for your contributions.

Unless there's new intelligence germane to the original question let's move on.

Thanks again.

SlyOldDog

7:51 pm on Sep 23, 2005 (gmt 0)

WebmasterWorld Senior Member 10+ Year Member



Official statemnt:


Good Morning Michael,

The information listed below is legal protection for domains in dispute through organizations like WIPO. Nowhere does it state that we allow registrar transfers This policy has always been in place and it will not be changed.

Kindest Regards,

<name deleted>
.WS Support Manager

They should come with a public health warning!