Re: Who determines the price of domain names ?

On Thu, 14 Mar 2024 15:27:32 -0000 (UTC)
George Musk <grgmusk@skiff.com> wrote:

On Thu, 14 Mar 2024 14:19:38 -0000 (UTC), Spiros Bousbouras wrote:
 

For example , consider a scenario where someone unknown buys a domain and
creates a website on that domain. The website then becomes very popular. The
registrar notices this and when it's time to renew , asks for a much higher
price for the domain. The domain owner can move to a different registrar but
other registrars may also notice the situation and do something analogous.
Are there any mechanisms (for some TLDs) to prevent such a scenario ?

 
Likely relevant
https://domainnamewire.com/2022/06/24/can-registries-reclassify-your-domain-as-premium-before-renewal/

Very relevant , thank you. The following quotes seem to answer my question :

    The answer to this question is in section Sec 2.1.c of the registry
    agreement. Here’s the relevant section:

        (c) In addition, Registry Operator must have uniform pricing for
        renewals of domain name registrations (“Renewal Pricing”). For the
        purposes of determining Renewal Pricing, the price for each domain
        registration renewal must be identical to the price of all other
        domain name registration renewals in place at the time of such
        renewal, and such price must take into account universal application
        of any refunds, rebates, discounts, product tying or other programs
        in place at the time of renewal. The foregoing requirements of this
        Section 2.10(c) shall not apply for (i) purposes of determining
        Renewal Pricing if the registrar has provided Registry Operator with
        documentation that demonstrates that the applicable registrant
        expressly agreed in its registration agreement with registrar to
        higher Renewal Pricing at the time of the initial registration of the
        domain name following clear and conspicuous disclosure of such
        Renewal Pricing to such registrant, and (ii) discounted Renewal
        Pricing pursuant to a Qualified Marketing Program (as defined below).
        The parties acknowledge that the purpose of this Section 2.10(c) is
        to prohibit abusive and/or discriminatory Renewal Pricing practices
        imposed by Registry Operator without the written consent of the
        applicable registrant at the time of the initial registration of the
        domain and this Section 2.10(c) will be interpreted broadly to
        prohibit such practices.

    [...]
    ICANN doesn’t want a registry to be able to say, “Gee, someone invested a
    lot of money in building a site on this domain, so let’s charge a lot to
    renew it because they’ll have no choice but to pay.”