In addition to the U.N. six languages, this content is also available in
As a result of the de-accreditation of registrar Best Registration Services, Inc. dba BestRegistrar.com ("BRS"), ICANN initiated a process to identify a gaining registrar to receive BRS's gTLD names. In accordance with ICANN's Interim Terminated Registrar Transition Procedure (see http://www.icann.org/en/announcements/announcement-2-06jun08-en.htm), on 6 June 2008, ICANN initiated a Request for Statements of Interest (RFI) from registrars interested in receiving the names.
ICANN received 12 statements of interest from registrars in response to the RFI. As a result of the procedure, ICANN selected Dotster, Inc. to receive the bulk transfer from Best Registration Services.
The gTLD registries that have registered Best Registration Services names have taken steps to effect the bulk transfers. Former registrant-customers of Best Registration Services should soon receive notices of the transfer from Dotster. Customer questions about the transfer should be directed to Dotster. Contact information is available at: http://www.dotster.com/welcomeBR.
FAQs
Q. Why was this transfer authorized by ICANN?
A. Best Registration Services' Registrar Accreditation Agreement (RAA) expired and Best Registration Services was not eligible for renewal due to RAA compliance issues. As a result, Best Registration Services was no longer permitted to register or manage gTLD registrations. In order to protect the customers of Best Registration Services, ICANN initiated this process to identify a new ICANN-accredited registrar to manage the registrations.
Q. Will Dotster attempt to contact the affected registrants? What should current/former Best Registration Services customers do?
A. Former customers of Best Registration Services should receive a notice of the transfer and instructions for continued management of their names from Dotster. Affected customers who do not receive notices from Dotster should contact Dotster directly, using the information provided at http://www.dotster.com/welcomeBR.
Q. Do registrants have to pay a fee for the bulk transfer?
A. No, there is no cost to registrants for the bulk transfer. Unlike a normal inter-registrar transfer, the registration terms will not be extended by a year. Accordingly, it is important to contact Dotster if your registration will expire soon in order to maintain your registration.
Q. Why do former Best Registration Services customers need to contact Dotster?
A. Best Registration Services did not participate in the bulk transfer and did not share data with Dotster. Accordingly, all registrants must provide updated billing information or transfer their names to other registrars.
Q. What if former Best Registration Services customers want to use a different registrar?
A. Registrants will continue to be able to transfer their registrations to other registrars under the Inter-Registrar Transfer Policy (see http://www.icann.org/en/transfers/). Note that Dotster, Ltd. may deny transfers for the first 60 days following the bulk transfer, at Dotster's discretion. This 60-day period is permissible under the Inter-Registrar Transfer Policy, and is intended to help protect registrants. Names that will expire during the first 60 days following the transfer to Dotster should be renewed by the registrant by contacting Dotster using the information provided at http://www.dotster.com/welcomeBR.
Q. How will Best Registration Services customers know if a message purportedly from Dotster is legitimate?
A. The message from Dotster should direct you to their website hosted at http://www.dotster.com or refer you to other contact information listed at http://www.dotster.com/welcomeBR. For general advice about avoiding phishing email messages, you may also wish to refer to the materials prepared by the Anti-Phishing Working Group (see http://www.antiphishing.org/consumer_recs.html).