27 Registration Life Cycle

Prototypical answer:

1. THE BACKGROUND

The second-level domain life cycle in the applied-for .ДЕТИ TLD is implemented in compliance with ICANN requirements to gTLD life cycle. All domain name registrations will be exercised pursuant to requirements of the Registry-Registrar Agreement (RRA).

Within the single life cycle, the domain can have one and more statuses cited in RFC 5731. In addition, EPP Extension ‘Registry Grace period’ is used pursuant to RFC 3915.

Of domain statuses enumerated in RFC 5731 pendingCreate, pendingRenew, pendingUpdate statuses are not used because the registry can estimate in in-sync state permissibility of «create», «renew», «update» commands submitted by the registrar.

During all the life cycle periods information on the domain name and the period in which it exists in a given moment in time is available via WHOIS service of .ДЕТИ TLD.

All the notifications below are sent by the registrar at the registrant’s contact addresses and administrative and technical contacts addresses in compliance with RRA.

2. LIFE CYCLE PERIODS

The basic life cycle domain includes the following periods:
(i) Registration period;
(ii) Auto-Renew grace period;
(iii) Redemption period;
(iv) Pending delete period.

The second-level domain lifecycle also includes grace periods to allow flexible policies with regard to erroneous domain transfers (Transfer grace period) or domain renew (Renew grace period).

The lifecycle does not include Add Grace Period.

Specification of the services available for domain name control is described in the answer to Evaluation Question #23.

The detailed description of life cycle periods is given below.

3. BASIC DOMAIN LIFE CYCLE
This section establishes peculiarities of the basic domain cycle periods. For the sake of visualization it is given in the appended Figure Q27_DomainLifeCycle.

3.1 Registration period

Registration period starts at the moment of registration of a domain in the registry database. The date of creation of a domain name entry in the registry database is considered the registration date. The expiry date is calculated by adding the registration period to the registration date. The length of the registration period is specified in the request for registration. The expiry date is calculated by adding the registration period to the registration date.

Domain name can be registered for a period of between 1 and 10 years.

The ‘ok’, ‘inactive’ or ‘clientHold’ status is assigned to the domain according to RFC 5731.

Once the domain name is successfully registered, the registrar’s account is charged an amount calculated in proportion to the registration term in year equivalent basing on the annual cost of registration.

During the registration period the following operations with domains are allowed:
- Change of the delegation parameters;
- Renewal;
- Deletion;
- Transfer.

(i) The change of the domain name delegation parameters

During the registration period, the information about the domain name nameservers, the domain name delegation status and the DNSSEC-related data may be updated.

The ‘ok’, ‘inactive’ or ‘clientHold’ status is assigned to the domain according to RFC 5731.

(ii) Domain name renewal

Domain name registrations may be renewed prior to the expiration for a period up to ten years, provided that the expiration timeline for a domain name registration may not exceed ten years.

A registrar can renew only those domains to which it is the sponsoring registrar. In case of renewal, the expiration date of the registration period is deferred according to the specified term of renewal. A domain renew command with an extension period in excess of the 10 year margin will be rejected.

The registrar sponsoring the domain name at the time of renewal shall pay Renewal Fee in full (as stipulated in RRA).

Registrar should notify the registered name holder of the upcoming expiration no less than twice. The first notice is to be sent in one month or 30 days prior to the expiration date (+⁄- 4 days) and the other one - in one week prior to the expiration date (+⁄- 3 days). If more than two alert notifications are sent, the timelines of at least two of them should be the same as specified above. Notifications of the upcoming expiration must include method(s) that do not require any registrant’s action other than receipt of a standard e-mail order to receive such notifications.

The domain can also be renewed within the auto-renew grace period, as described below.

(iii) Domain name deletion

Within the registration period, the domain can be deleted by a respective sponsoring registrar. Thereat, the domain transits to Redemption Grace Period.

(iv) Domain name transfer

During the registration period, a domain transfer to another registrar can be initiated. The domain name transfer is carried out in compliance with Inter-Registrar Transfer Policy (IRTP).

To initiate the transfer, the gaining registrar should obtain an express authorization from either the registered name holder, or the administrative contact (hereinafter - ʺTransfer Contactʺ). Having received authorization details, the gaining registrar shall send the transfer request to the registry.

After the gaining registrar initiated the transfer, prior to completion or denial of the transfer the domain name is assigned the ‘pendingTransfer’ status. Then the Transfer Pending Period starts, which lasts for 5 days, within which the losing registrar shall decline, confirm or ignore the transfer request. Where the transfer request is ignored, according to the IRTP, the domain is transferred to the gaining registrar.

After the domain was successfully transferred, any subsequent EPP transfer request for the transferred domain must be denied for the span of 60 days. Upon change of sponsorship of registration of a domain name from one registrar to another, according to Part A IRTP, the term of registration of the domain name shall be extended for one year, provided that the maximum length of the registration as of the effective date of the sponsorship change shall not exceed ten years.

The bulk change of sponsorship of registration of domain names from one registrar to another, according to Part B IRTP, shall not result in an extension of the registration term and the Registry Operator may assist in such a change of sponsorship.

Upon receipt of the ʺtransferʺ command from the gaining registrar, the Registry Operator will transmit an electronic notification to both registrars. The response notification may be sent to the email address set up by each registrar for the purpose of facilitation of transfers.

Peculiarities of the Transfer Grace Period are provided below.

In the event of transfer the gaining registrar’s account should be charged an amount equivalent to the cost of the domain name renewal for 1 year.

3.2. Auto-renew Grace Period.

Auto-renew Grace Period is a period beginning on the day following the date of expiration of the registration period if the domain name has not been renewed until the end of the registration term. At this juncture, the system will automatically renew the registration on the first day after the expiration date. The duration of the period is 0-45 days, subject to the registrar’s policy.

Upon occurrence of the Auto-renew Grace Period, the registrar’s account is charged an amount equivalent to the cost of domain name renewal for 1 year.

During the Auto-renew Grace Period, the following operations with domains are possible:

(i) Update. The registrar can change the DNS resolution path to effect a landing website different than the one used by the registrant prior to expiration, the page shown must explicitly say that the domain has expired and give instructions on how to recover the domain. Wording in the policy must make it clear that instructions shall be as simple as directing the registrant to a specific website.

(ii) Delete. If a domain is deleted within the Auto-Renew Grace Period, the sponsoring registrar at the time of the deletion receives the Auto-Renew fee credited to his account. The domain immediately goes into the Redemption Grace Period. Renew. A domain can be renewed within the Auto-Renew Grace Period for up to a total of ten years. The account of the sponsoring registrar at the time of the additional extension will be charged for the additional number of years the registration is extended.

(iii) Transfer (other than ICANN-approved bulk transfer). If a domain is transferred within the Auto-Renew Grace Period, the Auto-Renew charge is credited to the losing registrar’s account and the year added by the Auto-Renew operation is cancelled. The domain’s expiration date is extended for between one year and no more than ten years and the gaining registrar is charged for that additional year, even where a full year is not added because of the 10-year registration cap.

(iv) Bulk Transfer (upon ICANN’s approval). Bulk transfers upon ICANN’s approval may be made during the Auto-Renew Grace Period according to the procedures set forth in Part B of the ICANN Policy on Transfer of Registrations between registrars. The expiration dates of transferred registrations are not affected.

Where the registrar sponsoring the domain name has not performed any operations with the domain name within the Auto-Renew Grace Period, the domain name transits to the Redemption Grace Period. Thereat the Auto-Renew fee is credited to the sponsoring registrar’s account at the end of the Auto-Renew Grace Period.

3.3. Redemption Grace Period

Redemption Grace Period is a period starting when the registrar requests deletion of a domain or when the domain was not renewed during the Auto-Renew Grace Period. The only action the registrar can undertake with respect to the domain within the Redemption Grace Period is to request its restoration. Any other registrar’s requests to modify, purge or update the domain will be rejected. Unless restored, the domain will be held in the Redemption Grace Period for a specified number of calendar days. The length of this Redemption Period for .ДЕТИ TLD is set for 30 calendar days.

At the moment the period begins, the Registry automatically assigns «serverHold», «serverRenewProhibited», «serverTransferProhibited», «serverUpdateProhibited» and «pendingDelete» statuses to the domain in compliance with RFC 3915.

During the redemption grace period, the domain name will not be included in the zone file. Where the domain is successfully recovered, «serverHold», «serverRenewProhibited», «serverTransferProhibited», «serverUpdateProhibited» and «pendingDelete» statuses are removed and the domain can be managed in the usual manner.

The registrar incurs extra costs each time it requests domain restoration. The restored domain name will be auto-renewed for a period of one year and the registrar’s account will be charged a renewal fee.

3.4. Pending delete period

Pending Delete Period is a period starting where the domain has not been restored during the Redemption Grace Period.

During this period, the domain name will not be included in the zone file. All registrar’s requests to modify or otherwise update the domain in pendingDelete status will be rejected. The domain name is purged from the registry database in 5 calendar days after it has been assigned the pendingDelete status.

After the end of the Pending Delete Period, the domain name becomes available for re-registration.

3.5. Special occasions

Where disputes arise or complaints brought with regard to a domain name are considered, the Registry Operator can, in compliance with the terms of Registry Agreement, as well as with the Registry Operator’s policies and procedures, assign to the disputed domain name statuses «serverDeleteProhibited», «serverHold», «serverRenewProhibited», «serverTransferProhibited» or «serverUpdateProhibited», which are implemented according to RFC 5731. These statuses can be changed by a decision made per outcomes of consideration of the dispute or complaint.

The registrar has a possibility to set «clientDeleteProhibited», «clientHold», «clientRenewProhibited», «clientTransferProhibited» or «clientUpdateProhibited» statuses implemented according to RFC 5731 with the use of the EPP Mapping «update» command in compliance with RRA. Setting these statuses may be required in the event of a conflict situation, suspicion of an unauthorized access or initiation of the UDRP procedure. These statuses can be cancelled by the Registry Operator or by the registrar.

Where the registrar has set the «clientUpdateProhibited» status simultaneously with other prohibitive client statuses, in order to manage other statuses the registrar is required to cancel the «clientUpdateProhibited» status first.

When a domain, subject to a UDRP dispute, is deleted or expires in the course of the dispute, the complainant party to the UDRP dispute will have an option to renew or restore the name under the same commercial terms as the registrant. If the complainant renews or restores the name, the clientDeleteProhibited, clientRenewProhibited, clientTransferProhibited and clientUpdateProhibited statuses will be set, the WHOIS contact information for the registrant will be removed, and the WHOIS entry will indicate the name is subject to dispute. If the complaint is terminated, or the complainant has lost the UDRP case, the name will be deleted within 45 days. The registrant retains the right, under the existing Redemption Grace Period provisions, to recover the name at any time during the Redemption Grace Period, and retains the right to renew the name before it is deleted. More information about UDRP is included in the answer to Evaluation Question #29.

Where the clientTransferProhibited or serverTransferProhibited status is assigned to the domain name and the pendingTransfer status has been set thereto, the pendingTransfer status is removed.

4. GRACE PERIOD POLICY AND PROCEDURES

The Grace Period refers to a specified number of calendar days following a registry operation in which a domain action may be reversed and a credit may be issued by the registry to a registrar.

There are four grace periods provided by Registry Operatorʹs SRS: Renew Grace Period, Auto-Renew Grace Period, Transfer Grace Period, and Redemption Grace Period.

4.1 Grace Periods

4.1.1 Renew Grace Period

The Renew Grace Period is a specified number of calendar days following the renewal⁄extension of the domain name registration period. The current length of the Renew Grace Period is 5 calendar days. If Delete, Extend, or Transfer occurs within those five calendar days, the following rules apply:

Delete
If the domain is deleted within the Renew Grace Period, the sponsoring registrar at the time of the deletion has the Renew fee credited to his account. The domain immediately goes into the Redemption Grace Period. Exceptions therefrom are described in section 4.2. ʺOverlapping grace periodsʺ.

Renew
The domain can be extended within the Renew Grace Period for up to a total of ten years. The account of the sponsoring registrar at the time of the additional extension will be charged for the additional number of years the registration is extended.

Transfer (other than the ICANN-approved bulk transfer)
If the domain is transferred within the Renew Grace Period, this results in no credit. The expiration date of the domain registration is extended by one year and subsequent years making up a total of no more than ten (10) years. The number of years added results from the Extend retaining its validity with respect to the domain name concerned.

Bulk Transfer (upon the ICANN’s consent)
Bulk transfers upon the ICANN’s consent may be effected during the Renew Grace Period according to procedures set forth in Part B of the ICANN Policy on Transfer of Registrations between Registrars. The expiration dates of transferred registrations are not affected.

4.1.2 Auto-Renew Grace Period

Auto-Renew Grace Period is described above as a domain name basic life cycle period.

4.1.3. Transfer Grace Period

The Transfer Grace Period is a specified number of calendar days following the domain transfer the according to Part A of the ICANN Policy on Transfer of Registrations between Registrars. The transfer grace period is implemented according to IRTP.

If Delete, Extend, or Transfer occurs within that five (5) calendar days, the following rules apply:

Delete
If the domain is deleted within the Transfer Grace Period, the sponsoring registrar at the time of the deletion has the transfer fee credited to his account. The domain immediately goes into the Redemption Grace Period.

Extend
If the domain registration is extended within the Transfer Grace Period, there is no credit for the transfer. The registrarʹs account will be charged for the number of years the registration is extended. The expiration date of the domain registration is extended by a number of years, up to a maximum of ten years, as specified by the registrarʹs requested Extend operation.

Transfer (other than ICANN-approved bulk transfer)
The ICANN Policy on Transfer of Registrations between Registrars does not allow transfers within the initial 60 days after the previous transfer; it is registrars’ responsibility to enforce this restriction.

Bulk Transfer (upon the ICANN’s consent)
Bulk transfers upon the ICANN’s consent may be carried out during the Transfer Grace Period according to procedures set forth in Part B of the ICANN Policy on Transfer of Registrations between Registrars. The expiration dates of transferred registrations are not affected. The losing registrarʹs account is charged for a Transfer operation that occurred prior to the Bulk Transfer.

4.2 Overlapping Grace Periods

If an operation is performed that falls into more than one grace period, it is subject to procedures in effect for each of grace periods concerned.

If the domain is deleted within the Renew Grace Period, then the registration and renew amounts are credited to registrar’s account taking into consideration the number of years for which the registration and renewal were done.

If a domain is auto-renewed, then renewed, and then deleted within the Renew Grace Period, any earlier charged Auto-Renew fee, as well as extension fees (with a due regard to the number of years), will be refunded to the registrar’s account.

If several billable operations, including a transfer, are performed with the domain and the domain is deleted within grace periods of each of those operations, it is the fees for those operations that were performed after the most recent transfer, including the latest transfer, that are credited to the current registrar’s account.

5. STAFF RESPONSIBILITIES

All operations except introduction of administrative restrictions are automatically performed by SRS (as described in the answer to Evaluation Question #24). Assignment of prohibitive statuses necessitates no more than 2-3 man-hours a month. These functional duties can be assigned to the Customer Service without the need to deploy extra staff.

Similar gTLD applications: (2)