The global registry, (Verisign for .com and .net domains), will not allow transfer of domains with “Registrar-Lock or “Registrar-Hold” status. The responsibility still lies with the gaining registrar to verify the transfer request (see below). This is not new and has not changed. The fax transfer option will actually be MORE secure, in that additional identification is now required for fax transfers.

Following is information taken directly from ICANN Policy on Transfer of Registrations between Registrars:

Gaining Registrar Requirements:

Auto-verification (email authorization)
The Gaining Registrar must obtain express authorization from either the Registered Name Holder (Registrant) or the Administrative Contact (hereafter, "Transfer Contact"). Hence, a transfer may only proceed if confirmation of the transfer is received by the Gaining Registrar from the Transfer Contact.

If this verification is not received, the transfer will not proceed. Without this verification, transfer requests are not sent to the registry and the domain will not be put into “Pending Transfer” status for release by the losing registrar

In the event that the Gaining Registrar relies on a physical process to obtain this authorization, a paper copy of the FOA (FOA is the Standardized Form of Authorization or reliable evidence of the identity of the Transfer Contact) will suffice insofar as it has been signed by the Transfer Contact and further that it is accompanied by a physical copy of the Registrar of Record's Whois output for the domain name in question.

The acceptable forms of physical identity are:

• Notarized statement
• Valid Drivers license
• Passport
• Article of Incorporation
• Military ID
• State/Government issued ID
• Birth Certificate

EPP Transfers
EPP (.org, .biz, .info, us and .cn) domain transfers are also more secure. In addition to the EPP/authorization key, a verification email will also be mandatory for the transfer to proceed. Thus, the verification required has increased twofold as compared to the previous requirements.


The failure to respond in 5 day thing is to the loosing registrar - but if the requirements are not met at the gaining registrar - then nothing happens. Lets face it folks, this is the same stuff that almost every major registrar on the face of the planet is ALREADY DOING with exception to the EPP autoverification. That one is new and ADDS additional security. Every change in the ICANN policy actually adds security - so whats all the fuss about?

the question is if the registrar LOCKS the domain like TOTALNIC and never unlock it for you?

and there is no option to unlock it, how this will help in transferring away!

I guess as the New Transfer Policy is implemented now, either Totalnic or ICANN is definitely gonna do something about the domains transferring out of Totalnic, let's see which side will take actions first.

Originally posted by Bashar
the question is if the registrar LOCKS the domain like TOTALNIC and never unlock it for you?

and there is no option to unlock it, how this will help in transferring away! Well, the wording is a little flaky, but the new transfer policy states that the losing registrar can deny a transfer ONLY IF the registrar provides a reasonable means to remove the lock.
From http://www.icann.org/transfers/policy-12jul04.htm
Upon denying a transfer request for any of the following reasons, the Registrar of Record must provide the Registered Name Holder and the potential Gaining Registrar with the reason for denial. The Registrar of Record may deny a transfer request only in the following specific instances:

...

7. A domain name was already in “lock status” provided that the Registrar provides a readily accessible and reasonable means for the Registered Name Holder to remove the lock status.I guess time will tell whether this policy will work or not.

Yes all of you are correct.

So that means that all the registrars out there - like wild west domains and totalnic rejecting every transfer on the first round even though it had approval, and bulkregister denying every transfer to enom the first time arround is no longer allowed by a direct rule.

Registrars that do not comply with the new ICANN transfer regulations will not be allowed to have transfers at all until they comply. ICANN is taking this all very seriously and has told everyone that they will shut down a registrars ability to do transfers if they do not comply. . . .

I think that icann will be policing all of the registrars closely