I've been interesting in buying a domain name for quite a while. Check out this information from the whois on this domain:

Created: 2008-01-31
Expires: 2009-01-31
Updated: 2009-03-13
Registrar Status: redemptionPeriod

ICANN states that 30 days after the expiration period is up the redemptionPeriod needs to be removed and the domain made publicly available. It just so happens this registrar is 'Private - Members Only' according to their web page. The registrar is also using bogus contact information.

What can i do? The registrar basically appears to be holding this domain 'hostage'.

Submit an email to ICANN, they'll fix their wagon. :)

There is nothing wrong with that domain

After expiration, the domains goes into grace period, this is "up to" 45 days (from 31st Jan to 13th March was that period)
After the grace period goes another 30 days redemption period, that's from 13th March to 12th April.
After 12th April the domain will go into 'pendingDelete' status, that takes another 5 days, at the 6th day the domain will be deleted.

The domain is in the correct status, there is nothing to worry about, nothing to report to icann

Many registrars also will try to get the maximum profit they can from domains that are expiring under their control.

Most registrars will put the domain into "auction" before dropping it. www.namejet.com is one of the largest.

Also, some registrars will simply keep the domain themselves, if it is a good one (ie: has lots of inbound clicks that can be monetized.) They simply move the domain into their own subsidiary or an owner that is basically controlled by them.

If you're waiting for a domain to drop.. I wouldn't hold your breath unless it's a really crappy domain with zero traffic.

elmister and mrzippy are totally correct. Though the grace period for some varies from 30/40 to 45 days.

ICANN states that 30 days after the expiration period is up the redemptionPeriod needs to be removed and the domain made publicly available.

No it doesn't. What ICANN states is this:

http://www.icann.org/en/registrars/gtld-lifecycle.htm

It's 30 days Redemption Grace Period, then 5 days Pending Delete, then it becomes available on its "6th" day. From the last updated date of March 13, the domain should be available by about April 19 between 1-2PM EST if it's especially a .com.

Be ready by then. And hope no one else beats you to it.

Normally a domain should be made public after 30 days from the expiration date, but from my own experience, it might take up to 60 days with some registrars.

I have same problem
I want to buy a domain name that has been expired and I can't do it because of 1&1.
Created: 2005-02-12
Expires: 2010-02-12
Updated: 2009-03-19
Registrar Status: redemptionPeriod

This should clear things up :

http://www.icann.org/en/registrars/gtld-lifecycle.htm

I have same problem
I want to buy a domain name that has been expired and I can't do it because of 1&1.
Created: 2005-02-12
Expires: 2010-02-12
Updated: 2009-03-19
Registrar Status: redemptionPeriod


This domain shows 2010 as the expiry date.

This domain shows 2010 as the expiry date.

Some domain names get deleted before they expire for various reasons. People don't need them, violating a registrar's contract, court order, who knows?

As a possibly interesting tidbit for some people, Redemption Period was intended to correct accidental deletions.