Filler

Jan 08 2008

Network Solutions’ domain name front running - the monopoly that wouldn’t die

Published by Nerdmaster at 7:24 pm under Bad Programmer!, Opinions, Random Shit

It seems that the once-monopolistic domain registrar, Network Solutions, has decided they need more power again. Domain Name Wire’s article reads like a bizarre April Fool’s joke at first glance, but it’s true. I tried it out with sweettemplatesforphp.com just for kicks, and those bastards really did park the domain.

Their motives almost seem genuine: “This is a customer protection measure to protect customers from frontrunners. After four days, we release the domain.â€ says Network Solution’s ~~spin doctor~~ PR spokeswoman, Susan Wade.

But if this is truly their goal, why is there no mention of it when you do a search? Why is there no option to skip it? Why the hell isn’t there a giant blinking warning? “IF YOU SEARCH FOR A DOMAIN WE’LL F*CKING SNAG IT FOR FOUR DAYS SO YOU CAN’T SHOP AROUND!”

I get it that they aren’t forcing you to pay a premium to register the domain from them. They’re just “safeguarding” it from the real front runners. But the thing is, they’re guaranteeing that if I do a search for a domain, I can not shop around for prices without going through this BS waiting period. A much more elegant solution (if they really want one, which I suspect they do not) would be a little checkbox:

Protect this domain from front running?

If it takes me two minutes to come up with a solution that isn’t controversial, it can’t be that hard….