Earlier this week the ICA hosted a webinar on the upcoming changes to the domain name transfer policy—a critical topic for registrars, registrants, and the broader domain name community.
Moderated by ICA General Counsel Zak Muscovitch, the panel featured four leading voices in domain policy and registrar operations:
- Roger Carney(GoDaddy)
- Owen Smigelski (Namecheap)
- Jothan Frakes (PLISK.COM)
- Theo Geurts (Realtime Register B.V.)
Together, they unpacked the details of the recently published 163-page report containing 47 consensus policy recommendations that are set to guide the future of domain transfers. While these recommendations are still pending ICANN Board approval, implementation is currently estimated for late 2026.
Key Highlights from the Discussion:
A Look Back and the Road Ahead
The panelists provided context on how domain transfers have evolved—from major domain theft concerns in the early 2000s to the significant procedural shifts driven by GDPR. This historical lens helped frame the importance and impact of the upcoming changes.
Lowering Change of Registrar Lock to 30 days
One of the most impactful updates is the reduction of domain lock periods from 60 days to 30 days, now standardized across all registries for a change of registrar. This change aims to improve consistency while maintaining important safeguards against abuse.
Removal of Change of Registrant Data Lock
The current 60-day lock triggered by changes to registrant data will be eliminated. Instead, registrants will receive mandatory email notifications, making the process less burdensome and more user-friendly – especially for domain owners who will no longer have their domain name locked as a result of routine registrant data updates.
Removal of Post-Initial Registration Lock
This lock will be removed across all registries. It was previously 60 days at some registries, including .com.
A New Look at Dispute Resolution
Panelists also discussed transfer disputes and the need for improved processes that empower registrants to resolve issues more easily. While not finalized, the report recommends further exploration of registrant-initiated dispute mechanisms as part of future policy development.
Missed the webinar? You can now watch the full recording online: Watch the video
Thank you to everyone who attended the webinar, submitted questions, and joined the conversation. We certainly didn’t get to unpack everything, and we hope to continue this conversation in the future. And a big thank you to our panelists for sharing their time and expertise with the ICA community and beyond.
Stay tuned for more ICA webinars and policy discussions!