Domain locking: which locking periods are there for which domains?

Registrar locks are primarily a response to the domain trade: the goal of blocking domains for a limited period is to reduce the misuse of domains as speculative objects. Upon purchasing the domain, the operator is then bound to the web address for a certain period.

A registrar lock is used in the following two scenarios:

• Domain transfer lock: if a domain is subject to transfer locking, the ban goes into effect immediately after the web address has been bought. This applies to new registrations as well as domains taken on from a previous owners.

• Lock after deleting a domain: some addresses are locked for a period after they’ve been deleted. This can also provide protection for domain operators if they fail to renew their website. They then receive an e-mail informing them about the deletion. Domains can be re-activated for a fee.

The duration of a domain lock can vary. However, locks don’t only prevent rapid resales; a domain transfer is also prohibited during this period. Locks also stop you from changing internet service providers soon after acquiring new internet addresses. This can prove problematic if you don’t want your new domain to be hosted by the current provider.

Most ccTLDs (.org, .uk, and .ca) don’t transfer locks, although .ca added support for registrar locks in 2010.

The ccTLDs .tv and .cc (assigned to Tuvalu and the Cocos Islands) are governed by a 60-day transfer ban. They are popular internationally and are available on the Verisign registry. Additionally, ccTLDs managed by Verisign have a lock period of 30 days after their deletion, which means it’s the same time period as with gTLDs.

The internationally popular TLD of Montenegro (.me) is an exception when it comes to domain locking: if you buy an existing address with this extension, there is no a lock. It’s different, however, if a .me address is re-registered, you cannot resell the domain within the next 60 days. The Montenegrin TLD is especially sought after, since it allows speaking domains. For example, the American social network, MeetMe, bought the address meet.me from its previous owner for $450,000–higher than any other .me domain in history.

The application and scope of registrar locks vary quite massively. Some domain extensions are subject to a registrar lock, which occurs when an internet address is deleted. The affects gTLDs as well as many ccTLDs. Domain transfer locks can also be found with generic as well as country-specific TLDs. It usually doesn’t matter whether you register an internet address from scratch or buy from the previous owner and have it transferred to your name. There are also exceptions here, just as the Montenegrin TLD example shows.

Furthermore, there are TLDs that are free from any lock-up periods. There is no one-size-fits-all rule, however; you have to find out what conditions apply to which TLD. If you plan to change the internet service provider as soon as possible after acquiring a new domain, it’s best to check the exact lock periods before you purchase it. Generally, the provider or the responsible registrar can aid you further regarding this point.