Network Solutions Slammed For New Domain-Name PolicyNetwork Solutions Slammed For New Domain-Name Policy

Network Solutions is rethinking its new policy of reserving domain names following a week rife with criticism.The policy, which the domain-name registrar maintains was put into place to protect customers, automatically reserves for four days any domain name that is the subject of a search on Network Solutions? site. A customer can purchase the domain from Network Solutions during that time, but at a price typically higher than what other registrars charge.

The company is trying to prevent front-running, it says, in which scammers track domain-name searches, then register the names themselves with the intent of selling them to the original searchers for a steep price.

"What we're trying to do is keep that information that our customers are putting in there from [scammers]," Network Solutions spokeswoman Susan Wade told Computerworld. "So we hold it for a grace period of up to four days so you have an opportunity to consider whether or not to register it. After four days, we release it.?

ICANN, the group that oversees the Internet address system, says it was advised of the new policy and is looking into whether any regulations were violated.Computerworld