NIXI, the non-profit organization responsible for managing India’s country code domain, .in, is planning to introduce a major change to its registration rules, and it has the potential to impact domain investors significantly. The proposed alteration aims to curb domain investing, a practice that has been a subject of concern for NIXI due to certain registrars exploiting loopholes in the existing regulations.
Currently, NIXI has a strict prohibition against domain name registrars engaging in any activities related to “squatting, grabbing, hoarding, infringement, auctioning, drop catch, or selling of the .IN domain names at an exceptionally higher price than the published MRP they are regularly charging from the public.” However, the organization now seeks to extend this rule to apply retroactively to registrants themselves.
The main issue prompting this proposed change is the misuse of registrants as proxies by some registrars. By leveraging this method, these registrars bypass NIXI’s existing restrictions, leading to the organization’s decision to potentially penalize legitimate domain investors along with the violators.
The potential implementation of this new rule would undoubtedly deal a severe blow to those who invest in .in domains, including a considerable number of individuals in India.
The .in domain market has always been considered risky for domain investors. NIXI’s approach to dispute resolution through a UDRP-like system has resulted in perplexing decisions in the past. Moreover, the organization has, at times, taken down published decisions, adding to the uncertainty surrounding domain-related matters. Adding to the complexities, NIXI’s management has introduced some peculiar and arbitrary regulations, such as limiting registrants to just two domain registrations at a time.
In some ways, NIXI’s management of the .in domain registry could be likened to how Elon Musk might run a domain registry—unpredictable and far from a safe environment for those seeking to conduct legitimate business.
Critics argue that while the intention behind curbing domain investing may be to prevent abuse and price manipulation, a blanket approach like this might penalize innocent investors and stifle genuine business activities. The debate over the potential consequences of this proposal continues among stakeholders in the domain industry.
In conclusion, NIXI’s proposal to restrict domain investing in .in domains could have significant implications for domain investors in India. While the organization aims to address concerns related to misuse, the proposed retroactive application might lead to unintended consequences for honest investors. As the domain community awaits the final decision on these proposed changes, it remains crucial for NIXI to strike a balance between curbing abuse and ensuring a conducive environment for legitimate domain investment in the country.