Domain Transfers

A domain registrar can only deny transfer for these reasons:

   1.  Evidence of fraud
   2. UDRP action
   3. Court order by a court of competent jurisdiction
   4. Reasonable dispute over the identity of the Registered Name Holder or Administrative Contact
   5. No payment for previous registration period (including credit card charge-backs) if the domain name is past its expiration date or for previous or current registration periods if the domain name has not yet expired. In all such cases, however, the domain name must be put into "Registrar Hold" status by the Registrar of Record prior to the denial of transfer.
   6. Express written objection to the transfer from the Transfer Contact. (e.g. - email, fax, paper document or other processes by which the Transfer Contact has expressly and voluntarily objected through opt-in means)
   7. A domain name was already in “lock status” provided that the Registrar provides a readily accessible and reasonable means for the Registered Name Holder to remove the lock status.
   8. A domain name is in the first 60 days of an initial registration period.
   9. A domain name is within 60 days (or a lesser period to be determined) after being transferred (apart from being transferred back to the original Registrar in cases where both Registrars so agree and/or where a decision in the dispute resolution process so directs).

In summary:

1) Fraud - self explanatory.  However the there does not seem to be any indication of what type of fraud is required in order for a registrar to deny.  Could it be a hunch?  Or could it be physical evidence?

2) UDRP action.  If the domain's ownership is under dispute, it cannot be transfered.  This makes sense.

3) Court Order.  Again if there is some legal issue involved, the domain cannot be transfered.

4) Dispute over identity of the user. 

5) Summarizes to: no payment.  If the owner of the domain neglected to pay the registrar, the registrar is allowed to hold the domain from transfer.  Notice that this is limited to charges attributed to the domain's registration.  Not GoDaddy's administrative fees or any other sort of gibberish.

6) Written object to the transfer.  This is what GoDaddy uses when locking up your domain for 60 days after you change contact information.  GoDaddy blatently violates this rule by forcing you to opt-into the transfer objection...otherwise you cannot update your contact details for the domain.  Additionally and electronic checkbox on a page is not an "email, fax, or paper document" stating that you voluntarily object any transfers for 60 days.

7) Domain in lock status.  Obvious.

Domain is within first 60 days of its registration.

9) Domain has been transfered within the last 60 days.

When a registrar cannot stop you from transferring a domain:

   
*  Nonpayment for a pending or future registration period
* No response from the Registered Name Holder or Administrative Contact.
* Domain name in Registrar Lock Status, unless the Registered Name Holder is provided with the reasonable opportunity and ability to unlock the domain name prior to the Transfer Request.
* Domain name registration period time constraints, other than during the first 60 days of initial registration or during the first 60 days after a registrar transfer.
* General payment defaults between Registrar and business partners / affiliates in cases where the Registered Name Holder for the domain in question has paid for the registration.

1) If you have not paid for a future period on the domain. 

2) The person listed as administrative contact does not respond to messages

3) Domain is in registrar lock status.  Meaning the registrar has put a lock on the domain purposely in order to stop your from transferring.

4) Time constraints meaning a contract that the registrar has placed you into, besides the 60-day initial and after transfer waiting periods.

5) Payment issues betweeen the registrar and its partners...in which case you have already paid up your bill.

[you can still transfer the domain to another registrar.]

Hi Rohan,

Looks like you've done a good summary of these.  I'll add a couple of notes on the reasons a registrar can't deny a transfer out, since this is generally the area where there are problems. 

When a registrar cannot stop you from transferring a domain:

   
*  Nonpayment for a pending or future registration period
* No response from the Registered Name Holder or Administrative Contact.
* Domain name in Registrar Lock Status, unless the Registered Name Holder is provided with the reasonable opportunity and ability to unlock the domain name prior to the Transfer Request.
* Domain name registration period time constraints, other than during the first 60 days of initial registration or during the first 60 days after a registrar transfer.
* General payment defaults between Registrar and business partners / affiliates in cases where the Registered Name Holder for the domain in question has paid for the registration.

1) If you have not paid for a future period on the domain. 

2) The person listed as administrative contact does not respond to messages

3) Domain is in registrar lock status.  Meaning the registrar has put a lock on the domain purposely in order to stop your from transferring.

4) Time constraints meaning a contract that the registrar has placed you into, besides the 60-day initial and after transfer waiting periods.

5) Payment issues betweeen the registrar and its partners...in which case you have already paid up your bill.

1>  This wording means that if your domain with the current registrar is expired, you can still transfer the domain to another registrar.  Normally when a domain is expired is will go on registrar hold.  This disables web hosting & email for the domain. 
If you want to transfer the domain, on request, the registrar must:

• allow you to update contact information for the domain,
• provide you with the domain's EPP auth code, and
• and unlock the domain to allow the transfer.

2>  This is response to messages sent from the current registrar to confirm the transfer away.  This was a common trick used to deny transfers prior to the new rules adopted in 2004.