Quote Originally Posted by Lee View Post
Actually, they arent.

By locking the domain/s DirectNic enabled several things to happen (or not to happen as the case may be).

1) They made it impossible for the 'owner' of the domain name to 'change'.
2) They made it possible for the WHOIS information to remain the same.
3) They made it possible for the domain owner to still have basic control of the domain.
4) They stopped any potential transfer of the domain away from them, thus making it easier to track for any potential Federal investigation.
Their whois history is the same, wether they change it today or move to a new host.

Directnic still has their payment history, whois history, etc.

Starting to lock domains puts pressure on all of the industry. Imagine if 40 of my affiliates domains get locked and I have to provide ID's for all the models they promote. Inadvertantly my business is affected, as are all the affiliates, and we are ALL forced to do something illegal to appease a registrar, or suffer loss of income. I'm in Australia.. it's illegal for me to give model ID's to non governmental agencies. It's just a big can of worms the way they've done it. If they hadn't locked the domain I'd be absolutely fine with it.