Re: Contacts after a Domain Transfer

On Thu, Jun 20, 2013 at 12:08:19PM -0400, Ofer Nave wrote:

> As an EPP noob, I'm confused by the same thing (being able to 'transfer' a
> contact object).

That's a matter of parsimony in the protocol: each object shares a
uniform interface, which helps establish a uniform set of abstractions.
That said, while the operation might be *possible*, but that doesn't
mean that registries necessarily have to support it.

> I get the point of transferring a domain name because it represents
> ownership, like a title or deed.

No. It's a transfer of *sponsorship*. Registrars *sponsor* objects, they
don't own them as such.

> It can only be 'owned' by a single registrar at a time.  But a contact
> is merely a data structure.  Shouldn't contacts and hosts just be
> copied automatically by the gaining registrar in the case of a domain
> transfer?

It's a matter of changing who has responsibility for the object in
question. But, as I said, not every object necessarily has to implement
every EPP operation. Typically, registries don't allow the explicit
transfer of host objects and contacts, though it's technically possible
in the protocol.

Contacts may also be tied to multiple domains or none, so it doesn't
make sense that, if a domain is transferred, all its associated contacts
are also transferred.

> What does it mean to 'transfer' a contact, as opposed to merely
> copying the data?

If the registry supports contact transfers, it's a transfer of
responsibility for the object.

K.

-- 
Keith Gaughan, Development Lead
PGP/GPG key ID: 82AC3634
Blacknight Internet Solutions Ltd. <http://blacknight.com/>
12A Barrowside Business Park, Carlow, Ireland
Registered in Ireland, Company No.: 370845
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