Nominet Zone File Released in May

[Skinner]

Did anyone else notice the line in the member update saying that in may a .UK zone file will be released to members ?

 

[Sam]

Did anyone else notice the line in the member update saying that in may a .UK zone file will be released to members ?

Yes

 

[Skinner]

I'm hoping its not more ROFR bumf and its all the .uk family, and more so that they aren't going to pull a selected members like Accredited or something.

Really nominet need to work on trust issues, I can't be the only one with them.

 

[ian]

Reading this right, it means us members (without distribution) will have access to the full .uk database of owned domains, which hasn't been the case since it was leaked many moons ago? Will this have any impact upon the way those in drop-catching operate, or public catchers etc? What are the resource records if that doesn't include whois data, just dates?

 

[ian]

The release should allow for a much simpler generation of drop lists by those that generate them and the lists should be completely comprehensive. It also means out of sequence suspensions won't be stumbled on by chance but will be available for all to see. I'm sure you are pleased about that! ;-)

Doesn't really matter any more, that method stopped working around December last year when Nominet suddenly changed protocol (as I'm sure you know well ). What it does mean is that those that don't put the level of graft in like me will have similar access to what I have, which is a shame, but never mind.

Sorry if it is mentioned, but how often are these files updated, live, or set periods, because obviously it is an ever moving landscape.

 

[sdsinc]

Like other registries, Nom are becoming 'smart' and working on building new revenue streams.

As for #1, no need to wait, you can get started with some dictionary scan.

Prediction: holders of newly-registered .uk domains will soon get SEO spam just like the .com holders.

 

[ian]

1. Take the entire list of registered .co.uk, remove the ".co" element and then DAC it to generate a list of available .uk that have already lost their ROFR due to the matching .co.uk expiring sometime since mid June 2014 and being registered again subsequently leaving the .uk as available.

Suspect anything since June 2014 that has dropped which is worth anything will have been scooped up along with the .uk. There have been a few nice .uk's dropping out of direct sequence with the .co.uk, such as flower .uk; but nothing much else.

 

[spiderspider]

Prediction: holders of newly-registered .uk domains will soon get SEO spam just like the .com holders.

Does the zone file contain contact email addresses then?

Always thought Nom kept them hidden?

 

[sdsinc]

The zone files only contain domain names and associated name servers.
But you are right, scraping the whois will not return E-mail addresses for .uk domains
Spammers could still send snail mail though.

 

[martin-s]

Be interested to hear what @RobM is going to do with this

 

[RobM]

Lol I think a lot of things have already been checked before this release. Will be interesting to see what else is in the list though.

 

[RobM]

Well should be another 3 million or so from what nominet said. God knows what they are that's why it'll be interesting to see.

 

[ian]

Well should be another 3 million or so from what nominet said. God knows what they are that's why it'll be interesting to see.

Quite a few decent (almost premium) domains don't appear on your list, but looks like Nominet are about to blow this wide open.
Will the list include registrar tags? I seem to recall the alternative method of checking an entire portfolio cost a significant amount, but maybe this would eradicate that?

 

[RobM]

I doubt 'premium' domains are not in my list considering I've checked against 125 million registered domains and that's bound to include common phrases/words etc. Anyway we'll all have a list on Tuesday.

 

[Murray]

I doubt 'premium' domains are not in my list considering I've checked against 125 million registered domains and that's bound to include common phrases/words etc. Anyway we'll all have a list on Tuesday.

The only good ones you might not have on your list are domains with SEO value

@invincible I know you wanted the zone file released, was this your influence?

 

[RobM]

I suspect top registrars wanted this. Usually everything 'decided' by nominet directly benefits them - introduction of an unnecessary extension (more money for registrars) - introduction of an unnecessary price hike (more money for registrars).

 

[RobM]

A lot of us wanted this years ago. We weren't the right voices I guess.

 

[RobM]

It just seems to me that when a lot of people who would benefit were domain traders (ie us) we weren't given it. Now with a totally ridiculous unnecessary price hike coupled with a poor new unasked for extension which mainly benefit the top registrars the release of the zone file is perfectly timed so as to cause a mass flurry of .uk registrations at the new price. The registrants don't benefit - if anything more uks being registered with dilute far more brands. The domain traders don't benefit because now registrars can just take domains for themselves. The people who benefit from this are the registrars and nominet. Maybe I'm just cynical but nominet have shown many times over the years that they only do things that will directly benefit themselves and a few very rich people (who may or may not have had ties directly to them in the past). They have always lacked transparency. There is a reason for this and it's not out of the goodness of their heart.

 

[RobM]

Sorry I can't see an edit option so everytime I make a new post I feel I should add though it's good we're getting this - just a shame it's a decade late.

 

[Skinner]

Maybe they need to be told this, like when they were "auto catching" names on their tag, which they also "weren't able to *just do*" as you put it... but they did.

No. They can't just do this. They have to obtain explicit permission from the registrant to do it. I don't believe many actuallybother trying to obtain it and therefore don't take over names in this way.