That BBOnline domain drop

[Siusaidh]

I expect some of you spotted those BBOnline .uk domains that they registered in early Feb 2019, and which got released back this week.

I got one I wanted but some of my target names unfortunately got snapped up by various tags. Even so there are still quite a few left even 24 hours later.

This got me thinking about the way we track domains. Obviously it's easy to know when domains are going to drop in the run up to them dropping. Then there are ones you realise will mostly drop in the future, even though they haven't yet been suspended. The huge Fasthosts and Ionos 1&1 .uk drops are in that category, and it's inevitable there are going to be great names for the taking, though I suspect there will be all kinds of 'cartel' type tricks happening in those weeks (probably Sept 5th-12th).

For people who use dropcatchers where only one person can reserve the name in advance, and there's no auction after, seeing what's coming down the pipeline can be useful to get in first. I use multiple dropcatchers, but as my field of interest is specialist and not very commercial I can often pick up names manually.

One other thought that I'm curious about! What happens when an individual with large numbers of domains... sadly dies? A bit gruesome, I admit. But there must be some individuals who amass domains entirely privately, and it wouldn't surprise me if from time to time a whole load get dropped like that.

Probably a good idea if anyone with portfolios makes sure there is some notification and p/w access for loved ones, so they can access, or even find out the names existed.

 

[AlexR]

Surely they will all show up on UKDropLists? Why wouldn't they?

 

[Siusaidh]

I agree about dead people's domains. They would, like all domains must, though they'd maybe pass expiry date unnoticed by a non-techy partner. I was more imagining what steps I myself would take to make sure my loved ones knew how to inherit mine (and probably sell them).

You do get some names that a person just gets bored with, and they actively release them, in which case they don't go through the roughly 13 week process before dropping. I do that from time to time. I look down my list, and see a name I registered on impulse, and think - just get rid of it.

The BBOnline drops had already been happening at the time I wrote in May, and yes, they were there to be seen in advance. I was just commenting on the phenomenon.

 

[webber]

This is a very good topic. As a motorcyclist, I see myself in a higher than average risk category of accident/death and gave this some thought. Covid19 could be another reason to contemplate this.
A few months ago I think there was a drop of about 10 LL.co.uk domains in one day which I can only assume it was due to someone's death.

If you want your domain portfolio to be passed on to someone after your death, I would think there are a few things you could do:
* keep a thorough record of everything
* have a discussion about this with your nominated trustee, explain them the value of these domains (some people just can't believe domains are worth that much) and show them the basics (how to access, renew, transfer, etc)
* get your best domains professionally appraised and retain doc/certificate
* keep a secure db with passwords that would allow your trustee to take control easily (would not recommend subscription based password managers as they could loose you data if unpaid, keepass or something similar would be better)
* arrange a way for the trustee to receive that db after your death - I use Google's inactive account manager
* make sure your trustee also gets access to you accounts on various marketplaces where the domains are listed and get forwarded any email offers from these
* registering domains through a Ltd would mean the transfer of the Ltd would include the portfolio
* including them on a will would probably make sense, though not sure how inheritance tax would impact this (what is the value for the calculation)
* provision for the renewal of the domains for a reasonable amount of time

Personally I've done most of these steps

Probably seeking professional legal advice would also be recommended if your portfolio is objectively valuable.
Would be interested to hear other thoughts on this too

 

[poetry]

This actually happened to a domainer in the .uk about ten years ago. He was not known personally but had a lot of three letter names
Domainers actually alerted nominet and the widow... so it worked out in that case as she would not have had a clue how to renew them.
I like to think nominet would do the same today but there are a lot of tags and the org is too big

 

[Ben Thomas]

I guess if you heavily invest in domain names, like any other asset, it should be well documented within your Will & Testament. Or, just a notebook or something that a loved one can access with passwords etc. if not, I guess they will all just drop back.