“National security” cited as registry says you have to ask its CEO if you want to register more than TWO domains

India, a country with some 2.2 million ccTLD domains, has implemented perhaps the strangest and most Draconian restrictions on bulk registration of modern times.

The local registry, NIXI, informed its registrars all over the world in late December that they will have to seek formal written permission directly from the CEO if a customer wishes to register more than two .in domains.

Registrars breaking the rules face losing their accreditation, NIXI said.

A terse notice (pdf) published on the registry’s web site, signed by CEO Anil Kumar Jain, reads:

It is decided that a written approval of CEO, NIXI is required if an individual Registrant submit a request for registering more than two domains.

In case a registered accredited company try to book domains more than 100 than also a written approval of CEO, NIXI is required.

In case any Registrar is booking domains violating the above norms NIXI has right to disallow/disconnect the domains booking under that category. A process may be initiated for de-accreditation of such Registrar.

Approval will be given within 24 hours of a request, regardless of weekends or holidays, the notice reads.

Asked for clarification, Jain told DI in an email that the “new procedure is drawn after reviewing national security concerns” and that “NIXI registry is not stopping any domain registration.”

“An individual can book up to 2 domains and a company can book up to 100 domains without permissions,” he wrote. “Permission sought is given within 24 hrs.”

The new rule has registrars scratching their heads, with one describing it as “crazy”, “very vague” and very difficult to enforce.

NIXI uses GoDaddy Registry as its back-end.

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Original article: “National security” cited as registry says you have to ask its CEO if you want to register more than TWO domains

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