What “Locked” .ie Domains Mean
If a domain has a status of locked in the whois, it cannot be transferred. The only way to unlock a domain name is for the billing contact to submit the registration / renewal payment for it.
The details of the policy are as follows:-
a) A domain will be automatically “LOCKED” from the moment it is registered. Domains will also be “LOCKED” following a transfer of Billing Contact to an IE Reseller.
b) The domain will only become unlocked and open for transfer when the domain is paid for by the Reseller who registered or received the transferred domain name.
c) A domain can only be transferred if it does NOT have a “LOCKED” status.
d) If the registry receives a request from a domain holder for a transfer of Billing Contact while the domain name has a “Locked” status, we will NOT action the transfer. We will respond to the requester advising them that the domain can only be transferred when they pay the registration / renewal fee for the domain to their provider and their provider in turn pays the domain renewal fee with us, the Registry.
e) Domain holders and Resellers can view the status of a domain on the WHOIS after registration, through its life until it becomes deleted.
f) If a Reseller registers a domain and does not receive payment at all, they should NOT pay for the domain and it will eventually be removed from their account and ultimately become deleted as part of the usual MSD process.
g) The renewal of domains is not affected by the lockdown policy. Domains that fall due for renewal will remain unlocked allowing the registrant to transfer the domain name to any other provider.
October 3rd, 2007