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They host PublicDomainRegistry.com, which seems to have its fingers everywhere.
But it's true that, sometimes, a host is just a host.
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You sure? I think it's Confluence Networks. Either way I don't think you should throw random allegations or assaults by association to a company that really offers a service that just bolsters and enhances general website performance for a large number of hosting providers. You even refer to Akamai Technologies. They are just a company that provides caching, performance improvements for general hosting. Why would a company that manages traffic and security be even listed here?
The NS and hosting company are two totally different things.
In general, I'm not sure what to make of this. Seems like you didn't renew your name and lots of other people had general complains of service with rampant accusations based on original posts that may or may not be accurate.
Registrant contract:
Should you not renew the domain name during any applicable grace period, you agree that unless you notify us to the contrary Register.com may, in its sole discretion, renew and transfer the domain name to Register.com or a third party on your behalf (such a transaction is hereinafter referred to as a "Direct Transfer"), and your failure to so notify us after the domain name expiration date shall constitute your consent to such a Direct Transfer.
To me that's a too bad so sad. I had the same thing happen at Domainmonster and after long and lengthy discussion they worked with me to renew it (after 16 days you lose your domain but you can recover it for $80 - and then it's too late even if they chose to send it to a partner). In my opinion that was going above and beyond more than anything. Had they sold it at auction? My problem. Another name I forgot to do this on was registered by someone else but I'm not sure how it was done - I could find out.. I just assume it was at namejet.
The first fee you were asked for? It was $125 to get it back. I don't see anything weird here either. If you look at expired names at Dynadot or Name they whois changes - but you can still recover it. Why does changing that whois information seem weird?
If you are auctioning a name for profit - you don't want people contacting the "registrant" as it eats into your profit? Why bid up to $1500 for Jens' expired domain if you can contact Jen and offer her $1000 and Jen just has to pay the $125 recovery fee?
Am I totally missing something? I was expecting a timeline of domains that were actually stolen... or cases where there was some proof... it's just following up on hearsay isn't? Everyone knows a lot of these companies are skeezy - but where's the real dirt?
Next up: Scientology, it's not a friendly religion...