Set up your own registrar and domain name catcher

[MadAboutDomains]

Hello,

I have been watching some expiring .co.uk domain names. Most of the ones I have seen have been caught on the same system.

[snipped at request of TAG holder]

It looks like this registrar seems to get all of the deicent domain names. I have contacted Nominet asking them for the website address of this registrar, and it appears the URL that is listed for them doesn't even have a home page! So it isnt even possible for you to go to them and register a name with them.

Is it allowed for people to set up their own registrar and watch particular domain names using their own programming and catch and register it using their own personally owned registrar?

Im sure that I read once that you cannot do this! I may be wrong, but can anyone shed any light on the situation?

- Luke

 

[central]

Of course it's legal! If you run a business you are free to choose your customers.

I run my own private registrar in two Nordic countries.

 

[MadAboutDomains]

is it ok to set one up and use your own registrar to catch domains?

 

[LEEnoble]

Yes, anyone can become a .uk domain TAG holder (within reason). You don't have to be a company selling domains to the public.

 

[Kate]

To get started:
apply for membership of Nominet (you will get much cheaper prices on domains) then apply for your own tag (or possibly more :hehe: ), once you have direct access to the DAC database it's all a matter of scripting.
The trick with .co.uk is that the date of release for a domain is not known precisely, but it can be guessed with a good approximation (1 day or 2).

To my knowledge there are several dropcatchers active for .co.uk, some will not even offer services to the public, these are private ventures registering for their own use.