This KB article will try to answer questions around how OpenSRS will handle Registrant

Validation.

Q: Who is the Registrant?

A: The Registrant in OpenSRS is the Organization Contact Record (RWI) or Owner Contact Record

(UCP).

Q: What exactly is the validation process?

A: The validation process is a 15 day window during which a Registrant must provide an

affirmative response to an email that OpenSRS will send to them. The email contains a link that the

Registrant is asked to click. When they click this link, they are taken to a page that displays the

email address, first and last name that they used to register the domain. The validation email

message also includes a link to the domain registration terms and conditions and a checkbox that

they must click to indicate that they agree to those terms and conditions. Failure to respond to this

email will result in the domain being suspended. The validation page looks something like this:

Q: What does "suspended" mean?

A: Suspended means that we interrupt the DNS and prevent the domain from resolving. The domain

will be placed on ClientHold and our internal WHOIS Lock.

Q: What information does the registrant need to validate?

A: OpenSRS will be validating three pieces of registrant contact data: First name, Last name and

Email address. When a registrant purchases, transfers, or updates a domain's registrant contact

information, OpenSRS first checks to see if a previously validated record exists for that

combination of First name, Last name, and Email Address. If an exact match exists, the domain

will be considered validated and no further action is required. If an exact match does not exist, the

registrant will be sent an email asking them to validate their First name, Last name, and Email

Address. For example, John Doe john@doe.com is different from Johnathan Doe

john@doe.com, and both will require separate validation.

Q: Which TLDs does this process apply to?

A: The validation process applies to all gTLDs. This also includes the new gTLDs.

Q: What action will trigger the validation process?

A: Any new registration, transfer in, contact updates (First name, last name or email address),

WDRP or mandatory renewal reminders bounce-back will trigger the validation process.

Q: What change will trigger the validation process for an existing domain?

A: Any change to the First name, Last name, or Email address will trigger the validation process,

unless it was previously validated.

Q: What else will trigger the validation process for an existing domain?

A: If the WDRP or ERRP (Day 30 and Day 5 Renewal Notices) bounce, the domain will enter the

validation process.

Q: Will previously registered domain names require validating as of Jan. 1/2014?

A: No, we do not have to retroactively validate domain names.

Q: How many emails will a Registrant receive once the validation process has started?

A: A Registrant will receive an email to validate their contact information on day 1, day 5, day 10

and day 13. On day 16, if they haven't validated their information, they will receive an email

informing them that their domain name has been suspended.

Q: How long will it take for my domain to come back online after I validate my information?

A: Your domain should come back online instantly, but some caching issues may delay that by a

few hours.