Afnic has detected an acceleration of registrations during the half-hour (11:30 am to 11:59 am) before the beginning of the phase when concerned domain names are invoiced 100 euros excluding VAT each.
Following an investigation with the registrars that made those registrations, Afnic has noticed that 311 domain names were created at 5 000 euros excluding VAT each before the opening ot the phase at 100 euros excluding VAT each. The contacted registrars have indicated that a technical mistake has been made on their side.
As these registrations represent a hindrance to the equitable access by all to these domain names, the domains will be made available on Wednesday 11 March at 3 pm (Paris Time). The list of concerned domains will be published on the Afnic website before 7 pm today Tuesday 10 March 2015.
In addition, as this incident has disrupted the continuity of the 1 & 2 character(s) opening program, Afnic has decided to penalize the concerned registrars by suspending, starting today, their registration contract until Tuesday 17 March 2015 at 4 pm (Paris time), therefore excluding them from participating in the last phase of the 1 & 2 caracter(s) opening.
About Afnic
Afnic is the acronym for Association Française pour le Nommage Internet en Coopération, the French Network Information Centre. The registry has been appointed by the French government to manage domain names under the .fr Top Level Domain. Afnic also manages the .re (Reunion Island), .pm (Saint-Pierre and Miquelon), .tf (French Southern and Antarctic Territories), .wf (Wallis and Futuna) and .yt (Mayotte) French Overseas TLDs.
In addition to managing French TLDs, Afnic’s role is part of a wider public interest mission, which is to contribute on a daily basis, thanks to the efforts of its teams and its members, to a secure and stable internet, open to innovation and in which the French internet community plays a leading role. As part of that mission, Afnic, a non-profit organization, has committed to devoting 11% of its Revenues from managing .fr Top Level Domain to actions of general interest, in particular by transferring €1.3 million each year to the Afnic Foundation for Digital Solidarity.
Afnic is also the back-end registry for the companies as well as local and regional authorities that have chosen to have their own TLD, such as .paris, .bzh, .alsace, .corsica, .mma, .ovh, .leclerc and .sncf.
Established in 1997 and based in Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, Afnic currently has nearly 90 employees.