Domain tasting stamped out by cost increase

Companies registering domain names now have to pay more for the privilege as the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) tries to stamp out domain name tasting.

Original fees for domain name registration stood at $0.20 (£0.12) and the grace period was five days.

But the low cost meant business could register hundreds of domain names temporarily and use them to boost traffic to a parent website without incurring much of a penalty.

Jason Keenan, media advisor for ICANN, said: "Right now you can go and register a million different names for five days and the cost is zero.

"If this [proposal] comes through, the cost is $1 for five [domains]. It really changes the fiscal model of tasting."

Meanwhile, ICANN increased the penalties paid by firms for cancelling domain registrations to $6.75 per web address.

The move has resulted in the number of companies taking part in domain name tasting falling off rapidly.

Written by Debra Hastings-Henry