I think i've already seen a post of this nature already but its just occured to me one particular issue.

After reading this artical http://www.auda.org.au/news.php?newsid=42

We all know what Chariot did was wrong but it doesnt say much for Reseller protection.

What are the resellers supposed to do if their wholesaler changes a policy or causes upset for the reseller (not to say melbourne it is bad or anything) ?

Who recons that auda should have a proceedure in place to enable resellers to transfer their client base to the new registrar without breach or regulation such as this.

Not sure if I follow you Skitzo.

I don't believe Melb IT changed anything

What Chariot did was wrong but they haven't been punished for it they have just been told to move them back despite being in breach of the regulations

On the second point I wholeheartedly agree that there should be a mechanism in place for a reseller to move domains registered through them in bulk from one accredited registrar to another

The problem as I see it with that is the registrant of a domain has a log in and pass for their account and domains which is in the database of the registrar whose reseller interface you are using

How could that be transferred from one place to another without major hassles for the clients

Well that's just the thing. The clients (the domain registrants) don't belong to the reseller.

Planetdomain word it like this:

DistributeIT (who need to make their website work without the 'www') word it like this

A reseller is simply a commission agent. They can't just pack up their "customers" (together with those domain names) and move to another reseller system. If they felt obliged to sever their ties with a certain provider, they'd be starting all over again elsewhere. That's not to say that a percentage of loyal clients wouldn't follow suit, but the reseller can't force them to do so.

Gary

I have to wonder why TPP would get that excited over 19 domains.

I may of mislead you i only meant in a hypertherical instance.

Gary, I can see what your saying and it definatly does make sence.

It does though (in my view) seem like the term reseller is being misused in this case and regardless what the contracts say i can see someone with enough money / lawyers one day walk over those terms and conditions.

Simply put a reseller is someone selling something sold to them, an agent or an affiliate is a more acurite term which isnt being used in these cases... as you signup to be a 'reseller' of planetdomains not an 'agent' of planetdomains.. (hypertherical of course)

I'm guessing that the registrars have spent enough money on getting their legals drawn up, and anyone with enough money to want to contest them would be better off putting that money in to setting themselves up as a registrar instead. :-)

Resellers aren't buying anything though. Not even the registrant is. They are just applying for a license to use something. Planetdomain (and no doubt others) do state that "if the name of the Reseller is on those contracts it is as agent for PlanetDomain", so they're covered.

Take an insurance broker for example. If CGU annoyed that agent, he might shift to another company. He might be able to take some customers with him, after their contracted period (i.e. domain license) has expired, but he can't just pack them up mid way through a term and move them to another company.

Everyone has to protect themselves, and registrar's are no different to any other industry where plenty of cash has gone in to providing a product or service, and an affiliate/agent/reseller system gets put in place to help market the offering. The resellers usually have a minimal entry fee (if any), and receive a nominal commission for their efforts. Otherwise, if they want a bigger slice of the pie they have to fund it themselves.

Gary

I guess this is why auDa just love to sue people, they have the means to do so, the money to back it up and not much else to do with their time...

And there is a lot of conjecture up in the air, again my comments wernt to sway against any registrar. But i often find my 'domain clients' even though im a reseller of PD look to me for support and billing requirements, no matter how much i try convincing them they arnet my customers and are infact iprimus they dont belive me heh.

The status of resellers within the Australian domain registration industry is currently set in stone via auDA and therefore reflected in the contracts we have with registrars. I sat on a virtual policy review committee a couple of years ago that dealt with reseller issues and found that suggesstions and comments to policy were talked down via auDA reps to justify/protect other aspects of auDA policy. My only sugesstion is when auDA do ANY policy reviews (hint hint WHOIS POLICY REVIEW wink wink) make submissions representing your position. auDA are bound to consider all submissions received when revieweing their policies.