For example , consider a scenario where someone unknown buys a domain and
creates a website on that domain. The website then becomes very popular. The
registrar notices this and when it's time to renew , asks for a much higher
price for the domain. The domain owner can move to a different registrar but
other registrars may also notice the situation and do something analogous.
Are there any mechanisms (for some TLDs) to prevent such a scenario ?

--
Reunited at last, Oya and Yuri savor their first night back in each other's
arms by making love until Yuri passes out from exhaustion.
https://www.viz.com/read/manga/yakuza-lover-volume-3/product/6884

On Thu, 14 Mar 2024 14:19:38 -0000 (UTC), Spiros Bousbouras wrote:

> For example , consider a scenario where someone unknown buys a domain and
> creates a website on that domain. The website then becomes very popular. The
> registrar notices this and when it's time to renew , asks for a much higher
> price for the domain. The domain owner can move to a different registrar but
> other registrars may also notice the situation and do something analogous.
> Are there any mechanisms (for some TLDs) to prevent such a scenario ?

Likely relevant
https://domainnamewire.com/2022/06/24/can-registries-reclassify-your-domain-as-premium-before-renewal/

Spiros Bousbouras wrote:
> For example , consider a scenario where someone unknown buys a domain and
> creates a website on that domain. The website then becomes very popular. The
> registrar notices this and when it's time to renew , asks for a much higher
> price for the domain. The domain owner can move to a different registrar but
> other registrars may also notice the situation and do something analogous.
> Are there any mechanisms (for some TLDs) to prevent such a scenario ?
The registrar would just charge the £10 or whatever published fee, it is
up to whoever the domain is registered to to agree any higher "value" at
which they are willing to agree to transfer it to another party.
I have been in that situation once [on a small scale], we registered
several domains that were "good ideas" but then they didn't come to
anything, out of the blue we got an offer to buy one of those domains
(for a couple of thousand)
If we hadn't accepted, the domain registrar wouldn't have bumped our
renewal price up, there was no threat to try and wrestle the name away
from us due to any form of infringement.
the purchaser was a large stationary supplier who used the domain in a
couple of ad campaigns, then dropped it, I could have re-registered it
if I wanted to, in fact it's still not been re-registered by anyone else ...

On Thu, 14 Mar 2024 15:27:32 -0000 (UTC)
George Musk <grgmusk@skiff.com> wrote:
> On Thu, 14 Mar 2024 14:19:38 -0000 (UTC), Spiros Bousbouras wrote:
>
> > For example , consider a scenario where someone unknown buys a domain and
> > creates a website on that domain. The website then becomes very popular. The
> > registrar notices this and when it's time to renew , asks for a much higher
> > price for the domain. The domain owner can move to a different registrar but
> > other registrars may also notice the situation and do something analogous.
> > Are there any mechanisms (for some TLDs) to prevent such a scenario ?
>
> Likely relevant
> https://domainnamewire.com/2022/06/24/can-registries-reclassify-your-domain-as-premium-before-renewal/

Very relevant , thank you. The following quotes seem to answer my question :

The answer to this question is in section Sec 2.1.c of the registry
agreement. Here’s the relevant section:

(c) In addition, Registry Operator must have uniform pricing for
renewals of domain name registrations (“Renewal Pricing”). For the
purposes of determining Renewal Pricing, the price for each domain
registration renewal must be identical to the price of all other
domain name registration renewals in place at the time of such
renewal, and such price must take into account universal application
of any refunds, rebates, discounts, product tying or other programs
in place at the time of renewal. The foregoing requirements of this
Section 2.10(c) shall not apply for (i) purposes of determining
Renewal Pricing if the registrar has provided Registry Operator with
documentation that demonstrates that the applicable registrant
expressly agreed in its registration agreement with registrar to
higher Renewal Pricing at the time of the initial registration of the
domain name following clear and conspicuous disclosure of such
Renewal Pricing to such registrant, and (ii) discounted Renewal
Pricing pursuant to a Qualified Marketing Program (as defined below).
The parties acknowledge that the purpose of this Section 2.10(c) is
to prohibit abusive and/or discriminatory Renewal Pricing practices
imposed by Registry Operator without the written consent of the
applicable registrant at the time of the initial registration of the
domain and this Section 2.10(c) will be interpreted broadly to
prohibit such practices.

[...]
ICANN doesn’t want a registry to be able to say, “Gee, someone invested a
lot of money in building a site on this domain, so let’s charge a lot to
renew it because they’ll have no choice but to pay.”