DUBLIN, IRELAND – 14 January 2008 – Recent industry discussions have centered on a new phenomenon termed "Domain Name Front Running." This occurs when someone conducts a search for a domain name and, shortly thereafter, someone else using some form of insider information preemptively registers the name.

This action keeps domains out of the hands of those who were originally interested, and is enabled by the "Add Grace Period." The Add Grace Period allows registrars to delete a name within 5 days of its initial registration without financial impact, and was originally intended to correct errors or problems in the initial registration process.

Allegations have been made that "Front Runners" purchase search data from Internet Service Providers and/or registries in order to find names of interest.

"Afilias wishes to make it clear that it has never sold search data to any party and does not support the practice of front running in the top-level domains that it supports," said Ram Mohan, Chief Technology Officer & VP Business Operations at Afilias. "We welcome a public dialog on the merits of the Add Grace Period, and the implications for members of the domain name industry and consumers at large."