Warn HN: Most gTLDs have no price caps

favourable · on Feb 12, 2024

I renew domains 10 years in advance. That way if the price is hiked, the registrar still has to keep the domain renewed, regardless of hikes. 10 years is ICANN's arbitrary limit, and 10 years is a long time on the web. The domain will probably get hiked after that time window, but at least it had its fun in the sun.

jedberg · on Feb 12, 2024

On the one hand, no price caps allows the market to find the right price for every domain. But that means treating domains like rental homes without rent control.

I contend that domains should be treated more like property taxes -- a fee you pay to maintain records and basic services, but not something subject to market forces. Almost everywhere has some sort of cap on the growth of property taxes (although none as restrictive as Prop 13 in California).

The idea of course is that if your property taxes took a huge jump you can't just up and move. Domain names are similar -- a lot of companies and even hobbyists have their entire branding and SEO tied up in their domain name.

Allowing their prices to 50x in one year shouldn't be allowed.