Demand based domain name auctionability

Abstract

A method for identifying a registered domain name as auctionable is provided. The registered domain names may be pulled from a database of desired domain names, such as a collection of domain names that one or more interested entities have requested to register using a domain name registration system. Requesting a domain name may be probative of demand for the domain name. Accordingly a domain name receiving a threshold level of interest may be tagged as auctionable. For example a domain name may be tagged as auctionable when a total number of interested entities is at least equal to a minimum threshold of interested entities. Tagged domain names may be acquired by an escrow agent when a current registration expires and auctioned among interested entities. In addition, the owner of a tagged domain name may be notified to see whether the domain name can be auctioned before expiration.

1 . A method for initiating an auction, driven by demand-side interest for a domain name, the method comprising the steps of:
 identifying at least one entity indicating interest in a domain name;   comparing the indicated interest of the at least one entity to a predetermined threshold interest;   and if the indicated interest at least equals the predetermined threshold interest, informing a current registrant of the domain name of an auction potential represented by the at least one entity.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the indicated interest is quantified by a monetary value ascribed to the domain name by the at least one entity, and the threshold interest is quantified as a desired minimum monetary value ascribed to the domain name by the registrant. 
     
     
         3 . A method for auctioning a succeeding registration of a domain name that has a current registration, the method comprising the steps of:
 identifying at least one entity desiring a succeeding registration of a domain name after a current registration of the domain name expires;   registering a succeeding registration of the domain name to an escrow agent after the current registration expires;   holding an auction among the at least one entity to determine a winning entity;   and transferring the succeeding registration from the escrow agent to the winning entity.   
     
     
         4 . A computer program stored on machine readable medium for identifying a registered domain name as auctionable comprising:
 first code for retrieving the registered domain name from a database of desired domain names;   second code for determining whether the registered domain name has one or more interested entities;   third code for comparing a total number of interested entities to a minimum threshold of interested entities;   and fourth code for tagging the domain name as auctionable when the total number of interested entities is at least equal to the minimum threshold of interested entities.   
     
     
         5 . A method for identifying a registered domain name as auctionable comprising:
 determining a level of interest in the registered domain name based on whether one or more entities are seeking a succeeding registration of the registered domain name;   comparing the level of interest in the registered domain name to a threshold level of interest;   and identifying the registered domain name as auctionable when the level of interest in the registered domain name at least equals the threshold level of interest.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5  further comprising notifying the one or more entities seeking a succeeding registration that the registered domain name is auctionable. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5  further comprising:
 registering a succeeding registration of the registered domain name to an escrow agent after a current registration expires;   conducting an auction of the registered domain name among the one or more entities to determine a winning entity;   and transferring the succeeding registration from the escrow agent to the winning entity.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 5  further comprising notifying a registrant of the registered domain name that the registered domain name is auctionable. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 5  further comprising retrieving the registered domain name from a database of desired domain names. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 5  wherein the level of interest includes a total number of entities seeking the succeeding registration, and the threshold level of interest includes a minimum number of entities seeking the succeeding registration. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 5  wherein the level of interest includes a monetary value ascribed to the registered domain name by the at least one entity seeking a succeeding registration, and the threshold level of interest includes a minimum monetary value ascribed to the registered domain name by a registrant.