I haven't purchased a domain name before, and am about to. As far as I can see, ICANN is responsible for managing domain name registration, and there are a number of licensed registrars (godaddy, etc) to go through. My question is if you purchase a domain name for x dollars a year, and your website grows traffic, is it possible that the following year they can ask you a much higher price, based on the popularity? Or, are you locked into a standard registration rate from there on out, as long as you continuously keep it? Can they reject your request for continuation? A simple example is google.com. Since they probably got that for $10 a year or something, are they likely still paying that now? Thanks for your help!

Originally Posted by tjulia1

I haven't purchased a domain name before, and am about to. As far as I can see, ICANN is responsible for managing domain name registration, and there are a number of licensed registrars (godaddy, etc) to go through. My question is if you purchase a domain name for x dollars a year, and your website grows traffic, is it possible that the following year they can ask you a much higher price, based on the popularity? Or, are you locked into a standard registration rate from there on out, as long as you continuously keep it? Can they reject your request for continuation? A simple example is google.com. Since they probably got that for $10 a year or something, are they likely still paying that now? Thanks for your help!

You won't pay extra money for your domain independantly of the increasing popularity of it.

tjulia1, have you ever had such situation?

It may happen one day... but probably not.

You register the domain name in your own name, and unless there is some legal reason why, the registrar cannot refuse to renew you, and also cannot charge you a higher price than what is advertised as a renewal rate.

If by some strange chance something like that WOULD occur, you are always free to transfer your domain to another registrar instead of renewing with the same one, so as long as you initiate the transfer before the expiration date, there will be no hassles with that, and since hosting is a separate issue, transferring a domain name will not affect your site.

The most important thing you can do for your own protection is to be sure to use a valid email on your domain registration, and KEEP IT UP TO DATE. if you change email addresses, your registrar will never be able to reach you to notify you of expiration dates and any other important information you may need. Your Admin Contact email is your domain lifeline! I see more lost domains because of outdated contact information and no way to verify a domain's real owner than I'd like to say. Save yourself the worry and stay up to date.

Thanks a bunch for the info guys! No, it's never happened to me, but someone I know cautioned that it could be a possibility if you went through a shady company. Of course, I'm not substantiating that it's ever happened. Thanks again.

Registrars like godaddy actually are really just the middlemen/broker for ICANN. So unless ICANN decides to do something unethical (which is highly unlikely) since ICANN is US Govt body.
If any registrar does anything funny like that, ICANN will shut them down
The analogy is registration fees for incorporated companies which do not jump just 'cos the market value of the company jumps

Registrars like godaddy actually are really just the middlemen/broker for ICANN. So unless ICANN decides to do something unethical (which is highly unlikely) since ICANN is US Govt body.
If any registrar does anything funny like that, ICANN will shut them down

Tutu hit the nail, registrars are governed by ICANN rules and regulations so they would never be able raise renewal price depending on the popularity of a domain.

One thing to remember, be careful when you buy hosting service with FREE domain name. Sometime the domain rights is not you but the hosting company that you bought the hosting from. So confirm first before you proceed. Someone told me about this.

Thanks.