ICANN (the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers) is introducing a new Registration Data Policy (RDP). These changes affect how domain ownership is defined and what registration information is shared publicly. Resellers and registrants need to review their domain contact records and take action where required to avoid suspension.
Warning: The ICANN RDP goes into effect August 20, 2025. Registrant notification emails begin May 28, 2025. Domains that fail Registrant Email Verification after a change will be suspended.
About this change
Under the new RDP, the Organization field in a domain's contact information will officially determine who is recognized as the legal owner of the domain. Registrants will receive a one-time email starting May 28, 2025 explaining how the field applies to their domains and what action, if any, they need to take.
What the registrant email will say
If a domain's contact record includes an entry in the Organization field, the registrant will receive an email beginning May 28, 2025 with the following information:
If the Organization field is filled in, that organization will be the legal domain owner.
To be recognized as the individual owner, the registrant must remove the Organization field.
To keep the organization as owner, the Organization name must be correct, and any personal information (such as the registrant's name) must be replaced with organization-level details.
Organization information will not appear in public WHOIS results unless the registrant explicitly opts in. See Public WHOIS — exposing contact information.
Action to take
Option 1: Be listed as the individual owner
Remove any entry in the Organization field of the domain's contact information.
Option 2: Have an organization listed as the owner
Confirm the Organization name is accurate.
Remove personal data (for example, a full name) if it currently appears in the Organization field.
Warning: Changing the Organization field triggers a Registrant Email Verification. The registrant must complete verification or the domain will be suspended.
Additional emails the registrant may receive
A change of Organization may generate additional notices:
Approval of the ownership change notice. To prevent this email from being sent to registrants, enable OpenSRS to act as Designated Agent.
GDPR Consent Management Process notice, which links to the registrant's Data Sharing Preferences page.
Ownership change process
Update or remove the Organization field.
A verification email is sent to the registrant.
Once verified, the change is applied.
If verification is not completed, the domain is suspended.
WHOIS information
By default, contact details (including Organization) will not be published in public WHOIS results.
To make information public, contact OpenSRS to opt in.
To keep information private, no action is required.
Key dates
Date | Change |
|---|---|
May 28, 2025 | Registrants with Organization data on their domains receive a notification email. |
June 30, 2025 | Admin, billing, and tech contact data is no longer collected for gTLDs. |
July 28, 2025 | Resellers may begin using reduced data sets based on TLD rules. |
August 20, 2025 | ICANN RDP goes into effect. |
Next steps
Review your domain contact records. Confirm the Organization field reflects your intended legal owner — either populated with an accurate organization name or left blank for individual ownership.
Prepare for registrant verification emails. Any change to the Organization field triggers Registrant Email Verification, which must be completed to keep the domain active.
Consider Designated Agent status. If you do not want approval notices sent to registrants on every change, enable OpenSRS as your Designated Agent.
Decide your WHOIS preference. Information stays private by default; opt in only if you want it published.
Additional information
Questions? Contact OpenSRS Support.
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