Skip to main content

The "_for-sale" Underscored and Globally Scoped DNS Node Name
draft-davids-forsalereg-09

Document Type Active Internet-Draft (individual)
Author Marco Davids
Last updated 2025-06-03
RFC stream Independent Submission
Intended RFC status Informational
Formats
Reviews
Additional resources GitHub Repository
Related Implementations
Stream ISE state Finding Reviewers
Awaiting Reviews
Consensus boilerplate Unknown
Document shepherd (None)
IESG IESG state I-D Exists
Telechat date (None)
Responsible AD (None)
Send notices to (None)
draft-davids-forsalereg-09
Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF)                         M. Davids
Internet-Draft                                                 SIDN Labs
Intended status: Best Current Practice                       3 June 2025
Expires: 5 December 2025

     The "_for-sale" Underscored and Globally Scoped DNS Node Name
                       draft-davids-forsalereg-09

Abstract

   This document defines an operational convention for using the
   reserved underscored DNS leaf node name "_for-sale" to indicate that
   the parent domain name is available for purchase.  This approach
   offers the advantage of easy deployment without affecting ongoing
   operations.  As such, the method can be applied to a domain name that
   is still in full use.

Note to the RFC Editor

   This document contains several "Notes to the RFC Editor", including
   this section.  These should be reviewed and resolved prior to
   publication.

Status of This Memo

   This Internet-Draft is submitted in full conformance with the
   provisions of BCP 78 and BCP 79.

   Internet-Drafts are working documents of the Internet Engineering
   Task Force (IETF).  Note that other groups may also distribute
   working documents as Internet-Drafts.  The list of current Internet-
   Drafts is at https://datatracker.ietf.org/drafts/current/.

   Internet-Drafts are draft documents valid for a maximum of six months
   and may be updated, replaced, or obsoleted by other documents at any
   time.  It is inappropriate to use Internet-Drafts as reference
   material or to cite them other than as "work in progress."

   This Internet-Draft will expire on 5 December 2025.

Copyright Notice

   Copyright (c) 2025 IETF Trust and the persons identified as the
   document authors.  All rights reserved.

Davids                   Expires 5 December 2025                [Page 1]
Internet-Draft                 forsalereg                      June 2025

   This document is subject to BCP 78 and the IETF Trust's Legal
   Provisions Relating to IETF Documents (https://trustee.ietf.org/
   license-info) in effect on the date of publication of this document.
   Please review these documents carefully, as they describe your rights
   and restrictions with respect to this document.  Code Components
   extracted from this document must include Revised BSD License text as
   described in Section 4.e of the Trust Legal Provisions and are
   provided without warranty as described in the Revised BSD License.

Table of Contents

   1.  Introduction  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   2
     1.1.  Terminology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   3
   2.  Rationale . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   3
   3.  Conventions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   4
     3.1.  General Record Format . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   4
     3.2.  Content Tag Type Definitions  . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   6
       3.2.1.  fcod  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   6
       3.2.2.  ftxt  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   7
       3.2.3.  furi  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   8
     3.3.  Content Limitations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   8
     3.4.  RRset Limitations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   9
     3.5.  RR type Limitations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   9
     3.6.  Wildcard Limitation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   9
     3.7.  Placement of the Leaf Node Name . . . . . . . . . . . . .   9
   4.  Additional Examples . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  10
     4.1.  Example 1: Code Format  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  11
     4.2.  Example 2: Free Text Format . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  11
     4.3.  Example 3: URI Format . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  11
     4.4.  Example 4: Combinations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  12
   5.  Operational Guidelines  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  12
   6.  IANA Considerations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  13
   7.  Privacy Considerations  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  14
   8.  Security Considerations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  15
   9.  Ethical Considerations  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  15
   10. Implementation Status . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  15
   11. Acknowledgements  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  16
   12. References  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  16
     12.1.  Normative References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  16
     12.2.  Informative References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  17
   Author's Address  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  19

1.  Introduction

   Well-established services [RFC3912][RFC9083] exist to determine
   whether a domain name is registered.  However, the fact that a domain
   name exists does not necessarily mean it is unavailable; it may still
   be for sale.

Davids                   Expires 5 December 2025                [Page 2]
Internet-Draft                 forsalereg                      June 2025

   Some registrars and other entities offer mediation services between
   domain name holders and interested parties (often referred to as
   brokers).  For domain names that are not for sale, such services may
   be of limited value, whereas they may be beneficial for domain names
   that are clearly being offered for sale.

   This specification defines a lightweight method to ascertain whether
   a domain name, although registered, is available for purchase.  It
   enables a domain name holder to add a reserved underscored leaf node
   name [RFC8552] in the zone, indicating that the domain name is for
   sale.

   The TXT RR type [RFC1035] created for this purpose MUST follow the
   formal definition of Section 3.  Its content MAY contain a pointer,
   such as a Uniform Resource Identifier (URI) [RFC3986], or another
   string, allowing interested parties to obtain information or contact
   the domain name holder for further negotiations.

   With due caution, such information can also be incorporated into
   automated availability services.  When checking a domain name for
   availability, the service may indicate whether it is for sale and
   provide a pointer to the seller's information.

   Note: In this document, the term "for sale" is used in a broad sense
   and MAY also refer to cases where the domain name is available for
   lease, or where the contractual right to use the domain name is
   offered to another party.

1.1.  Terminology

   The key words "MUST", "MUST NOT", "REQUIRED", "SHALL", "SHALL NOT",
   "SHOULD", "SHOULD NOT", "RECOMMENDED", "NOT RECOMMENDED", "MAY", and
   "OPTIONAL" in this document are to be interpreted as described in BCP
   14 [RFC2119] [RFC8174] when, and only when, they appear in all
   capitals, as shown here.

2.  Rationale

   There are undoubtedly more ways to address this problem space.  The
   reasons for the approach defined in this document are primarily
   accessibility and simplicity.  The indicator can be easily turned on
   and off at will and moreover, it is immediately deployable and does
   not require significant changes in existing services.  This allows
   for a smooth introduction of the concept.

Davids                   Expires 5 December 2025                [Page 3]
Internet-Draft                 forsalereg                      June 2025

   Furthermore, the chosen approach aligns with ethical considerations
   by promoting a more equitable domain aftermarket and minimizing
   potential for unintended commercial entanglements by registries, as
   detailed in Section 9.

3.  Conventions

3.1.  General Record Format

   Each "_for-sale" TXT record MUST begin with a version tag, optionally
   followed by a string containing content that follows a simple
   "tag=value" syntax.

   The formal definition of the record format, using ABNF
   [RFC5234][RFC7405], is as follows:

Davids                   Expires 5 December 2025                [Page 4]
Internet-Draft                 forsalereg                      June 2025

   forsale-record  = forsale-version forsale-content
                     ; referred to as content or RDATA
                     ; in a single character-string

   forsale-version = %s"v=FORSALE1;"
                     ; %x76.3D.46.4F.52.53.41.4C.45.31.3B
                     ; version tag, case sensitive, no spaces

   forsale-content = fcod-pair / ftxt-pair / furi-pair
                     ; referred to as tag-value pairs
                     ; only one tag-value pair per record

   fcod-pair       = fcod-tag fcod-value
   ftxt-pair       = ftxt-tag ftxt-value
   furi-pair       = furi-tag furi-value
                     ; the tags are referred to as content tags
                     ; the values are referred to as content values

   fcod-tag        = %s"fcod="
   ftxt-tag        = %s"ftxt="
   furi-tag        = %s"furi="
                     ; case sensitive lowercase

   fcod-value      = 1*239OCTET
                     ; must be at least 1 OCTET

   ftxt-value      = 1*239ftxt-char
   ftxt-char       = %x20-21 / %x23-5B / %x5D-7E
                     ; excluding " and \ to avoid escape issues

   furi-value      = URI
                     ; Only http, https, mailto and tel schemes
                     ; exactly one URI

   URI             = <as defined in RFC3986, Appendix A>

   See Section 3.2 for more detailed format definitions per content tag
   type.

   Each "_for-sale" TXT record MUST NOT contain more than one tag-value
   pair.

   See Section 3.4 for additional RRset limitations.

   The content value provides information to interested parties as
   explained in Section 1.

Davids                   Expires 5 December 2025                [Page 5]
Internet-Draft                 forsalereg                      June 2025

   If no tag-value pair is present but a valid version tag is,
   processors MAY assume that the domain is for sale.  In such cases,
   processors SHOULD determine how to proceed.  One possible approach is
   to indicate that the domain is for sale and to use traditional
   methods, such as WHOIS or RDAP, to obtain contact information:

   _for-sale.example.com. IN TXT "v=FORSALE1;"

   If a tag-value pair is present but invalid, this constitutes a syntax
   error and SHOULD be treated as if it were absent.

   In such cases, if the version tag itself is valid, processors MAY
   assume that the domain is for sale.  For example:

   _for-sale.example.com. IN TXT "v=FORSALE1;lorumipsum"
   _for-sale.example.com. IN TXT "v=FORSALE1;fcod="
   _for-sale.example.com. IN TXT "v=FORSALE1;foo=bar"

   TXT records in the same RRset, but without a version tag, MUST NOT be
   interpreted or processed as a valid "_for-sale" indicator.  However,
   they may still offer some additional information for humans when
   considered alongside a valid record.  For example:

   _for-sale.example.com. IN TXT "I am for sale"
   _for-sale.example.com. IN TXT "v=FORSALE1;fcod=XX-NGYyYjEyZWY"

   If no TXT records at a leaf node contain a valid version tag,
   processors MUST consider the node name invalid and discard it.

   See Section 3.3 for additional content limitations.

3.2.  Content Tag Type Definitions

   A new registry for known content tags is created in Section 6, with
   this document registering the initial set.  Implementations SHOULD
   process only registered tags they support, and MAY ignore any others.

   The following content tags are defined as the initial valid content
   tags.

3.2.1.  fcod

   This content tag is intended to contain a code that is meaningful
   only to processors that understand its semantics.  The content value
   MUST consist of at least one octet.

   The manner in which the "fcod=" content tag is used is determined by
   agreement among cooperating parties.

Davids                   Expires 5 December 2025                [Page 6]
Internet-Draft                 forsalereg                      June 2025

   For example, a registry may allow registrars to enter a "for sale"
   URL into their system.  From that URL, a unique code is generated.
   This code is inserted as the value of the "fcod=" content tag of the
   "_for-sale" TXT record of a domain name, as shown in the example
   below.

   When a user checks the availability of the domain name using a
   registry-provided tool (e.g., a web interface), the registry may use
   the code to redirect the user to the appropriate "for sale" URL,
   which may include a query component containing the domain name, for
   example:

   https://forsale-url.example.com/acme?d=example.org

   The rationale for this approach is that controlling parties retain
   authority over redirection URLs and any other information derived
   from the content tag, thereby preventing users from being sent to
   unintended or malicious destinations or from being presented with
   unintended content.

   The following example shows a base64-encoded [RFC4648] string
   preceded by the prefix "ACME-" as the value of the content tag:

   _for-sale IN TXT "v=FORSALE1;fcod=ACME-S2lscm95IHdhcyBoZXJl"

   Note: As an implementation consideration, when multiple parties are
   involved in the domain sale process and use the same mechanism, it
   may be difficult to identify the relevant content in an RRset.
   Adding a recognizable prefix to the content (e.g., "ACME-") is one
   possible approach.  However, this is left to the implementor, as it
   is not enforced in this document.  In this case, ACME would recognize
   its content tag and interpret it as intended.  This example uses
   base64 encoding to avoid escaping and ensure printable characters,
   though this is also not required.

3.2.2.  ftxt

   This content tag is intended to contain human-readable text that
   conveys information to interested parties.  For example:

   _for-sale IN TXT "v=FORSALE1;ftxt=price:$500,info[at]example.com"

   While a single visible character is the minimum, it is RECOMMENDED to
   provide more context.

   While a URI in this field is not syntactically prohibited, its
   interpretation as a URI is not guaranteed.  Use of URIs in this field
   SHOULD be avoided in favor of the furi content tag.

Davids                   Expires 5 December 2025                [Page 7]
Internet-Draft                 forsalereg                      June 2025

3.2.3.  furi

   This content tag is intended to contain a human-readable and machine-
   parseable URI that conveys information to interested parties.

   While the syntax allows any URI scheme, only the following schemes
   are RECOMMENDED for use: http and https [RFC9110], mailto [RFC6068],
   and tel [RFC3966].

   The content value MUST contain exactly one URI.  For example:

   _for-sale IN TXT "v=FORSALE1;furi=https://example.com/foo%20bar"

   URIs MUST conform to the syntax and encoding requirements specified
   in Section 2.1 of [RFC3986], including the percent-encoding of
   characters not allowed unencoded (for example, spaces MUST be encoded
   as %20 in a URL).

   See the Security Considerations section for possible risks.

3.3.  Content Limitations

   The "_for-sale" TXT record [RFC8553] (Section 2.1) MUST contain
   content deemed valid under this specification.

   Any text that suggests that the domain is not for sale is invalid
   content.  If a domain name is not for sale, a "_for-sale" indicator
   is pointless and any existence of a valid "_for-sale" TXT record MAY
   therefore be regarded as an indication that the domain name is for
   sale.

   The existence of a "_for-sale" leaf node does not obligate the holder
   to sell the domain name; it may have been published in error, or
   withdrawn later for other reasons.

   This specification does not dictate the exact use of any content
   values in the "_for-sale" TXT record.  Parties - such as registries
   and registrars - MAY use it in their tools, perhaps even by defining
   specific requirements that the content value must meet.  Content
   values can also be represented in a human-readable format for
   individuals to interpret.  See the Additional Examples section for
   clarification.

   Since the content value in the TXT record has no strictly defined
   meaning, it is up to the processor of the content to decide how to
   handle it.

   See Section 5 for additional guidelines.

Davids                   Expires 5 December 2025                [Page 8]
Internet-Draft                 forsalereg                      June 2025

3.4.  RRset Limitations

   This specification does not define restrictions on the number of TXT
   records in the RRset, but limiting it to one per content tag is
   RECOMMENDED.

   If this is not the case, the processor SHOULD determine which content
   to use.

   The RDATA [RFC9499] of each TXT record MUST consist of a single
   character-string [RFC1035] with a maximum length of 255 octets, in
   order to avoid the need to concatenate multiple character-strings
   during processing.

   The following example illustrates an invalid TXT record due to the
   presence of multiple character-strings:

   _for-sale IN TXT "v=FORSALE1;" "ftxt=foo" "bar" "invalid"

   When multiple content TXT records present, the processor MAY select
   one or more of them.

   For example, a registry might extract content from an RRset that
   includes a recognizable "fcod=" content tag and use it to direct
   visitors to a sales page as part of its services.  An individual, on
   the other hand, might extract a phone number (if present) from a
   "furi=" tag in the same RRset and use it to contact a potential
   seller.

   An example of such a combined record is provided in Section 4.4.

3.5.  RR type Limitations

   Adding any resource record (RR) types under the "_for-sale" leaf,
   other than TXT (such as AAAA or HINFO), is unnecessary for the
   purposes of this document and therefore discouraged.

3.6.  Wildcard Limitation

   Wildcards are only interpreted as leaf names, so _for-sale.*.example
   is not a valid wildcard and is non-conformant.

3.7.  Placement of the Leaf Node Name

   The "_for-sale" leaf node name is primarily intended to indicate that
   a domain name is available for purchase.

Davids                   Expires 5 December 2025                [Page 9]
Internet-Draft                 forsalereg                      June 2025

   For that, the leaf node name is to be placed on the top-level domain,
   or any domain directly below.  It can also be placed at a lower
   level, when that level is mentioned in the Public Suffix List [PSL].

   When the "_for-sale" leaf node name is placed elsewhere, the intent
   is ambiguous.

   Table 1 illustrates this:

   +================================+================+================+
   | Name                           | Situation      | Verdict        |
   +================================+================+================+
   | _for-sale.example.             | root zone      | For sale       |
   +--------------------------------+----------------+----------------+
   | _for-sale.aaa.example.         | second level   | For sale       |
   +--------------------------------+----------------+----------------+
   | _for-sale.acme.bbb.example.    | bbb.example in | For sale       |
   |                                | PSL            |                |
   +--------------------------------+----------------+----------------+
   | _for-sale.www.ccc.example.     | ccc.example    | See note 1     |
   |                                | not in PSL     |                |
   +--------------------------------+----------------+----------------+
   | _for-sale.51.198.in-addr.arpa. | infrastructure | See note 2     |
   |                                | TLD            |                |
   +--------------------------------+----------------+----------------+
   | xyz._for-sale.example.         | Invalid        | non-conformant |
   |                                | placement      |                |
   +--------------------------------+----------------+----------------+

                    Table 1: Placements of TXT record

   Note 1: When the "_for-sale" leaf node name is placed in front of a
   label of a domain that is not in the PSL, it suggests that this label
   (and everything underneath) is for sale, and not the domain name as a
   whole.  There may be use cases for this, but this situation is
   considered unusual in the context of this document.  Processors MAY
   ignore such records.

   Note 2: If a "_for-sale" leaf node were to appear under the .arpa
   infrastructure top-level domain, it might be interpreted as an offer
   to sell IP address space.  However, such use is explicitly out of
   scope for this document, and processors MUST ignore any such records.

4.  Additional Examples

Davids                   Expires 5 December 2025               [Page 10]
Internet-Draft                 forsalereg                      June 2025

4.1.  Example 1: Code Format

   A proprietary format, defined and used by agreement between parties -
   for example, a registry and its registrars - without a clearly
   specified meaning for third parties.  For example, it may be used to
   automatically redirect visitors to a web page, as described in
   Section 3.2.1:

   _for-sale IN TXT "v=FORSALE1;fcod=XX-aHR0cHM...wbGUuY29t"

4.2.  Example 2: Free Text Format

   Free format text, with some additional unstructured information,
   aimed at being human-readable:

   _for-sale IN TXT "v=FORSALE1;ftxt=price:EU500, call for info"

   The content in the following example could be malicious, but it is
   not in violation of this specification (see the Security
   Considerations):

   _for-sale IN TXT "v=FORSALE1;ftxt=<script>...</script>"

4.3.  Example 3: URI Format

   The holder of "example.com" wishes to signal that the domain is for
   sale and adds this record to the "example.com" zone:

   _for-sale IN TXT "v=FORSALE1;furi=https://example.com/fs?d=eHl6"

   An interested party notices this signal and can visit the URI
   mentioned for further information.  The TXT record may also be
   processed by automated tools, but see the Security Considerations
   section for possible risks.

   As an alternative, a mailto: URI could also be used:

   _for-sale IN TXT "v=FORSALE1;furi=mailto:seller@example.com"

   Or a telephone URI:

   _for-sale IN TXT "v=FORSALE1;furi=tel:+1-201-555-0123"

   There can be a use case for these URIs, especially since WHOIS (or
   RDAP) often has privacy restrictions.  But see the Privacy
   Considerations section for possible downsides.

Davids                   Expires 5 December 2025               [Page 11]
Internet-Draft                 forsalereg                      June 2025

4.4.  Example 4: Combinations

   An example of multiple valid TXT records from which a processor can
   choose:

   _for-sale IN TXT "v=FORSALE1;furi=https://fs.example.com/"
             IN TXT "v=FORSALE1;ftxt=starting price:EU500"
             IN TXT "v=FORSALE1;fcod=ACME-ZGVhZGJlZWYx"
             IN TXT "v=FORSALE1;fcod=XYZ1-MTExLTIyMi0zMzMtNDQ0"

5.  Operational Guidelines

   DNS wildcards interact poorly with underscored names, and their use
   is NOT RECOMMENDED with this mechanism.  However, wildcards may still
   be encountered in practice, especially with operators who are not
   implementing this mechanism.  This is why the version tag is a
   REQUIRED element: it allows processors to distinguish valid "_for-
   sale" records from unrelated TXT records.

   Nonetheless, any assumptions about the content of "_for-sale" TXT
   records SHOULD be made with caution, particularly in edge cases where
   wildcard expansion - possibly combined with DNS aliases (e.g.,
   CNAMEs) or redirections (e.g., DNAMEs [RFC6672]) - might result in
   misleading listings or unintended references to third-party domains.

   It is also RECOMMENDED that the content value be limited to visible
   US-ASCII characters, excluding the double quote (") and backslash
   (\).

   In ABNF syntax, this would be:

   forsale-content     = 0*244recommended-char
   recommended-char    = %x20-21 / %x23-5B / %x5D-7E

   Long TTLs [RFC1035] (Section 3.2.1) are discouraged as they increase
   the risk of outdated data misleading buyers into thinking the domain
   is still available.

   Ambiguous constructs in content values SHOULD be avoided, as
   illustrated by the following example:

   _for-sale IN TXT "v=FORSALE1;fcod=TRIP-confusing;ftxt=dont-do-this"

   The above example is a valid "fcod=" content tag that includes the
   string ";ftxt=" in the content value, which may be confusing, as it
   does not actually represent an "ftxt=" content tag.

Davids                   Expires 5 December 2025               [Page 12]
Internet-Draft                 forsalereg                      June 2025

   Because the format of the content part is not strictly defined in
   this document, processors MAY apply the robustness principle of being
   liberal in what they accept.  This also applies to space characters
   (%x20) immediately following the version tag.  Alternatively, parties
   may mutually agree on a more strictly defined proprietary format for
   the content value to mitigate ambiguity.

   Note that this mechanism only functions when the domain name is
   active in the DNS, which is typically not the case, for example,
   during a redemption period or while in pending delete status [STD69].

6.  IANA Considerations

   IANA has established the "Underscored and Globally Scoped DNS Node
   Names" registry [RFC8552][IANA].  The underscored leaf node name
   defined in this specification should be added as follows:

                  +=========+============+=============+
                  | RR Type | _NODE NAME | Reference   |
                  +=========+============+=============+
                  | TXT     | _for-sale  | <this memo> |
                  +---------+------------+-------------+

                          Table 2: Entry for the
                     "Underscored and Globally Scoped
                         DNS Node Names" registry

   <NOTE TO RFC EDITOR: Adjust the text in the table above before
   publication with a citation for the (this) document making the
   addition as per RFC8552.>

   A registry group called "The '_for-sale' Underscored and Globally
   Scoped DNS Node Name" [FORSALEREG] is to be created, along with a
   registry called "Content Tags" within it.  This registry group will
   be maintained independently of IANA.

   The registry is publicly accessible at:

   https://forsalereg.sidnlabs.nl/

   The registry entries consist of content tags as defined in
   Section 3.2.

   The initial set of entries in this registry is as follows:

Davids                   Expires 5 December 2025               [Page 13]
Internet-Draft                 forsalereg                      June 2025

       +==========+===========+========+===========================+
       | Tag Name | Reference | Status | Description               |
       +==========+===========+========+===========================+
       | fcod     | RFCXXXX   | active | For Sale Proprietary Code |
       +----------+-----------+--------+---------------------------+
       | ftxt     | RFCXXXX   | active | For Sale Free Format Text |
       +----------+-----------+--------+---------------------------+
       | furi     | RFCXXXX   | active | For Sale URI              |
       +----------+-----------+--------+---------------------------+

           Table 3: Initial set of entries in the "Content Tags"
                                  registry

   <NOTE TO RFC EDITOR: Adjust the text in the table above before
   publication with a citation for the (this) document making the
   addition as per RFC8552.>

   Future updates will be managed by the Designated Expert.

   Entries are assigned only for values that have been documented in a
   manner consistent with the "Specification Required" registration
   policy defined in [RFC8126].

   Newly defined content tags MUST NOT alter the semantics of existing
   content tags.

   The addition of a new content tag to the registered list does not
   require the definition of a new version tag.  However, any
   modification to existing content tags does.

   The "status" column can have one of the following values:

   *  active - the tag is in use in current implementations.
   *  historic - the tag is deprecated and not expected to be used in
      current implementations.

   This registry group is not maintained by IANA as per [RFC8726].

7.  Privacy Considerations

   The use of the "_for-sale" leaf node name publicly indicates the
   intent to sell a domain name.  Domain holders should be aware that
   this information is accessible to anyone querying the DNS and may
   have privacy implications.

   There is a risk of data scraping, such as email addresses and phone
   numbers.

Davids                   Expires 5 December 2025               [Page 14]
Internet-Draft                 forsalereg                      June 2025

8.  Security Considerations

   One use of the TXT record type defined in this document is to parse
   the content it contains and to automatically publish certain
   information from it on a website or elsewhere.  However, there is a
   risk if the domain name holder publishes a malicious URI or one that
   points to improper content.  This may result in reputational damage
   for the party parsing the record.

   An even more serious scenario arises when the content of the TXT
   record is insufficiently validated and sanitized, potentially
   enabling attacks such as XSS or SQL injection.

   Therefore, it is RECOMMENDED that any parsing and publishing is
   conducted with the utmost care.

   There is also a risk that this method will be abused as a marketing
   tool, or to lure individuals into visiting certain sites or making
   contact by other means, without there being any intention to actually
   sell the domain name.  Therefore, this method is best suited for use
   by professionals.

9.  Ethical Considerations

   Although not specifically designed for this purpose, the mechanisms
   described in this document may also facilitate domain name
   transactions by professional speculators, often referred to as
   domainers, and those commonly referred to as domain drop catchers.
   Some may view this as controversial.

   However, by enabling domain holders to more explicitly signal their
   intent to sell, the proposed approach aims to introduce greater
   clarity and predictability into the domain lifecycle.  This
   potentially reduces the advantage currently held by these
   professionals, and fosters a more equitable environment for all.

   Furthermore, this mechanism avoids creating unnecessary dependencies
   on registries for market transactions, which could otherwise
   introduce complexities and potential for unintended commercial
   entanglements.

10.  Implementation Status

   The concept described in this document is in use with the .nl ccTLD
   registry.  See for example:

   https://www.sidn.nl/en/whois?q=example.nl

Davids                   Expires 5 December 2025               [Page 15]
Internet-Draft                 forsalereg                      June 2025

   The Dutch registry SIDN offers registrars the option to register a
   sales landing page via its registrar dashboard following the "fcod="
   method.  When this option is used, a unique code is generated, which
   can be included in the "_for-sale" record.  If such a domain name is
   entered on the domain finder page of SIDN, a "for sale" button is
   displayed accordingly.

   A simple demonstration of a validator is present at:

   https://forsalereg.sidnlabs.nl/demo

   <NOTE TO RFC EDITOR: Please remove this section before publication as
   per RFC7942.>

11.  Acknowledgements

   The author would like to thank Thijs van den Hout, Caspar Schutijser,
   Melvin Elderman, Paul Bakker, Ben van Hartingsveldt, Jesse Davids,
   Juan Stelling and the ISE Editor for their valuable feedback.

12.  References

12.1.  Normative References

   [RFC1035]  Mockapetris, P., "Domain names - implementation and
              specification", STD 13, RFC 1035, DOI 10.17487/RFC1035,
              November 1987, <https://www.rfc-editor.org/info/rfc1035>.

   [RFC2119]  Bradner, S., "Key words for use in RFCs to Indicate
              Requirement Levels", BCP 14, RFC 2119,
              DOI 10.17487/RFC2119, March 1997,
              <https://www.rfc-editor.org/info/rfc2119>.

   [RFC3986]  Berners-Lee, T., Fielding, R., and L. Masinter, "Uniform
              Resource Identifier (URI): Generic Syntax", STD 66,
              RFC 3986, DOI 10.17487/RFC3986, January 2005,
              <https://www.rfc-editor.org/info/rfc3986>.

   [RFC5234]  Crocker, D., Ed. and P. Overell, "Augmented BNF for Syntax
              Specifications: ABNF", STD 68, RFC 5234,
              DOI 10.17487/RFC5234, January 2008,
              <https://www.rfc-editor.org/info/rfc5234>.

   [RFC7405]  Kyzivat, P., "Case-Sensitive String Support in ABNF",
              RFC 7405, DOI 10.17487/RFC7405, December 2014,
              <https://www.rfc-editor.org/info/rfc7405>.

Davids                   Expires 5 December 2025               [Page 16]
Internet-Draft                 forsalereg                      June 2025

   [RFC8126]  Cotton, M., Leiba, B., and T. Narten, "Guidelines for
              Writing an IANA Considerations Section in RFCs", BCP 26,
              RFC 8126, DOI 10.17487/RFC8126, June 2017,
              <https://www.rfc-editor.org/info/rfc8126>.

   [RFC8174]  Leiba, B., "Ambiguity of Uppercase vs Lowercase in RFC
              2119 Key Words", BCP 14, RFC 8174, DOI 10.17487/RFC8174,
              May 2017, <https://www.rfc-editor.org/info/rfc8174>.

   [RFC8552]  Crocker, D., "Scoped Interpretation of DNS Resource
              Records through "Underscored" Naming of Attribute Leaves",
              BCP 222, RFC 8552, DOI 10.17487/RFC8552, March 2019,
              <https://www.rfc-editor.org/info/rfc8552>.

12.2.  Informative References

   [FORSALEREG]
              SIDN Labs, "The "_for-sale" Underscored and Globally
              Scoped DNS Node Name",
              <https://forsalereg.sidnlabs.nl/forsale-parameters>.

   [IANA]     IANA, "Underscored and Globally Scoped DNS Node Names",
              <https://www.iana.org/assignments/dns-parameters/dns-
              parameters.xml#underscored-globally-scoped-dns-node-
              names>.

   [PSL]      Mozilla Foundation, "Public Suffix List",
              <https://publicsuffix.org/>.

   [RFC3912]  Daigle, L., "WHOIS Protocol Specification", RFC 3912,
              DOI 10.17487/RFC3912, September 2004,
              <https://www.rfc-editor.org/info/rfc3912>.

   [RFC3966]  Schulzrinne, H., "The tel URI for Telephone Numbers",
              RFC 3966, DOI 10.17487/RFC3966, December 2004,
              <https://www.rfc-editor.org/info/rfc3966>.

   [RFC4648]  Josefsson, S., "The Base16, Base32, and Base64 Data
              Encodings", RFC 4648, DOI 10.17487/RFC4648, October 2006,
              <https://www.rfc-editor.org/info/rfc4648>.

   [RFC6068]  Duerst, M., Masinter, L., and J. Zawinski, "The 'mailto'
              URI Scheme", RFC 6068, DOI 10.17487/RFC6068, October 2010,
              <https://www.rfc-editor.org/info/rfc6068>.

   [RFC6672]  Rose, S. and W. Wijngaards, "DNAME Redirection in the
              DNS", RFC 6672, DOI 10.17487/RFC6672, June 2012,
              <https://www.rfc-editor.org/info/rfc6672>.

Davids                   Expires 5 December 2025               [Page 17]
Internet-Draft                 forsalereg                      June 2025

   [RFC8553]  Crocker, D., "DNS Attrleaf Changes: Fixing Specifications
              That Use Underscored Node Names", BCP 222, RFC 8553,
              DOI 10.17487/RFC8553, March 2019,
              <https://www.rfc-editor.org/info/rfc8553>.

   [RFC8726]  Farrel, A., "How Requests for IANA Action Will Be Handled
              on the Independent Stream", RFC 8726,
              DOI 10.17487/RFC8726, November 2020,
              <https://www.rfc-editor.org/info/rfc8726>.

   [RFC9083]  Hollenbeck, S. and A. Newton, "JSON Responses for the
              Registration Data Access Protocol (RDAP)", STD 95,
              RFC 9083, DOI 10.17487/RFC9083, June 2021,
              <https://www.rfc-editor.org/info/rfc9083>.

   [RFC9110]  Fielding, R., Ed., Nottingham, M., Ed., and J. Reschke,
              Ed., "HTTP Semantics", STD 97, RFC 9110,
              DOI 10.17487/RFC9110, June 2022,
              <https://www.rfc-editor.org/info/rfc9110>.

   [RFC9499]  Hoffman, P. and K. Fujiwara, "DNS Terminology", BCP 219,
              RFC 9499, DOI 10.17487/RFC9499, March 2024,
              <https://www.rfc-editor.org/info/rfc9499>.

   [STD69]    Internet Standard 69,
              <https://www.rfc-editor.org/info/std69>.
              At the time of writing, this STD comprises the following:

              Hollenbeck, S., "Extensible Provisioning Protocol (EPP)",
              STD 69, RFC 5730, DOI 10.17487/RFC5730, August 2009,
              <https://www.rfc-editor.org/info/rfc5730>.

              Hollenbeck, S., "Extensible Provisioning Protocol (EPP)
              Domain Name Mapping", STD 69, RFC 5731,
              DOI 10.17487/RFC5731, August 2009,
              <https://www.rfc-editor.org/info/rfc5731>.

              Hollenbeck, S., "Extensible Provisioning Protocol (EPP)
              Host Mapping", STD 69, RFC 5732, DOI 10.17487/RFC5732,
              August 2009, <https://www.rfc-editor.org/info/rfc5732>.

              Hollenbeck, S., "Extensible Provisioning Protocol (EPP)
              Contact Mapping", STD 69, RFC 5733, DOI 10.17487/RFC5733,
              August 2009, <https://www.rfc-editor.org/info/rfc5733>.

Davids                   Expires 5 December 2025               [Page 18]
Internet-Draft                 forsalereg                      June 2025

              Hollenbeck, S., "Extensible Provisioning Protocol (EPP)
              Transport over TCP", STD 69, RFC 5734,
              DOI 10.17487/RFC5734, August 2009,
              <https://www.rfc-editor.org/info/rfc5734>.

Author's Address

   Marco Davids
   SIDN Labs
   Meander 501
   6825 MD Arnhem
   Netherlands
   Phone: +31 26 352 5500
   Email: marco.davids@sidn.nl

Davids                   Expires 5 December 2025               [Page 19]