How to Automatically Track and Act on Internet Domain Name Expirations
This patent describes a system that automatically checks when internet domain names are set to expire, calculates how much time is left, and can notify a user or even try to register the domain once it becomes available.
Original patent title: “Method, product, and apparatus for enhancing resolution services, registration services, and search services”
This patent describes a system that automatically checks when internet domain names are set to expire, calculates how much time is left, and can notify a user or even try to register the domain once it becomes available. Granted to ESDR Network Solutions LLC in 2011 with 47 claims and 55 forward citations, and it is now in the public domain.
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
This patent describes a method for automatically monitoring domain name expiration. It involves receiving a WHOIS record for a domain name at a first time, which includes an expiry date (a second time), as described in ClaimclaimA numbered sentence at the end of a patent that legally defines what the inventor owns. The most important section.Read more → 1. The system then calculates the time difference between the current time and the expiry date. This calculated time difference is then provided to a 'second entity' (a user or system) who does not have permission to modify the domain's registration information. For example, if a user requests information about 'example.com', the system retrieves its WHOIS record, sees it expires in 30 days, and can then notify the user that 'example.com' is nearing expiration, possibly adding it to a watch list (Claim 5) or even attempting to register it after it expires (Claim 6).
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- A system that only displays a WHOIS record without calculating or providing a time difference value (ClaimclaimA numbered sentence at the end of a patent that legally defines what the inventor owns. The most important section.Read more → 1).
- Monitoring domain names where the user receiving the information has permission to modify the domain's registration (ClaimclaimA numbered sentence at the end of a patent that legally defines what the inventor owns. The most important section.Read more → 1).
- A system that only provides a one-time lookup of an expiry date without determining if it satisfies a condition or monitoring for expiration (ClaimsclaimsThe numbered statements at the end of a patent that legally define what the inventor owns.Read more → 2-5).
- Monitoring other types of digital assets, such as social media handles or IP addresses, that are not domain names (ClaimclaimA numbered sentence at the end of a patent that legally defines what the inventor owns. The most important section.Read more → 1).
- A system that only notifies the original domain owner about their own domain's upcoming expiration.
- Attempting to register a domain name that is not determined to be available or soon-to-be available for registration (ClaimclaimA numbered sentence at the end of a patent that legally defines what the inventor owns. The most important section.Read more → 6).
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
Key facts
What made this novel
The noveltynoveltyThe requirement that an invention be different from anything publicly known before its priority date.Read more → lies in the automated calculation of the time difference to expiration and, crucially, providing this information to a *third party* (a 'second entity') who lacks modification rights, enabling them to monitor and potentially acquire the domain when it becomes available.
The Patent Drawing
Schematic visualization of the patent's claim structure. Hand-drawn diagrams in progress for each landmark patent.
Where you've seen this
Real-world examples
Domain expiration monitoring services
Domain registrars offering 'backorder' or 'drop catching' services
Tools used by domain investors to find expiring domains
Brand protection services tracking competitor domain expirations
Why it matters
The bigger picture
This patent provides a foundational method for systems that monitor domain name availability, which is crucial for brand protection, domain investing, and preventing accidental loss of valuable web addresses. By automating the process of tracking expiration dates and taking action, it helps users proactively acquire or protect domain names. This automation reduces the manual effort required to keep track of countless domain expiry dates.
Filed
December 6, 2004
Granted
October 11, 2011
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
Major domain registrars like GoDaddy, Namecheap, and Dynadot offer services that monitor domain expirations and allow users to backorder or pre-register domains as they become available. Specialized domain drop-catching services also operate based on similar principles, attempting to register domains the moment they expire and become public. Brand protection companies also utilize such technology to monitor for expiring domains that might be relevant to their clients.
Market impact
This patent helped formalize and enable the market for domain expiration monitoring and acquisition services. It allowed for the creation of automated systems that could proactively identify and act on expiring domain names, which was critical for domain investors and businesses focused on brand protection. This led to a more efficient, albeit competitive, secondary market for domain names, where expiring domains could be quickly re-registered by interested parties.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
This patent describes a method for automatically monitoring domain name expiration. It involves receiving a WHOIS record for a domain name at a first time, which includes an expiry date (a second time), as described in Claim 1. The system then calculates the time difference between the current time and the expiry date. This calculated time difference is then provided to a 'second entity' (a user or system) who does not have permission to modify the domain's registration information. For example, if a user requests information about 'example.com', the system retrieves its WHOIS record, sees it expires in 30 days, and can then notify the user that 'example.com' is nearing expiration, possibly adding it to a watch list (Claim 5) or even attempting to register it after it expires (Claim 6).
The clever bit
The novelty lies in the automated calculation of the time difference to expiration and, crucially, providing this information to a *third party* (a 'second entity') who lacks modification rights, enabling them to monitor and potentially acquire the domain when it becomes available.
What it does not cover
- A system that only displays a WHOIS record without calculating or providing a time difference value (Claim 1).
- Monitoring domain names where the user receiving the information has permission to modify the domain's registration (Claim 1).
- A system that only provides a one-time lookup of an expiry date without determining if it satisfies a condition or monitoring for expiration (Claims 2-5).
- Monitoring other types of digital assets, such as social media handles or IP addresses, that are not domain names (Claim 1).
- A system that only notifies the original domain owner about their own domain's upcoming expiration.
- Attempting to register a domain name that is not determined to be available or soon-to-be available for registration (Claim 6).
Patent timeline
Application submitted to the patent office
Application published, typically 18 months after filing
Patent officially issued
Patent enters public domain
This patent is in the public domain
See the Freedom to Build guide — what is free to use, what is not, and how to cite this patent.
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Strong
Citation count
35/40
Highly cited
Claim breadth
20/20
Very broad protection
Recency
5/20
Granted 10–20 years ago
Assignee scale
0/20
Independent or smaller assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →
PatentBrief Impact Score — based on citation count, claim breadth, recency, and assignee scale. Not a legal assessment.
Heuristic Value Estimate
What this patent might be worth
$76K – $242K
Midpoint $151K · expired or expiring · industry ×1.4
Heuristic only — blends forward/backward citation counts, claim scope, time remaining, litigation history, and CPC-derived industry baseline. Real valuations need a professional appraisal.
Patent Claims
0 independent claims · 1 dependent
Claims are the legal boundaries of the patent. An independent claim stands alone. A dependent claim adds limitations to its parent, narrowing — but not broadening — the scope.
The original legal language
Original claims
47 claims as filed with the patent office.
Concepts involved
Citations
Patent lineage
Cite this patent
Schneider, E. (2011). How to Automatically Track and Act on Internet Domain Name Expirations (U.S. Patent No. 8,037,168). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/8037168/method-product-and-apparatus-for-enhancing-resolution-services-registration-services-and-search-services
Auto-generated from the patent record. Double-check author order and the issue date against the official USPTO document before submitting.
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Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does How to Automatically Track and Act on Internet Domain Name Expirations cover?
This patent describes a system that automatically checks when internet domain names are set to expire, calculates how much time is left, and can notify a user or even try to register the domain once it becomes available.
Who owns patent US 8037168?
ESDR Network Solutions LLC owns this patent, granted in 2011.
When does this patent expire?
This patent has expired and is now in the public domain — anyone can use the invention freely.
What is patent US 8037168 cited by?
This patent has been cited by 55 later patents that build on its ideas.
What problem does this patent solve?
This patent provides a foundational method for systems that monitor domain name availability, which is crucial for brand protection, domain investing, and preventing accidental loss of valuable web addresses. By automating the process of tracking expiration dates and taking action, it helps users proactively acquire or protect domain names. This automation reduces the manual effort required to keep track of countless domain expiry dates.
What does this patent NOT cover?
A system that only displays a WHOIS record without calculating or providing a time difference value (Claim 1).
Patent monitoring