An
ICANN-
accredited registrar of
domain names, GANDI (
Gestion et Attribution des
Noms de Domaine sur Internet) is unique among
registrars in that their
contract explicitly states that "The
client owns the registered
domain name. GANDI simply acts on the client's behalf."
This agreement differs from most US-based registrars, who retain ownership of all the domain names they register for their customers. GANDI also provides some measure of privacy in that it "agrees not to provide third parties (except Whois directory and bulk access to Whois directory as mandated by ICANN) with any information other than that which is necessary for technical operation of the domain name."
Because of these friendly policies, and because they charge only 12 euros per year (most US registrars charge the equivalent of 80 euros for two years and 40 euros for each additional year), GANDI has had quite a lot of customers who have transferred their domain names.