serverDeleteProhibited: registry has locked the domain against deletion
serverDeleteProhibited is a registry-applied EPP status that prevents the domain from being deleted, even by the registrant or registrar. Typical use cases include registry-reserved names, court-frozen domains, and names under active UDRP/URS dispute resolution.
Indicates a legally or administratively constrained domain. Path to availability is unpredictable.
Quick facts
What this status means
When the registry applies serverDeleteProhibited the domain becomes effectively permanent for as long as the status persists. Neither expiry-based deletion nor explicit deletion requests succeed.
Common triggers: registry-reserved names (e.g., names being held back during a TLD launch), court orders preserving the domain pending litigation, UDRP cases in progress, and law enforcement seizures where the domain is being repurposed rather than deleted.
For buyers this is the strongest "you cannot have this" signal in the EPP set. Even if the underlying registration looks dead, the registry will not allow it to drop.
Timeline
- 01
Applied
Registry sets in response to legal, compliance, or reservation policy.
- 02
Active
No deletion possible by any party. Domain persists until status is lifted.
- 03
Removed
Only by the registry, after underlying constraint is resolved.
What to do if you are watching a domain in this status
- Effectively unavailable. Do not invest watching time unless you have specific intelligence about the underlying case.
Real-world examples
- Domains seized in counterfeit-goods enforcement and reassigned to government registrants typically carry serverDeleteProhibited to prevent deletion by the receiving party.
- Registry-reserved names during gTLD sunrise periods often carry this status until the reservation lifts.
Frequently asked questions
Can a domain in serverDeleteProhibited ever drop?
Eventually, if the registry removes the status. But this rarely happens through public processes — drops are uncommon for these domains.
Who applies this status?
The registry, on instruction from a court, regulator, or as part of internal reservation policy.
Does the registrant know why this is applied?
Usually yes — there is typically a court case, dispute, or registry communication explaining the constraint.
How is this different from clientDeleteProhibited?
clientDeleteProhibited is set by the registrar and removed by the registrant in the dashboard. serverDeleteProhibited is set by the registry and only the registry can remove it.
Should I keep watching a domain in this status?
Generally no. The probability of clean drop is very low. Better candidates exist.
Related statuses
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- serverHoldserverHold is the registry-applied equivalent of clientHold. The domain is removed from DN…
- serverTransferProhibitedserverTransferProhibited is a registry-applied EPP status that blocks transfer at the regi…
- serverUpdateProhibitedserverUpdateProhibited is a registry-applied EPP status that blocks updates to the domain.…
References
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