It is being widely reported by AP, Techcrunch, PC World, Computerworld, and others that Network Solutions is locking up domain names that potential buyers are researching on the Network Solutions site. NS registers the domain in their own name and reserves it for the person researching the name.
Leveraging a policy that allows registrars to register domains for 5 days before paying any fees, Network Solutions has already locked down 72,000 domain names. This is a practice that block others from registering the domain name and forces the potential buyer to purchase it from Network Solutions.