Lifecycle & Permanence
Domain and namespace lifecycle flows, restoration fees, the long-term sunset process, and self-hosted registry mirrors.
Key Terms
Before diving into lifecycle flows, here are the key terms used throughout this page:
- In Use
- The domain has received at least 1 API call requesting its schema
- Use Domain
- Make 1 API call requesting the schema — this resets any inactivity timer
- Archive
- Suspend access and enter preservation mode. Schemas are still served read-only.
- Restoration
- Archived domains can be restored after paying a restoration fee
- Recycle
- Domain or namespace is deleted and the name becomes available again
⚠️Warning
Namespace recycling means ALL domains under that namespace are deleted, and the namespace name re-enters the pool. Domain recycling means only that specific domain is deleted.
Community Domains (Free Tier)
Community domains under com.* are checked for usage annually.
Active
Domain is in use. Normal operation.
1 Year — Unused
Domain has received zero API calls for 12 months.
30-Day Notice
Owner receives a recycle notice. Click the confirmation button in your account or make 1 API call to reset the timer.
No Response → Recycled
Domain is deleted. The name becomes available for anyone to claim.
Partner Namespaces (Non-Payment)
When a partner namespace lease goes unpaid, the lifecycle affects all domains under it.
Active
Namespace lease is current. All domains operational.
30-Day Notice
Namespace lease is overdue. Owner receives an archive notice. Pay the lease to stop the process.
Archived
All domains under the namespace are archived. Schemas served read-only. Restoration fee available.
Archive Period Expires → 30-Day Recycle Notice
Pay the restoration fee to stop recycling.
No Response → Recycled
Entire namespace and all schemas are deleted. Name re-enters the pool.
Premium Archive Extensions
Shorter (more valuable) namespace names get longer archive windows before recycling:
| Namespace Length | Archive Period |
|---|---|
| 6+ characters | 1 year |
| 4 characters | 2 years |
| 3 characters | 3 years |
| 2 characters | 4 years |
This ensures continuity for high-value namespaces, giving owners more time to restore.
Partner Domains (Pro/Enterprise Non-Payment)
Individual domain tier fees (Pro or Enterprise) follow the same pattern. Free-tier domains are exempt — they are tied to the namespace payment.
Active
Domain tier fee is current.
30-Day Notice
Tier fee overdue. Owner receives an archive notice. Pay to stop.
Archived (1 Year)
Domain archived. Schema served read-only. Single-domain restoration fee available.
30-Day Recycle Notice
Pay restoration fee to stop recycling.
No Response → Recycled
Domain deleted. Name becomes available.
Institutional Domains
Institutional domains have two paths depending on their capacity tier:
Pro tier (free with institutional namespace) — checked annually for usage:
Active
Domain is in use.
1 Year — Unused
No API calls for 12 months.
30-Day Notice
Use the domain to stop archival.
Archived (1 Year)
Schema served read-only.
30-Day Recycle Notice
Use the domain to stop recycling.
No Response → Recycled
Domain deleted.
Enterprise tier (paid upgrade) — follows the same flow as Partner Domain Pro/Enterprise non-payment above.
Restoration Fees
Archived namespaces and domains can be restored by paying a restoration fee. The rationale: we keep the infrastructure running for you — schemas are served read-only, storage is maintained, and the name is reserved. You pay to regain access and control.
Fee Formula
The restoration fee scales linearly per month of archival:
Restoration Fee = €20 × Months Archived × Letter-Count Modifier
- €20 / month — flat infrastructure cost for keeping schemas served read-only, storage maintained, and the name reserved.
- Months Archived — linear scaling. The longer the lapse, the higher the fee. 3 months = €60 base, 18 months = €360 base.
- Letter-Count Modifier — shorter namespace names carry higher restoration costs:
| Namespace Length | Modifier | Example (12 months archived) |
|---|---|---|
| 6+ characters | ×1 | €20 × 12 × 1 = €240 |
| 5 characters | ×5 | €20 × 12 × 5 = €1,200 |
| 4 characters | ×10 | €20 × 12 × 10 = €2,400 |
| 3 characters | ×20 | €20 × 12 × 20 = €4,800 |
| 2 characters | ×40 | €20 × 12 × 40 = €9,600 |
ℹ️Note
After 60 months (5 years) of archival with no restoration, the domain enters the Long-Term Sunset Process. Restoration is no longer available — the public notice period begins.
- Single-domain restoration — calculated per domain based on its tier and tag/field count
- Namespace restoration — covers all domains. This is a significant sum as it implies restoring all domains under the namespace
Long-Term Sunset Process (5-Year Rule)
After 5 years of archival with no restoration:
Year 5 — Public Notice
A 1-year public notice is posted on domains.younndai.com
Year 5–6 — Notice Period
Anyone who depends on the schemas may come forward.
Year 6 — Decision
If no one comes forward → namespace deleted, name re-enters the pool. If consumers come forward → archive stays permanently (promise honored).
Self-Hosted Registry Mirrors
Organizations with air-gapped, low-latency, or compliance-driven environments may operate self-hosted mirrors of the registry.
- Requires a YounndAI Domains Enterprise License
- Pricing: Contact us to discuss your needs
- Full mirror requirements are defined in the YON specification
ℹ️Note
Self-hosted mirrors serve the same schemas as the public registry. They sync on a configurable schedule and support offline operation.