How does a blockchain change this in any meaningful way?

I don't know how people that suggest using a blockchain would design or already designed the whole system, but maybe you know. If the owner looses access to it's private key is there any way to transfer or expire the domain? If not, you end up having domains that nobody can use.

Yeah, that's sort of my point. Blockchains make things more rigid when dealing with these types of cases. With a central authority, you can appeal to the humans that run it, you can take them to court if need be.

Yes sorry, I totally agree. I realized just now that I got confused with indentation and assumed that the comment I was originally replying to was saying that it doesn't make sense to pay a recurrent fee for a domain. While instead he was saying that it doesn't make sense to use a blockchain, and I agree on this. Unfortunately seems that I can't edit my original comment to fix the misunderstanding.

A blockchain could have a mechanism for the domain name to expire unless renewed. For example Handshake [0] does have exactly that.

[0] https://handshake.org/

> With the current system the domain will be eventually available again.

Why is that a problem? Do you even understand how physical property IRL is owned at a legal or philosophical level?

This is a problem because you risk having domains that nobody can use anymore.

Edit: as I wrote in another comment, I got confused with indentation and assumed that the comment I was replying to was saying that it doesn't make sense to have a recurring fee for domains. I'm sorry. I do agree that a blockchain isn't a good alternative.

Don't forget to pay your government taxes, or you'll quickly find out just how far "ownership" goes.

Because your cloud data is secured by your email address in 99% of cases

Or phone. How does a blockchain change this?