Whatis Happening to Whois?

[Doctor Q]

The chairman of the International Trademark Association (INTA) writes about the accuracy problems in the WHOIS system (the database of registration information for top-level domains).

link
(The link has "membersonly" in the URL but it doesn't seem to be true!)

All registrars of domain names in the generic top-level domain (including .com, .net, and .org) are required by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) to provide a publicly accessible, searchable online database of domain name owners’ names and postal addresses. This database, Whois, is used by trademark owners, law enforcement officials, consumers and others for a wide variety of purposes.

A common problem with Whois is that domain name owners – particularly those with fraudulent intentions – do not provide accurate information when registering a domain name. Others submit incomplete or inaccurate information because they believe that there should be an inherent right to keep one’s identity private. Such controversies have swirled around Whois issues for several years, and ICANN, the U.S. Congress and other nations are now taking a closer look.

Starting November 12, 2004, two new regulations go into effect:

1. If your domain name is deleted due to inaccurate information or because you do not respond to questions from the registar, you cannot reclaim the domain name without supplying accurate information.

2. The data may not be distributed for "marketing activities".

A task force is considering additional measures, such as only allowing tiered access (limited public access), notifying registrants when their data is retrieved, requiring less information of registrants, having registrars verify the data they collect, and the imposing of new sanctions for violations of the rules.

Privacy vs. accountability is a tough issue!

 

[12ibookg4]

the whois is used too often by spammers. for example, i just registered a new domain name about a week ago and i filled in my real information. within two days i was getting junk mail telling me how i could make money from my new website and also how to get cheap pills and porn. i had never gotten any junk mail before on that email address but once i registered it with my new domain, i started getting lots. so i changed my registration contact info to an email alias so i could shut it off if it got out of hand and i changed my address to 123 Fake Street and my phone number so i wouldn't get any telemarketers or snail junk mail. even though the whois says that the info can't be used by spamers doesn't mean it won't