GilbertMark
Premium
join:2001-05-02
Gilbert, AZ
 ·Cox HSI
| Domain name privacy
Are there any ICANN or other restrictions on using P.O. boxes for our domain contact info? I'd prefer not to have to list my true home address and I don't want to pay for domainsbyproxy.com any more since I own so many domain names now. I realize putting in a dummy address can lead to your domains being taken away, I'm just wondering how the powers that be feel about a P.O. box. |
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AmeritecTech
Change we can believe in, 1922
Premium
join:2002-09-06
00000 | No, must be a physical. PO's are not acceptable. You'll have to use Proxy if you want true protection. |
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Surpass
Premium
join:2004-10-01
Orlando, FL
| reply to GilbertMark
From the ICANN website:
Will my name and contact information become publicly available?
Information about who is responsible for domain names is publicly available to allow rapid resolution of technical problems and to permit enforcement of consumer protection, trademark, and other laws. The registrar will make this information available to the public on a "Whois" site. It is however possible to register a domain in the name of a third party, as long as they agree to accept responsibility -- ask your registrar for further details. Looks like you could hire yourself a "Domain Name Assistant" and use their address details since you're collecting a lot of domains.  This is essentially what using DomainsByProxy is. You're paying them to partly become responsible for getting in contact with you. Or you could have Joe down the street do the same thing if he doesn't have a problem with sharing his details on the net.
There is no reason consumers should have to post their home address. Any real address that is a valid means of contact should be enough. However, I can't find anything posted that directly mentions posting a P.O. box.
Anyhow, here's an interesting article about the good and bad of the Whois:
»www.eweek.com/article2/0,1895,2082346,00.asp
- Kayla |
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Surpass
Premium
join:2004-10-01
Orlando, FL | reply to AmeritecTech
Can you tell us where this rule is posted exactly? |
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AmeritecTech
Change we can believe in, 1922
Premium
join:2002-09-06
00000
| Pretty easy to Google, but:
With encouragement from stakeholders in the intellectual property arena,(9) ICANN has attempted to improve the quality of information in the Whois database. As law enforcers, we support the use of the proposed Registrar Accreditation Agreement (Accreditation Agreement) to elicit a more active role for registrars in ensuring that the Whois database contains accurate contact information.(10)
Several measures contained in the Accreditation Agreement are particularly noteworthy. One essential provision, paragraph II(J)(7), requires a registrar to collect contact information in a number of categories from an applicant for a domain name, and specifies that the applicant's willful failure to provide accurate information may result in the termination of the registration. From a law enforcement perspective, the most critical information gathered is the name and physical address of the domain name holder, which is necessary to identify an alleged wrongdoer and facilitate service of process.(11) »www.ftc.gov/os/1999/10/icann.htm
I have used this rule to get the domains of several spammer sorts deleted.
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"Independent thinkers tend to ALWAYS have someone Not agreeing with them. It's The non-thinkers that ALWAYS come in legions."
-John Callari |
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GilbertMark
Premium
join:2001-05-02
Gilbert, AZ
·Cox HSI
| Thanks all for the quick input here.
Maybe I'll go with a UPS post office box since they give a non p.o. box address. This is ridiculous when you think about it because LEOs could go to the P.O. or the UPS store and get their records via warrant if they had to to determine who rented the box.
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AmeritecTech
Change we can believe in, 1922
Premium
join:2002-09-06
00000 | That's just an extra layer they don't want to have to do, I guess. Anyway, it was useful for getting spammers deleted. |
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Surpass
Premium
join:2004-10-01
Orlando, FL
| reply to GilbertMark
The UPS mailbox sounds good to me. I was just looking for comments on how a P.O. box stacks up to a UPS box, and the only pro of the P.O. seems to be the cheaper price.
After seeing this comment, now even I want one:
"When I go to the post office I leave upset. When I go to the UPS Store I leave happy!"
At any rate, the chances of your domain name being blitzed are slim with either one. |
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decx
Premium
join:2002-06-07
Vancouver, BC
 ·Bell Sympatico
| Personally I think the requirement for the info is a bit much for personal users. It's fine way back when owners of domains were usually businesses and the prevalence of spammers/data skimmers were much lower. With the misuse of the WHOIS data of recent years, ICANN really should look at other approaches to protect it's registrants' info.
In the mean time, registrars gets to earn extra revenue by acting as proxy. IMO, this is one of the few areas 1and1 has got right. Despite their sometimes problematic customer service, they offer private domain registration included in their already low registration price. |
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GilbertMark
Premium
join:2001-05-02
Gilbert, AZ | 1 and 1 domains looks pretty good. Damn I'd save $45 a year transferring my .tv to them. |
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Brand0n
Premium
join:2007-01-31
Valencia, CA | reply to Surpass
UPS Boxes are the best... i have had one in every state i have lived in |
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