Whois Abused For Publicity?
Whois data has been talked about quite a bit over the last few months.
While there maybe valid reasons to hide who owns a domain via a proxy service of some kind outright abuse of the whois objects is a different matter.
While checking a domain earlier this evening I came across the oddest whois output I'd ever seen:
Domain name: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx.com Registrant Contact: xxxxxxxxxxxx.Com, POWERFUL WEB HOSTING - 20GB Disc - 500GB Tr NA NA (NA) NA Fax: HOST UNLIMITED DOMAINS *FREE* 1548 N Technology Way, #D13 Orem, UT 84097 US Administrative Contact: NA INC - ONLY 6.50 PER MONTH xxxxxxxxxxxx.Com (info@xxxxxxxxxxx) xxxxxxxxx Fax: xxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxx.Com, POWERFUL WEB HOSTING - 20GB Disc - 500GB Tr HOST UNLIMITED DOMAINS *FREE* Orem, UT 84097 US Technical Contact: NA INC - ONLY 6.50 PER MONTH xxxxx.Com (whois@xxxxx.com) xxxxxxxxxxx Fax: xxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxx.Com, POWERFUL WEB HOSTING - 20GB Disc - 500GB Tr HOST UNLIMITED DOMAINS *FREE* Orem, UT 84097 USI've removed the company name from the whois output, but you get the idea. Is this even allowed under the ICANN rules?
Nope this isn't allowed. If contact information isn't correct ICANN or the registrar can make the domain available for the public. I could be wrong but I believe I complaint will kill this domain.
Danny
I contacted the registrar in question and they will be in touch with the registrant. It seems the domain was transferred from a previous registrar with that data!
Michele