Make sure your domain is in order

[Tina - AffordableHOST.com]

http://internetnews.com/xSP/article.php/3334181

ICANN is cracking down on WHOIS listings with incorrect contact information.
Normally they'll contact you by email, if at least the email address is
correct, and give you a chance to update. However, if you are using a
non-working email address (which I see ALL the time) - you won't even get a
warning before they de-activate your domain.

--Tina

 

[brucie]

in post: <

http://internetnews.com/xSP/article.php/3334181

ICANN is cracking down on WHOIS listings with incorrect contact information.
Normally they'll contact you by email, if at least the email address is
correct, and give you a chance to update. However, if you are using a
non-working email address (which I see ALL the time) - you won't even get a
warning before they de-activate your domain.

what kind of majics are they going to use to determine an email address
is dead or otherwise dodgy and therefore terminate the domain or that
the email just didn't get through a spam filter? what about people who
don't have a phone number? (like me)

 

[rfgdxm/Robert F. Golaszewski]

http://internetnews.com/xSP/article.php/3334181

ICANN is cracking down on WHOIS listings with incorrect contact
information. Normally they'll contact you by email, if at least the
email address is correct, and give you a chance to update. However,
if you are using a non-working email address (which I see ALL the
time) - you won't even get a warning before they de-activate your
domain.

Do you have a link to the ICANN rules as to the minimum information
required? It is logically quite possible to own a domain name, and even run
a website, without having a telephone or telephone number. A cable modem
would do such fine. As such, "none" for telephone number seems reasonable.
Name + a mailing address would seem essential. There may be a million people
named John Smith on this planet, however rare that 2 would share the same
physical street address. Thus these 2 pieces of data usually are sufficient
to nail down ownership. And some e-mail address is needed to contact the
domain name owner if needed. Little excuse for not having a valid e-mail,
given all the free e-mail services out there.

 

[Bill Logan]

http://internetnews.com/xSP/article.php/3334181

ICANN is cracking down on WHOIS listings with incorrect contact information.
Normally they'll contact you by email,

Not quite correct! ICANN does not contact you, they contact
the registrar with whom the name is registered and 'request'
them to investigate.

Important to mention also the rgistrars are not 'required'
to report back to ICANN on the status of their investigation
and in fact of all the requests to registrars only 36
percent were responded to!

if at least the email address is
correct, and give you a chance to update. However, if you are using a
non-working email address (which I see ALL the time) - you won't even get a
warning before they de-activate your domain.

Now there is a bit of scare mongering Tina. Where on earth
in that article (or elsewhere for that matter) did you find
that they will deactivate your domain without warning?

While the there is some logic in the idea that a registrant
provide legitimate contact details the article itself is
really instigated by the frustration of the Federal Trade
Commissioner J. Howard Beales III, director of the Bureau Of
Consumer Protection
who is unable to track down and prosecute fraudsters. A
couple of points spring to mind.
1. Even with accurate contact details they would only be
able to arrest and charge those who are resident in the US.
2. The article adds to the case for removal of ICANN to a
jurisdiction more International and less parochial than the
US
3. Change the title of the FTC to Federal Trade Commissarr
J. Howard Beales III, director of the PolitiBureau Of
Consumer Protection and it would sound like a communist
plot. (Is that the way the west is going? In disguise???)

Your post got my attention by the implications within it.
Thus I scrambled to read the linked article. It was a little
bit like the police rushing through the streets calling out
the Russians are comming (with all the fear that would
generate) - when in reality the Moscow circus is about to
perform.

Sugest you lighten up on the prophecies of doom!

 

[rfgdxm/Robert F. Golaszewski]

what kind of majics are they going to use to determine an email
address is dead or otherwise dodgy and therefore terminate the domain
or that the email just didn't get through a spam filter?

What if the site owner got in an auto accident and was in a coma at the
time? Or on a year long around the world vacation where they didn't have
access to a computer? Imagine at the domain name is a site about ancient
Greek history. The owner has paid up the domain name for 10 years, and also
paid up for hosting for years. Basically, their idea was to put up the site
as an information resource, and forget about it for quite a while.

what about
people who don't have a phone number? (like me)

I posted about this possibility at the same minute you posted the above.
A phone number is NOT needed in the least to run a website. Or, maintain
one. If hypothetical someone filed a challenge to the domain name based on
trademark infringement, the matter could be totally handled by e-mail and
snail mail.

 

[Luigi Donatello Asero]

What if the site owner got in an auto accident and was in a coma at the
time? Or on a year long around the world vacation where they didn't have
access to a computer? Imagine at the domain name is a site about ancient
Greek history. The owner has paid up the domain name for 10 years, and also
paid up for hosting for years. Basically, their idea was to put up the site
as an information resource, and forget about it for quite a while.


I posted about this possibility at the same minute you posted the above.
A phone number is NOT needed in the least to run a website. Or, maintain
one. If hypothetical someone filed a challenge to the domain name based on
trademark infringement, the matter could be totally handled by e-mail and
snail mail.

Is the postadress ( not e-mail) enough too? If you register a domain
through your host is the host responsible to give correct adress
information?

 

[Bill Logan]

"rfgdxm/Robert F. Golaszewski"
...

Do you have a link to the ICANN rules as to the minimum information
required?

There is no minimum stipulated by ICANN.
What ICANN does stipulate is that the information provided
must be accurate. False information can be grounds for
cancellation.
Two points here.
1. Not providing a phone number does not breach the rules.
Providing a number which does not exists, or belongs to
someone else would be.
2. ICANN states providing false information could be grounds
for cancellation. It does not say it will be grounds. In
other words they may or may not cancell.


It is logically quite possible to own a domain name, and
even run

a website, without having a telephone or telephone number. A cable modem
would do such fine. As such, "none" for telephone number seems reasonable.
Name + a mailing address would seem essential. There may be a million people
named John Smith on this planet, however rare that 2 would share the same
physical street address. Thus these 2 pieces of data usually are sufficient
to nail down ownership. And some e-mail address is needed to contact the
domain name owner if needed. Little excuse for not having a valid e-mail,
given all the free e-mail services out there.

You are quite correct. Under ICANNs rules providing an
accurate physical street address would meet their
requirements for ownership contact. (It may not meet a
registrars agreement who may 'require' an email address)

 

[Tina - AffordableHOST.com]

If you register a domain

through your host is the host responsible to give correct adress
information?

The registrant (you) is responsible for their domains. You should always
make sure you know who is listed on all domain contacts as well as the
contact information. Always make sure your domain is under your control.
Don't depend on anyone else to do it for you.

--Tina

 

[Richard]

in post: <"Tina - AffordableHOST.com" <[email protected]> said:

what kind of majics are they going to use to determine an email address
is dead or otherwise dodgy and therefore terminate the domain or that
the email just didn't get through a spam filter? what about people who
don't have a phone number? (like me)

I don't have a phone either so I use the host's phone number.
ICANN says that's fine.
As a matter of fact, they even said I didn't have to list a phone.

 

[Richard]

http://internetnews.com/xSP/article.php/3334181

ICANN is cracking down on WHOIS listings with incorrect contact
information. Normally they'll contact you by email, if at least the email
address is correct, and give you a chance to update. However, if you are
using a non-working email address (which I see ALL the time) - you won't
even get a warning before they de-activate your domain.

If they can't contact you via e-mail, they should be able to find out who
your host is and contact them.
Then if the addy isn't valid, how about snail mail to the address listed?
If that fails, then the domain should be toasted.
Giving a 5 day notice doesn't always cut it.
As many people are away from home for long periods, such as truckers, and
may not have access to e-mail.
Or you go on vacation for a month, come home and find your domain name
toasted because you didn't respond to the mail.

What about those that list ifnormation to a third party?

Just how picky are they getting?

 

[Grahammer]

If they can't contact you via e-mail, they should be able to find out who
your host is and contact them.
Then if the addy isn't valid, how about snail mail to the address listed?
If that fails, then the domain should be toasted.
Giving a 5 day notice doesn't always cut it.
As many people are away from home for long periods, such as truckers, and
may not have access to e-mail.
Or you go on vacation for a month, come home and find your domain name
toasted because you didn't respond to the mail.

What about those that list ifnormation to a third party?

Just how picky are they getting?

Uhm... if you have an important domain why wouldn't you want ICANN to have
decent contact information? If the domain is so important that it can't go
down you obviously should have some method of contact like a cell phone,
etc.

 

[Toby A Inkster]

There may be a million people named John Smith on this planet, however
rare that 2 would share the same physical street address.

Which is more likely?

- Two John Smith's live at the same physical address; or
- Two John Smith's live next door to each other.

I would say the first is far more likely. (Think father and son, or even
grandfather and grandson.)

 

[William Tasso]

Now there is a bit of scare mongering Tina.
...
Sugest you lighten up on the prophecies of doom!

Now, where's the fun in that?

 

[rfgdxm/Robert F. Golaszewski]

Which is more likely?

- Two John Smith's live at the same physical address; or
- Two John Smith's live next door to each other.

I would say the first is far more likely. (Think father and son, or
even grandfather and grandson.)

Then shouldn't it be Sr. and Jr., or John Smith II?

 

[Matt Probert]

Now, where's the fun in that?

Heck, they'll be calling for a ban on mud-wrestling next (which
reminds me, when's the next Heidi-Tina bout?) or worse still banning
tea drinking!

Matt

 

[Matt Probert]

Then shouldn't it be Sr. and Jr., or John Smith II?
--

Not in the UK, we don't use terms such as "junior" or 1st 2nd (unless
talking about royalty)

Matt

 

[Charles Sweeney]

Not in the UK, we don't use terms such as "junior" or 1st 2nd (unless
talking about royalty)

My Father and Grandfather have the same name as me. So if I was American, I
suppose I would be called "Chuck the Third"!

You're right, not something we go for in Britain.

 

[Brad H]

Uhm... if you have an important domain why wouldn't you want ICANN to have
decent contact information? If the domain is so important that it can't go
down you obviously should have some method of contact like a cell phone,
etc.

Yeah, but there is the privacy issue. Some people want to remain anonymous
which I can understand. If the law is being broken and can be proven in
court just pull the plug on their url. Then again, what if the site is
potentially harmful to peoples health...well maybe registering with
authentic information is not so bad if their can be a guarantee of
protection from the Patriot Act prying into our lives without needing a
subpoena. Until I feel protected from every dumb-ass and or FBI agent that
wants to pry without a damn good reason, I prefer anonymity. privacy
related: http://www.securityfocus.com/columnists/187

 

[Brad H]

Yeah, but there is the privacy issue. Some people want to remain anonymous
which I can understand. If the law is being broken and can be proven in
court just pull the plug on their url. Then again, what if the site is
potentially harmful to peoples health...well maybe registering with
authentic information is not so bad if their can be a guarantee of
protection from the Patriot Act prying into our lives without needing a
subpoena. Until I feel protected from every dumb-ass and or

Okay I guess they need subpoenas but you get the gist.

 

[Eric Bohlman]

Then shouldn't it be Sr. and Jr., or John Smith II?

George Herbert Walker Bush
George Walker Bush

If the middle names are different, there's no ordinal designator. And not
everybody uses their middle name or initial in contact information.