1) ICANN-Accredited Registrars and gTLD
Registries make Whois information available through multiple query-based
mechanisms, including web-based interfaces and a special network protocol
informally referred to as port-43 Whois. How do you obtain the Whois
information?
a. By submitting queries to a
Web-based interface
b. By submitting queries using special
tools, e.g., using port-43-based interface
c. By entering into bulk access licenses
with ICANN- accredited registrars.
d. By obtaining WHOIS data in bulk from an
entity that is not an ICANN-Accredited Registrar. Please specify the type of
entity.
e. Other (Please explain)
f. I don't know.
2) Are you getting this information directly
from an ICANN-Accredited Registrar [Provide a link] or gTLD Registry [Provide
a link]?
a. Yes
b. No.
c. I don't know
3) Do you routinely disseminate the obtained
Whois information to third parties (Yes/No/dont
know)?
3.1) If yes, do you
disseminate:
3.2)
a. individual WHOIS records
b. WHOIS records in bulk
c. Other (please explain)
d. Dont know
3.2) If you answered yes to Number 3, how
do you disseminate the obtained Whois information?
a) I operate a WHOIS proxy that is
available through port 43
b) I operate a WHOIS proxy that is
accessible through a web interface
c) Other (please specify)
d) Dont
know
4) Approximately how many Whois
queries/lookups do you perform on average per day?
a. Less than
10
b. 10-99
c. 100-1000
d. More than 1000
e. It varies too much to select the other
options: some days it is many (say, over 1000) and some days none
f. I don't know
5) Do you store the Whois
information? We print out hard
copies, but do not store them on the
computer.
a. Not at all
b. I cache queries for a short period
(less than a week)
c. I store it for longer periods such as
more than a week
6) Please indicate the general purposes of
your use of Whois data (you may select more than one item - choose as many
that apply)
a. For law enforcement by public
authorities
b. For intellectual property
enforcement by trademark/copyright holders or their designated
representatives
c. For development of commercial products
or services that facilitate law enforcement by public
authorities.
d. For development of commercial products
or services that facilitate intellectual property enforcement
e. For marketing purposes
f. For inter-registrar domain name
transfers
g. To facilitate spam
prevention
h. To operate a public information
service
i. Statistical research on domain name
registrations, Internet users, etc.
j. For resale of Whois information as an
information service
k. Other (please
explain)
7) Please provide a brief explanation
of your use, if any, of query-based Whois services. We conduct reverse whois
searches to determine if a cybersquatter has additional domain names
which infringe on our rights.
8) If you currently use Port 43 to
access WHOIS information, and such access were not available in the future,
what other source(s) would you use for such data?
N/A
9) If you were to use such alternate
source(s), what do you believe will be the effect on you or your
organization?
N/A
10) What is the most important factor
driving your access to Whois data as you currently use it? (Although each
answer may be applicable to you or your organization, please select only the
most relevant answer below):
a) the cost
b) the convenience or need for
immediate online access to contact information
c) other
Please explain your answer. Infringement is
commercially damaging and sometimes the material is also sensitive trade
secrets and needs to be addressed
immediately.