[ga] Report: Registrars & Steroids

[Danny Younger <dannyyounger@xxxxxxxxx>]

[Forwarded message]

Networks of steroid dealing domains are sponsored through U.S.-based
companies who refuse to shut them down even after being notified.

LegitScript.com and Knujon.com have worked together to develop a report
concerning extensive steroid distribution networks online. Steroids
designated by the Department of Justice as “Schedule 3 Substances”
were found at the 156 web domains listed in this report. The easy
availability of illicit substances through these domains is shocking.
Even more shocking is the lack of cooperation from the Registrars that
sponsor these sites. On July 1 we issued joint letters to eight
registrars: Abacus America, DSTR Acquisition VII, Dynadot.com, Everyones
Internet, eNom Inc, EstDomains Inc, GoDaddy/Wild West, and Parava
Networks Inc. In these letters we listed the websites, described the
banned substances offered at each, and detailed how these sites were
violating Internet policy, the Registrar’s own terms of service, and
the law. Only three Registrars responded, two declining to cooperate,
one stating they would look into it after several strong emails. A
letter to one Registrar, Parava Networks Inc, was returned by the Postal
Service as undeliverable, calling into question the general legitimacy
of this particular company.

While no one is accusing any of these Registrars of being actively
involved in the illicit distribution, it is a simple fact that none of
these sites would exist without the sponsorship of these Internet
companies. Some Registrars may feel their first obligation is to their
customers, but their real primary obligations are to the law and the
stability of the Internet registration system. Everyone who registers an
Internet domain is required to affirm that they “are not registering
the domain name for an unlawful purpose” and the Registrar is required
to ensure that this policy is enforced. For too long there has been a
false perception that the Internet is lawless, but it isn’t. The rules
are just not enforced and the stakeholders have been unaccountable.

Knujon and LegitScript feel that these Registrars also have a moral and
ethical responsibility to the public since the sale and distribution of
these illicit substances poses a grave health risk. These websites
purport to offer steroids to anyone without prescription or age
verification. It is our hope that in releasing this information public
awareness of the problem will increase.

The full Steroid Report is available here:
http://legitscript.com/Steroid%20Report.pdf

The press release is here:
http://legitscript.com/newsitems/show/10

A list of the Registrars, web domains in question, the substances
offered at each, and samples of the site content can be viewed here:
http://www.knujon.com/schedule3/dir.html

For more information, please contact:

John Horton
877-534-4879
LegitScript.com

Or

Dr. Robert Bruen
+1.802.579.6288
http://coldrain.net
http://knujon.com

Garth Bruen
gbruen@xxxxxxxxxx