Study Suggestion Number 5

[study-suggestion-response@xxxxxxxxx]

Submitted By:
[Redacted for privacy reasons]

Topic:
Does the current whois enable greater competition in the DNS industry? 

Hypothesis:
The whois at present, allows resellers and registrars to offer privacy 
services, which is an opportunity for these industry players to differentiate 
themselves on value (rather than reputation only). 

How the hypothesis could be falsified:
No resellers or registrars offer privacy services, or if they do, their 
customers don't use it or care. 

Utility:
The study could prove that removing the whois as it is - or building in an 
element of privacy at the registry level - will remove privacy services as a 
differentiator of service and thus reduce competition in this industry. 

Type of Study Needed:
Market analysis of registrants, resellers and registrars to see how many offer 
privacy services and if they use this to effectively differentiate themselves 
from others. 

Data that needs to be collected:
If you like the idea, I'll gladly assist to specify the research. 

Population to be surveyed:
Registrars and their customers (ie registrants and resellers). 

Sample Size:
1000's are available, 100 is necessary. 

Type of Analysis:
Do a statistically relevant number use privacy services to differentiate 
themselves from others? if yes, then this is a factor that encourages 
competition AND it is a service that is available (for and to privacy 
advocates), ie don't try to change it.