Re: [gnso-rap-dt] WHOIS availability

["Mike O'Connor" <mike@xxxxxxxxxx>]

hi Greg,

i'll join your detective gang.  :-)

mikey


On Nov 16, 2009, at 11:43 AM, Greg Aaron wrote:

> Dear WG:
>
> I have a uniformity of contracts item I'd like to look into.  It is  
> also a WHOIS issue, but it is directly relevant to our examinations  
> of registration abuse topics, and avoids duplication of the current  
> GNSO study efforts regarding WHOIS.  I therefore think it's in scope  
> for RAPWG, and am happy to hear your thoughts.
> As you know, WHOIS is a vital tool when examining reports of  
> malicious use.  In "thick" registries, the registry contains the  
> contact data, and provides authoritative WHOIS information.  But in  
> the "thin" .COM/.NET registry, the contact data is held by the  
> registrars.  Abuse statistics show us that a significant portion of  
> the malicious activity on the Internet takes place on .COM/.NET  
> domains and nameservers, and so the accessibility of .COM/.NET WHOIS  
> contact data is vitally important.
> Registry operators are contractually required to meet WHOIS Service  
> Level Agreements (SLAs) -- ensuring that their WHOIS services are up  
> for a certain amount of time each month, and respond at a certain  
> minimum speed.  However, registrars have no WHOIS SLA requirements.   
> (See section 3.3 of the RAA at: http://www.icann.org/en/registrars/ra-agreement-21may09-en.htm 
>  )
> In my professional work, I sometimes come upon registrars who do not  
> appear to meet their existing contractual requirements, or whose  
> WHOIS services appear to be functional only part of the time.  This  
> is anecdotal.  I would therefore like to quantify the issues by  
> seeing how a representative set of registrars make WHOIS available.   
> Would anyone like to join me in this work?
> All comments appreciated.
>
> With best wishes,
> --Greg
>
>
> **********************************
> Greg Aaron
> Director, Key Account Management and Domain Security
> Afilias
> vox: +1.215.706.5700
> fax: 1.215.706.5701
> gaaron@xxxxxxxxxxxx
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