public display of Whois information

[anitamarlin@xxxxxxxxxxx]

Dear Telnic and Mr. Twomey:
 
I?m writing to voice my objection to the proposal to restrict public access to 
the WhoIs data.  To launch these proposed changes would give trademark 
infringers and pirates of intellectual property the upper hand, and place an 
even greater burden of enforcement on the rightful brand owner.  
 
If it is necessary for private Registrars to increase revenue, then it would be 
more beneficial to rightful trademark owners if Registrars were to raise the 
cost of a domain registration, especially a <.com> domain, to a level that 
would help to deter third party infringers from registering them in the first 
place.  
 
If the WhoIs data is restricted from public access, then it will be important 
for ICANN to take steps to restrict repeat offenders.  For example, those with 
3 or more UDRP decisions against them should be prohibited from filing any new 
domain registrations worldwide for a year.  Without any regulation in place, it 
becomes unduly burdensome on law abiding corporations and public persons to 
track down infringers and stop them, while the identity of the infringing party 
is cloaked in secrecy and there is no penalty for their actions. 

Sincerely,

Anita Marlin
Belmont, California
U.S.A.