Changes to WHOIS

[Ken Taylor TMIS <ken@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

To Whom It May Concern.

We are a firm of Trade Mark Investigators in Australia and New Zealand who
specialise in registration and deregistration , background investigations
and anti counterfeiting. We run Brand Protection Programs for many well
known global brands.

The current access to WHOIS records is an essential part of the ability of
trade mark owners to determine the use, the identity of the user and the
location of persons behind domain names. This information is essential for
the registration/deregistration of trade marks, the identification and
communication with persons involved in misuse of trade marks and the support
of law enforcement agencies globally to deal with individuals who do not
respect the rights of others.

The information available at the moment is essential to good order and audit
on the www and any reduction  or cessation in the availability of that
information will allow infringers and criminals carte blanche to abuse the
internet and make it a less respected and trustworthy platform than it is
today.

The current system in place in respect of WHOIS is an important audit on the
system and the individuals who use. The honest have nothing to fear and we
have all been using the current system without compromise.

I urge you not to restrict or abolish the current WHOIS system.

Regards

Ken Taylor
Managing Director
Trademark Investigation Services
Australia.