Whois -ICANN motions

["Sharon Groom" <Sharon.Groom@xxxxxxxxx>]

I am writing to say that I strongly support ICANN Motion 2 which means
that no changes will be made to Whois without more consideration. I am a
lawyer and find the Whois system invaluable in my practice. We use it
for the following reasons:
1. To find out who owns a particular domain name in the event of
suspected trade-mark infringement.
2. To find out if the party purporting to own a particular domain name
actually does, in instances where our client is buying the assets of
another party.
3. To find out who owns a domain name in the event that our client
wishes to purchase it. This information enables us to surmise whether it
seems to be owned by a person who collects domain names or by a company
that is actually intending on using it in business.
4. The owner information also enables us to "Google" the owner and find
out if they are a known "cyber-squatter" or a legitimate business person
prior to entering into negotiations.
5. It also enables us to easily ensure that our clients have registered
their own domain names in the appropriate company name. 
 
I do not think any of this is a breach of privacy. In the trade-mark
system, which is similar, the Trade-marks register shows the name and
address of the trade-mark owner for all to see. I do not see how the
ownership information for domain names is any different. In fact I wish
there was some way to search a domain name database to find all domain
names owned by a particular party as there is on the Trade-marks
registry. This would assist particularly in points 2 and 5 above.
 
In conclusion I think that the Whois registry information should be
expanded rather than contracted and that it should reflect the kind of
information, and type of search capabilities, found on most Trade-marks
registries around the world.
 
Thank you.
 
Sharon Groom
McMillan Binch Mendelsohn LLP
Brookfield Place, Suite 4400
Bay Wellington Tower, 181 Bay St.
Toronto, Ontario Canada
M5J 2T3
 
Direct Tel: 416 865-7152
Fax: 416 865-7048
E mail: sharon.groom@xxxxxxxxx <mailto:sharon.groom@xxxxxxxxx> 
 

This e-mail may contain confidential information and any rights to
privilege have not been waived.