My own "WHOIS Guard"

Unknown · 05-31-2009, 09:07 PM

I recently began my own domain registering business as a reseller with Enom. I saw that they offer ID(whois) protection for $6 and was wondering if it was possible/legal to create my own ID(whois) protection service with my own database and charge something like $1.99 for my customers.

From my understanding, all ID/whois protection is just simply putting a valid email/phone/address that is reachable. So I would put my company's email/phone/address and if an email comes regarding that domain I just simply forward it to the email we have in our records for that domain.

Is this legal, plausible or am I just thinking too much.

DebacleX · 05-31-2009, 09:12 PM

As far as I know, this is the only thing that normal WhoIS protectors do - but do not quote me on that one heh.

Jaco · 05-31-2009, 09:14 PM

I'm actually kinda surprised that someone hasn't tried a cheaper, external whois protection service.

Of course, I'd bet the registrars would immediately compensate for such a service in their own TOS and it would be rendered useless PDQ, but might be worth a shot.

Albert · 05-31-2009, 09:31 PM

Safety?! With the email address of another company(Whois Guard) on my domain. They can easily fake as me and steal my domains with password recover from domain registrar.

Unknown · 05-31-2009, 09:53 PM

You registered the domain with the company and asked for WHOIS protection. You have to obviously trust the company to register a domain with them and then request ID protection.

Originally Posted by Albert

Safety?! With the email address of another company(Whois Guard) on my domain. They can easily fake as me and steal my domains with password recover from domain registrar.

DebacleX · 05-31-2009, 09:57 PM

What you could do:

Have people, that email you in concern to a domain, insert the domain in question, then you can go to that specific file and email them, and they can choose to have you email back, or they can do it from their personal email.

Unknown · 05-31-2009, 10:19 PM

Thats the plan. A step further would be have a script create a psuedo email account (e.g. domain2sdf@company.com) that forwards to the domain owner's real email.

But until we get a substantial number of domains registered, I'm just going to do it manually with a single email account.

Originally Posted by Jacob N

What you could do:
????: NamePros.com http://www.namepros.com/business-development/586963-my-own-whois-guard.html

Have people, that email you in concern to a domain, insert the domain in question, then you can go to that specific file and email them, and they can choose to have you email back, or they can do it from their personal email.

Smith · 06-01-2009, 07:15 AM

enjoy the lawsuits.

SeanPreston · 06-01-2009, 07:18 AM

If legal it could VERY easily be done, if you created emails that simply "Catched-all", you could even have it where as it replies automatically with a form so that they can contact you directly, however the email system could work just aswell (you mya get a lot of mail though)

You would also need to read other Whois Guard's TOS very carefully to see how they act on events such as people contacting you for the owners details.

Sean

Unknown · 06-01-2009, 08:45 AM

Originally Posted by Smith

enjoy the lawsuits.

Thanks for being so informative. Is this something you pulled outa your hat(or another 3 letter word)? If you have any details on its legality that would be appreciated

@Sean Preston

Its very feasible, and making extra cash dosen't hurt. My only concern is the legality of it, I havn't looked at the TOS yet, but I don't see why it would be illegal.

Originally Posted by SeanPreston

If legal it could VERY easily be done, if you created emails that simply "Catched-all", you could even have it where as it replies automatically with a form so that they can contact you directly, however the email system could work just aswell (you mya get a lot of mail though)
????: NamePros.com http://www.namepros.com/showthread.php?t=586963

You would also need to read other Whois Guard's TOS very carefully to see how they act on events such as people contacting you for the owners details.

Sean

samuelhr · 06-01-2009, 08:53 AM

I'm in the process of building a similar service, with a massive variety of extra features that'll be free to all registered users. The "basic way" it works is you automatically create domainname.com@freewhois.org and forward all emails to the real email address of the registered owner, that's the bottom line of whoisguard type services, obviously more features are a plus

abdussamad · 06-01-2009, 10:28 AM

directi offers free privacy protection so if enom is too expensive for you just transfer out. As far as starting your own privacy protection front goes I think the administrative and legal costs are going to be a pain. So its not as simple as running a forwarding service. I also think your going to have to get a real privacy policy so that you can assure your customers that you won't be reading their mail.

Edit: What happens when a domain you protect does something illegal like spam? You get a whole lot of crap headed your way. Just one example of the headache your going to get.

Unknown · 06-01-2009, 10:41 AM

If I was to transfer as a reseller to another registrar it would be for cheaper domain registration, not free whois protection. I'm with enom now because I have an $8.45 account, can't find anything cheaper with a low deposit.

I could see the spam becoming an issue with the email idea, thats where a good script that sends email directly to the underlying email comes handy.

My company is only just starting, so we have very few domains that we would need to manage emails for, so the email approach might be good for the first few domains we register.

Originally Posted by abdussamad

directi offers free privacy protection so if enom is too expensive for you just transfer out. As far as starting your own privacy protection front goes I think the administrative and legal costs are going to be a pain. So its not as simple as running a forwarding service. I also think your going to have to get a real privacy policy so that you can assure your customers that you won't be reading their mail.
????: NamePros.com http://www.namepros.com/showthread.php?t=586963

Edit: What happens when a domain you protect does something illegal like spam? You get a whole lot of crap headed your way. Just one example of the headache your going to get.

**Dave Zan** · 06-01-2009, 07:54 PM

Originally Posted by Unknown

If you have any details on its legality that would be appreciated

Just to give an idea of what legal issue to expect:
????: NamePros.com http://www.namepros.com/showthread.php?t=586963

Registrar Sued Because of Cybersquatter Using Whois Privacy Service | Domain Name News

You need not necessarily worry, though.

happyhappy · 06-01-2009, 08:10 PM

OTT;
This could be thrown at any registrar that offers privacy protection right? Wouldn't it of been easier to have your lawyer to write a nice written letter stating... "We believe you are protecting a domain that has been potentially stolen from our client. If this is not resolved in 72 hours we will then file a law suit" ?

Unknown: I think this would be valuable for a very low price

Originally Posted by Dave Zan

Just to give an idea of what legal issue to expect:

Registrar Sued Because of Cybersquatter Using Whois Privacy Service | Domain Name News
????: NamePros.com http://www.namepros.com/showthread.php?t=586963

You need not necessarily worry, though.

**Dave Zan** · 06-01-2009, 09:02 PM

Originally Posted by happyhappy

This could be thrown at any registrar that offers privacy protection right?

Sure. It's been long established in the U.S. that anyone can sue anybody for anything, whether it's valid or not.
????: NamePros.com http://www.namepros.com/showthread.php?t=586963

I'm just giving Unknown something to consider. Ultimately, though, Unknown will decide whether such a venture is feasible or not.

On the side, I'm still pondering whether to finally release my own to the public. Still working out the devil in the details, especially the liability issues.

happyhappy · 06-02-2009, 08:13 PM

Understandable

nothing has changed sue if you got the money LOL

Originally Posted by Dave Zan

Sure. It's been long established in the U.S. that anyone can sue anybody for anything, whether it's valid or not.

I'm just giving Unknown something to consider. Ultimately, though, Unknown will decide whether such a venture is feasible or not.
????: NamePros.com http://www.namepros.com/showthread.php?t=586963

On the side, I'm still pondering whether to finally release my own to the public. Still working out the devil in the details, especially the liability issues.

Unknown · 07-18-2009, 10:53 AM

This is an old thread, but I thought I would update it:

I created a WHOIS Protection Service that can be used by domain resellers via an API.

for more details visit JivenWho.com - Home

happyhappy · 07-18-2009, 03:35 PM

I just saw it a few min ago.. think I will test it out.. Thanks for the update

Originally Posted by Unknown

This is an old thread, but I thought I would update it:

I created a WHOIS Protection Service that can be used by domain resellers via an API.
????: NamePros.com http://www.namepros.com/showthread.php?t=586963

for more details visit JivenWho.com - Home

Unknown · 07-18-2009, 08:53 PM

If you need any help, send me a PM or post on the support forum at JivenWho.com • Index page

Theres also an API Documentation and a premade WHMCS Mod

JivenWho.com - Documentation

thewebhostingdir · 08-21-2009, 12:47 AM

Most registrars offers privacy protection free of cost now. name.com, resellerclub.com are one of them.

uliss · 09-14-2009, 12:56 AM

Originally Posted by Unknown

Thanks for being so informative. Is this something you pulled outa your hat(or another 3 letter word)? If you have any details on its legality that would be appreciated
????: NamePros.com http://www.namepros.com/showthread.php?t=586963

.

It's not big deal!

Whois openess is the ICANN's requirement to Registrar, you're not. Also, when registrar started providing whois protection, ICANN kept quiet. What are they supposed to deal with your case now?

05-31-2009, 09:07 PM	THREAD STARTER #1 (permalink)
Unknown NamePros Regular Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: IL Posts: 657	My own "WHOIS Guard" I recently began my own domain registering business as a reseller with Enom. I saw that they offer ID(whois) protection for $6 and was wondering if it was possible/legal to create my own ID(whois) protection service with my own database and charge something like $1.99 for my customers. From my understanding, all ID/whois protection is just simply putting a valid email/phone/address that is reachable. So I would put my company's email/phone/address and if an email comes regarding that domain I just simply forward it to the email we have in our records for that domain. Is this legal, plausible or am I just thinking too much.

06-01-2009, 10:28 AM	#12 (permalink)
abdussamad NamePros Regular Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Karachi Posts: 791	directi offers free privacy protection so if enom is too expensive for you just transfer out. As far as starting your own privacy protection front goes I think the administrative and legal costs are going to be a pain. So its not as simple as running a forwarding service. I also think your going to have to get a real privacy policy so that you can assure your customers that you won't be reading their mail. Edit: What happens when a domain you protect does something illegal like spam? You get a whole lot of crap headed your way. Just one example of the headache your going to get. __________________ site unblocker - Computer Hardware Last edited by abdussamad; 06-01-2009 at 10:29 AM. Reason: one more point

08-21-2009, 12:47 AM	#21 (permalink)
thewebhostingdir NamePros Regular Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 245	Most registrars offers privacy protection free of cost now. name.com, resellerclub.com are one of them. __________________ AccuWebHosting.Com - Low cost 1 GB RAM Windows VPS Hosting from $23/Month Brick7 Cars & Jobs

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05-31-2009, 09:12 PM	#2 (permalink)
DebacleX Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Newport, KY Posts: 1,445 Follow @debaclex	As far as I know, this is the only thing that normal WhoIS protectors do - but do not quote me on that one heh.

05-31-2009, 09:14 PM	#3 (permalink)
Jaco Account Closed Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Chicago, Illinois Posts: 1,442	I'm actually kinda surprised that someone hasn't tried a cheaper, external whois protection service. Of course, I'd bet the registrars would immediately compensate for such a service in their own TOS and it would be rendered useless PDQ, but might be worth a shot.

05-31-2009, 09:31 PM	#4 (permalink)
Albert Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Malaysia Posts: 1,141	Safety?! With the email address of another company(Whois Guard) on my domain. They can easily fake as me and steal my domains with password recover from domain registrar.

05-31-2009, 09:57 PM	#6 (permalink)
DebacleX Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Newport, KY Posts: 1,445 Follow @debaclex	What you could do: Have people, that email you in concern to a domain, insert the domain in question, then you can go to that specific file and email them, and they can choose to have you email back, or they can do it from their personal email.

06-01-2009, 07:15 AM	#8 (permalink)
Smith NamePros Regular Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 611	enjoy the lawsuits.

06-01-2009, 07:18 AM	#9 (permalink)
SeanPreston Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: UK Posts: 1,278	If legal it could VERY easily be done, if you created emails that simply "Catched-all", you could even have it where as it replies automatically with a form so that they can contact you directly, however the email system could work just aswell (you mya get a lot of mail though) You would also need to read other Whois Guard's TOS very carefully to see how they act on events such as people contacting you for the owners details. Sean

06-01-2009, 08:53 AM	#11 (permalink)
samuelhr Account Closed Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Stafford, England Posts: 227	I'm in the process of building a similar service, with a massive variety of extra features that'll be free to all registered users. The "basic way" it works is you automatically create domainname.com@freewhois.org and forward all emails to the real email address of the registered owner, that's the bottom line of whoisguard type services, obviously more features are a plus

07-18-2009, 10:53 AM	THREAD STARTER #18 (permalink)
Unknown NamePros Regular Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: IL Posts: 657	This is an old thread, but I thought I would update it: I created a WHOIS Protection Service that can be used by domain resellers via an API. for more details visit JivenWho.com - Home

07-18-2009, 08:53 PM	THREAD STARTER #20 (permalink)
Unknown NamePros Regular Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: IL Posts: 657	If you need any help, send me a PM or post on the support forum at JivenWho.com • Index page Theres also an API Documentation and a premade WHMCS Mod JivenWho.com - Documentation

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