DomainTools Selling Past/Present Domain(s) Registrant Information: Good or Bad?

[bliss]

http://www.domaintools.com/registrant-search/?&and[]=onic+designs
I could go more into detail, doing a search on my name would produce all the domains I owned or even my main email listed on the domains.

I do not mind ICANN having this information, but for third parties or anyone else to be able to buy it, this gives them enough information about me and what I own, phone, address, email to be able to do some damage (maybe).

What do you think about domaintools selling our information? Personally I think it comes close to violation of our privacy rights. Yes, I know register by proxy or register with whois protection.

*but* I think ICANN should put rules into place where only them and the place you registered domains should have this information. What type of laws is this breaking if any? They are storing and selling identifiable information about people.

Do you think we should be able to request the information be removed? Do they already do that for us? Should we be able to request for free the reports about ourself? Would be nice, but would it be legally do able?

I would like to read your view over this issue.

.

 

[XJ]

I find these actions of DomainTools unacceptable, it's as simple as that.

 

[Name Trader]

It sucks big time.

 

[npcomplete]

and expensive too... about $500 to snoop.

I just used the free version on myself... and all of my recent registrations start with "x". Pretty sure I can guess the second letter, even though it is masked out. Here is a big hint: "n" :hehe:

I guess it is kind of easy to see when I switch obsessions.

Marc

 

[accent]

Information equals power yields abuse.

Just as soon as some stalker gets his information from Domaintools and does some serious damage a lawsuit will close this stupidity down.

A shame that it will probably take someone getting hurt, but that is our "I'll do it untill someone stops me" culture.

 

[gwkg]

Whats the difference if someone knows how many domains you own? As for your personal information being for sale, its available via whois for free anyway.

You can't buy a house and keep your name out of the public record. Is owning a piece of property on the internet that much different? As least with a domain name you can buy some measure of privacy for $5 bucks.

As far as the stalker scenario goes, what information is available via domain tools that isn't available in the phone book or at the county court house?

I do agree that you should be entitled to your own information for free.

 

[Keral_Patel]

I think it sucks. Don't know why but I hate the idea of someone making money on this thing.

 

[dnk]

Not a good idea

 

[DotUSDomains]

424 domains for $213

Sucks big time

 

[dnb8]

At last I know how many domains I own hehe

 

[htmlindex]

I think it sucks as well & should be stopped. It is a violation of people's privacy.

 

[gwkg]

What privacy? If you want privacy it is offered at every registrar.

Maybe I am missing something. What, exactly, is everyone complaining about? That domain tools lets someone see all the domains that you own, or that people can find the contact information of a domain owner in general using any whois (not just domaintools.com)

 

[Dave_Z]

It's arising probably from this:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Privacy

Privacy is the ability of an individual or group to seclude information about themselves and thereby reveal themselves selectively.

Question for some folks, though: has anyone guaranteed privacy to begin with,
especially online and those you hardly have full control over?

Oh boy, here we go again...

 

[PowerUp]

Whats the difference if someone knows how many domains you own? As for your personal information being for sale, its available via whois for free anyway.

You can't buy a house and keep your name out of the public record. Is owning a piece of property on the internet that much different? As least with a domain name you can buy some measure of privacy for $5 bucks.

As far as the stalker scenario goes, what information is available via domain tools that isn't available in the phone book or at the county court house?

I do agree that you should be entitled to your own information for free.

This is the difference.
With a normal whois lookup, you need to come up with the name of the domain to find out the registrant info.
With domaintools lookup, you come up with the name of the domain, find out the registrant info plus all other domains the same registrant owns.

So, you come up with 1 domain, and domain tools tells you this guy owns another 369 other domains and shows you which other names he owns.

 

[gwkg]

This is the difference.
With a normal whois lookup, you need to come up with the name of the domain to find out the registrant info.
With domaintools lookup, you come up with the name of the domain, find out the registrant info plus all other domains the same registrant owns.

So, you come up with 1 domain, and domain tools tells you this guy owns another 369 other domains and shows you which other names he owns.

Why is that such an evil, horrible thing? Its public information. Someone can find out every house you own, too. Or every business license your name is on. Or every car registered in your name. At least with domains, privacy is offered when you buy them. If you don't want it, or accept it, then how can you complain when you don't have it.

And I've yet to hear an argument on how it is such a bad thing that someone can pay to see all the domains you own. Tell me why I should care. Explain to me the horrible situation I will one day find myself in because someone can pay $500 to see all the domains that I own.

Here is at least one case where its a good thing:

If I have a brand or trademark to protect and I find Joe Blow squatting, or otherwise infringing on my mark, I can use Domain Tools to see if this is just a one time mistake, or if this is a known pattern. If it is a pattern, or if I can show that this persons entire business plan is based on trademark infringement, I'd have a much better reason (and case) to go to court.

And it's not like this service is free, or even cheap. It's priced out of a casual domain browsers budget. So in reality, not everyone is actually able to find out every domain that you own - only people with a few hundred spare dollars.

 

[Seabass]

Why is that such an evil, horrible thing? Its public information. Someone can find out every house you own, too. Or every business license your name is on. Or every car registered in your name. At least with domains, privacy is offered when you buy them. If you don't want it, or accept it, then how can you complain when you don't have it.

And I've yet to hear an argument on how it is such a bad thing that someone can pay to see all the domains you own. Tell me why I should care. Explain to me the horrible situation I will one day find myself in because someone can pay $500 to see all the domains that I own.

Here is at least one case where its a good thing:

If I have a brand or trademark to protect and I find Joe Blow squatting, or otherwise infringing on my mark, I can use Domain Tools to see if this is just a one time mistake, or if this is a known pattern. If it is a pattern, or if I can show that this persons entire business plan is based on trademark infringement, I'd have a much better reason (and case) to go to court.

And it's not like this service is free, or even cheap. It's priced out of a casual domain browsers budget. So in reality, not everyone is actually able to find out every domain that you own - only people with a few hundred spare dollars.

What if you run a network of abortion sites?

Next thing you know some guy picks you off in your house while eating dinner, or blows your place up. It's the fanatics you got to worry about.

Who is going to kill you b/c you own the best building or house in town? A lot less people are upset about that.

What if you are the leader in "gaming traffic" and a competitor with some crazed logic thinks that by taking you out the company will crumble?

With millions and millions of domains regged, this is a train wreck waiting to happen.

DomainTools should think more about this ; I can see how he has the chance to make mega-bucks doing this, but it won't be worth it when someone gets hurt or dies.

Yeah, I know.... Whois Privacy, but this info. can still be found out and this tool only facilitates the search.

JM2C

 

[npcomplete]

I suppose it might be fun to list all of the publicly available information on Jay Westerdal in this forum, and see how quickly a CD is issued. Now that would be funny. Perhaps we need a poster boy...

I went into snoop mode and found a ton of stuff on Jay. Should I post it? It is all publicly available, so that is ok right? I am just talking about repackaging Jay's personal but publicly available information for easy dissemination and revue, just like Jay is doing with our info, so that makes it ok I guess.

As far as I can tell, he lives at most a couple of miles from me.... hmmmm....

Marc

 

[PowerUp]

Why is that such an evil, horrible thing? Its public information. Someone can find out every house you own, too. Or every business license your name is on. Or every car registered in your name. At least with domains, privacy is offered when you buy them. If you don't want it, or accept it, then how can you complain when you don't have it.

And I've yet to hear an argument on how it is such a bad thing that someone can pay to see all the domains you own. Tell me why I should care. Explain to me the horrible situation I will one day find myself in because someone can pay $500 to see all the domains that I own.

Here is at least one case where its a good thing:

If I have a brand or trademark to protect and I find Joe Blow squatting, or otherwise infringing on my mark, I can use Domain Tools to see if this is just a one time mistake, or if this is a known pattern. If it is a pattern, or if I can show that this persons entire business plan is based on trademark infringement, I'd have a much better reason (and case) to go to court.

And it's not like this service is free, or even cheap. It's priced out of a casual domain browsers budget. So in reality, not everyone is actually able to find out every domain that you own - only people with a few hundred spare dollars.

Here's an example.
Lets say you've come across a niche keyword in a new industry. Regged a few and made some top dollar sales. Then you come over and bragged about it. But wouldn't let us know what keyword it is because it's "trade secret".

Now I know some of the domains you own. Now I go and domaintools anyone of the names you own, then domaintools will give me a list of ALL the domains you have. Then I scan through the list, and BAM, I already know your "trade secret" keyword.

See how information (the keyword) you wanted to keep secret, becomes easily available to other people?

 

[gwkg]

What if you run a network of abortion sites?

What stops someone from killing the owner of the building abortions are actually being performed in? I would think that a real abortion represents a bigger evil to an anti-abortionist than information on a web site.

No one is addressing the fact that you have an option to register domain names privately. If you choose to own a network of abortion sites, maybe you should consider privately registering your domains.

And it also seems that most people posting have a bigger issue with having any whois data available, not just the reverse lookup performed by domain tools.

This whole "someone might get killed" argument borders on the ridiculous. If everything in this world were based on that logic there wouldn't be much of anything. You can't have a strip club, what if some crazy person waits in the parking lot and kills one of the girls. You can't have cars, what if some crazy person runs someone over in one. You can't have guns, what if some crazy person shoots someone with one. You can't have a phone book, what if a machine from the future comes back and kills everyone named Sarah Conner.

I suppose it might be fun to list all of the publicly available information on Jay Westerdal in this forum, and see how quickly a CD is issued. Now that would be funny. Perhaps we need a poster boy...

Maybe not post it, but if someone offers you $200 for it... hehe

Here's an example.
Lets say you've come across a niche keyword in a new industry. Regged a few and made some top dollar sales. Then you come over and bragged about it. But wouldn't let us know what keyword it is because it's "trade secret".

Now I know some of the domains you own. Now I go and domaintools anyone of the names you own, then domaintools will give me a list of ALL the domains you have. Then I scan through the list, and BAM, I already know your "trade secret" keyword.

See how information (the keyword) you wanted to keep secret, becomes easily available to other people?

You're at least getting closer to a rational argument, but I don't see how your right to protect yourself from not keeping your own mouth shut overrides my right to gather information to pursue someone in court who is infringing my trademark.

 

[Michael]

I'm not very happy with it. I'm not all that concerned with people having my address/email, but I don't like that people can know every domain I own or have owned.