Privacy - Using a domain name as the registrant of another domain?

[DomainMOD]

Are there any legal issues to using a domain name as the registrant of another domain? (in an attempt to create my own privacy service).

For example, say I own DOMAINPRIVACYPROTECTIONBLAHBLAH.com, and I set it up so that this domain is the registrant of all my other domains, such as...

---------------------------------------------
Fake WHOIS for NOTAREALDOMAIN.com

----------
Registrant:
DOMAINPRIVACYPROTECTIONBLAHBLAH.com Privacy Service
[legit address here]
[email protected]

Administrative:
DOMAINPRIVACYPROTECTIONBLAHBLAH.com Privacy Service
[legit address here]
[email protected]

Technical:
DOMAINPRIVACYPROTECTIONBLAHBLAH.com Privacy Service
[legit address here]
[email protected]

---------------------------------------------

Since I own the domain that's listed as the registrant, is this situation acceptable? Or would I actually need to register the company name "DOMAINPRIVACYPROTECTIONBLAHBLAH.com Privacy Service" in order to make this legit?

 

[biggie]

why use domain privacy unless you're hiding ownership of tm names


most buyers who have contacted me, did so either thru email or phone call.

had i used privacy, they may not have bothered


unless you have a domain that you don't plan to sell, then why keep the registrant private?

 

[-REECE-]

Yeah, have to agree. I don't have a single domain with private registration and I'm glad I don't. I can live with the occasional lowballer and spam email -- more than worth it.

why use domain privacy unless you're hiding ownership of tm names


most buyers who have contacted me, did so either thru email or phone call.

had i used privacy, they may not have bothered


unless you have a domain that you don't plan to sell, then why keep the registrant private?

 

[DomainMOD]

Those are definitely valid points for domains that I'm planning on selling, and I'll keep that in mind, but I just mean in general, whether or not it's a domain I'm selling.

For example, being able to offer my own WHOIS privacy to clients of mine, hiding the WHOIS information so that future clients/partners/employers of mine don't know some of the personal domains I own, etc.

I'm just wondering if setting up the WHOIS information like this is deemed 'wrong' by ICANN, could cost me the domain names because the registrant isn't a legal business entity (that is, doesn't have an official business license), or if it's just generally frowned upon in the industry.

 

[-REECE-]

I don't know where you're from, but if it's Canada or the USA, it's not very expensive to get yourself setup as a business and is imho well worth it no matter how much or how little business you're doing. The tax savings and write-offs are nice, as is the legal protection (eg. the corporation being treated as a separate entity, so if someone sues you they can't come after your personal assets). It's not near as hard to fill out the paperwork as they make it seem -- I've incorporated 2 businesses in the past and did the paperwork myself both times. Will save you about $500 that way over what a lawyer would charge you.

Those are definitely valid points for domains that I'm planning on selling, and I'll keep that in mind, but I just mean in general, whether or not it's a domain I'm selling.

For example, being able to offer my own WHOIS privacy to clients of mine, hiding the WHOIS information so that future clients/partners/employers of mine don't know some of the personal domains I own, etc.

I'm just wondering if setting up the WHOIS information like this is deemed 'wrong' by ICANN, could cost me the domain names because the registrant isn't a legal business entity (that is, doesn't have an official business license), or if it's just generally frowned upon in the industry.

 

[DomainMOD]

I realize that, as I have other businesses that I've registered, just not this privacy service yet because it's a pretty new offshoot for me. I'll eventually register is if it becomes a permanent thing, but that probably won't be for a little while still.

Although I do appreciate the suggestions (I really do), I'm already aware of some of my other options, I'm just looking for the answer to my original question for now.

 

[klrsmith]

why use domain privacy unless you're hiding ownership of tm names...unless you have a domain that you don't plan to sell, then why keep the registrant private?

For the same reason people have unlisted telephone numbers or opt out of junk snail mail. Someone that values their privacy isn't a crime in the United States (not yet anyway...)

 

[Dave_Z]

I'm just wondering if setting up the WHOIS information like this is deemed 'wrong' by ICANN, could cost me the domain names because the registrant isn't a legal business entity (that is, doesn't have an official business license), or if it's just generally frowned upon in the industry.

The so-called ICANN jury (heh) is still out on that one. What is
really important, whatever details you use, is to show it's true
and accurate.

For a supposedly existing entity like you described above, so far
I haven't seen any registrar shut down the domain name because it
couldn't be "proved" the entity exists (e.g. showing biz license)

 

[hawkeye]

I don't see there being a problem with it. Not a lawyer, so just food for thought, but with some of the things people have noted in their contact info, using one's own domain, no matter what it is, should be more than fine.

For the same reason people have unlisted telephone numbers or opt out of junk snail mail. Someone that values their privacy isn't a crime in the United States (not yet anyway...)

People with unlisted phone numbers and who opt out of junk mail, are not complaining that no one is making offers on their domain names either!

And it would be a crime if we kept the same political party in office for another 4 years! Thank god for elections. (And a return to common sense.)