Question about incorrect Whois and where does the domain go?

[mis_chiff]

I have a question about incorrect information on a whois
[general, not one in particular]

What is the responsibility of the Registrar once you have reported it?
They obviously try to reach the customer, but what happens if they can't?
For whatever reasons, moved, deceased etc

Where does the domain go, and let's say it's a nice aged LLLL.com
domain - over 6 years or so. [for value effect]

Who monitors this, or governs it, and who does the Registars have to answer to regarding it.


Thanks for any assistance :hearts:

 

[lothos]

ICANN governs it. Yes, registrars must abide by it.

Registrars can delete the domain for invalid whois information.

 

[Keith]

http://www.networknewz.com/2011/01/03/large-domains-suspended-to-invalid-whois-data/

 

[DU]

What is the responsibility of the Registrar once you have reported it?

For whatever reasons, moved, deceased etc

The answers are provided by others - that is that their are ICANN rules - but the reality is that often these valuable domains are prime for theft.

For example. If the domain is old and uses a defunct email (hotmail/gmail) one could register that and become the registrant.

I've seen where people register FirstNameLastName.com and then use that to get to the domain.

GoDaddy will investigate and then if it fails for any reason they charge the registrant $10 "handling fee". It's an easy way to annoy someone who lies on whois - report all their domains.

Privacy adds a layer of ?s because I think a lot of people forget to keep their email link up to date. The registrar has to make no real effort to contact you at all because you're not the owner. This is one of the downsides of privacy (it's also considered to some extent material falsification if you use the domain to send "spam"). Not sure what the deal is if you are the registrar and OWN the domain?! I'm not sure if they enforce your hidden contact info or not?! That's an interesting question.

ANYONE KNOW?

.us has a page to report both invalid whois OR people that violate nexus. So if your favorite .us is held by a German you can report that also. I would image that .ca is as strict - and you may care about .ca more than me

People make fund of the .US and .CA and residency requirements but they really shouldn't if the domain has value. They WILL be taken back by the registry.

 

[mis_chiff]

I love my .ca's :hearts: - but this time it's not one of those (or mine) :p

I guess what I am really asking is, does the registry have the right to take over
a domain that they have had no contact back from the customer after a complaint
is filed? Does the registry have to let it drop, or can they auction it?
Is there a protocol that has to be followed in a circumstance like this?

and for those who have the question on their mind: no, I did not report a domain
- just a general knowledge question.

Thanks for the link Keith, but I couldn't see this answer there - at least in terms I understand :hehe:

 

[DU]

My understanding is that the registrar has a responsibility to maintain accurate data. If they fail to investigate they violate that agreement with ICANN. So their job is investigate and ensure.

The registrar can delete, or in the case of email being storage issue versus fraud, put the domain on registryhold essentially disabling it.

What i don't know is the answer to your question! That is if either one of delete or suspension is mandated. The registrar won't be able to take over ownership (well shouldn't) except per T&C on registration which vary. Every one says they can cancel the domain and what happens post expire.

Ask your favorite registrar what the rules are

I don't know why I posted this?!

 

[DU]

Example : godaddy could suspend the domain but then let it go to TDNam post expiry. This is not the same as taking ownership or just auctioning.

 

[duodec]

Example : godaddy could suspend the domain but then let it go to TDNam post expiry. This is not the same as taking ownership or just auctioning.

So if such a domain had been registered for an extended period (5+ years) it would just sit at the registrar 'on hold'/suspended until expiration (or possibly contact from the actual owner)?

 

[mis_chiff]

I don't know why I posted this?!

:hearts:

So if such a domain had been registered for an extended period (5+ years) it would just sit at the registrar 'on hold'/suspended until expiration (or possibly contact from the actual owner)?

Good question, never thought of the length of renewal.

if the owner contacts them months later after the domain is
suspended - but before expiry, do they get it back?

 

[The Grinch]

I contacted namechecap about a domain i sold (for $100+), i was getting actual postal mail about the domain after a year because the buyer name updated the whois info, and it still had my contact info.

so i contacted namecheap, they said they gave the current owner 5 days to update the info, which they never did, and i just got this reply.

Unfortunately, the owner of ****.com domain has not updated Whois information in time. The domain has been nullrouted and locked in our system due to violation of our Registration Agreement.

i replied to them asking if they'd allow someone to buy it at reg fee, or if its just going to be locked until its deleted. i remember godaddy had a huge problem with selling someones domain like that, ha.

 

[The Grinch]

this is there reply on if i could purchas the domain

Unfortunately, we are not able to delete the domain so it is available for registration again. It will stay locked until the expiration date or until we are contacted by the domain holder. If the owner of the domain contact us and agrees to update the contact information, we will unsuspend it.

oh well, can eyeball it and grab it when it expires, but i didnt really want it anyways :P
maybe namecheap learned from what godaddy did with the familyphotoalbum domain or whatever it was :P

Makes me feel much more safe using namecheap as my main registrar as well, since they give me until it expires to correct info, and wont just take it from me :P

 

[Domagon]

Registrars handle Whois Data Problem Reports (WDPR) differently for gTLDs - ccTLDs are a whole different topic entirely and not governed by such ICANN policies.

Some registrars give very little notice, such only several days, and then suspends the domain. While others send multiple reminders before taking action. Then some others simply make note of the complaint or even ignores it, and won't take any real action unless the complainant follow-ups / others complain about the same domain.

And the best registrars of all, in regards to security, from what I've read, if no response by the registrant, will simply update the whois, assuming the registrant field and/or customer data on file appears valid, to their own in-house email / privacy service, which is an effective work-around to satisfying ICANN Whois Data requirements - keeps the registrant happy and the domain working.

As for Namecheap ... suspending a domain after only 5 days is lousy service. Heck, so if someone goes on holiday, they come back and their domain is suspended / gone...

Also, NameCheap is primarily an eNom reseller - and hence, in many instances, it's actually eNom that's enforcing Whois Data Problem Reports for NameCheap customers - and that's an important detail, since eNom may potentially delete / resell such domains.

In short, NameCheap, when acting as an eNom reseller, can't guarantee what will or won't happen to a suspended domain - it's up to eNom what they'll do - possibly being what earns them the most money; reselling suspended domains.

Whois Data Problem Reports is a huge security hole (user passwords, registar-lock, Authcodes, etc are no protection) - some of the more savvy drop-catchers file such complaints when the need arises and then will work out a deal with the registrar to discreetly resell the domain to them.

Digressing a bit, but the above point is important to be aware of, because many WDPR complaints aren't motivated by spam or other issues, but rather simply by greed - people seeking to get other people's domains on the cheap.

Ron