No more WHOIS privacy for domains!
 

Now that I got the attention - just received an email from namecheap:

There is adequate due process, in this case subpoena, for a rights holder to make service on a privacy advocate; just sue the defendants as John Does and serve the complaint registered mail on the privacy advocate along with a subpoena for lifting the veil of privacy on the domain.

The privacy advocate will roll over on the location and the identity of the domain holder in a New York second.

This is about intimidation and prior restraint of unprotected speech by MarkMonitor, et al. who would have remedy for their clients, and if the trademark infringement is that big of a deal, their clients can afford the legal costs.

These domain privacy safeguards and rules are there for a purpose: protecting anonymous speech and preventing harassment -- private registration is being misused as a shield for trademark infringement.

This is no different than anyone being able to get the name of the registered owner and his address from a vehicle's licence plate without cause.

Legal Protections for Anonymous Speech | Digital Media Law Project

Urgl that would suck big time.

damn, gotta start my own whois privacy service.

i feel that:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Door-i...face_technique

Possible :2 cents:

There's plenty of registrars who will give out the information without even the slightest hint of legal action. Some are upfront about it - I think it was GANDI that said their protection was intended solely to prevent wholesale harvesting, not to hide your identity - but with others you may not find out until some whiney little bitch makes an unfounded complaint against you, and they threaten to release that information to said whiney little bitch (hello, Moniker)

Bump for an important biz thread.

I take out privacy to prevent email spam.

The public whois has to work or your domain can be taken offline and the email spammers know that and harvest them.

:2 cents::2 cents:

free email account
cheap po box

problem solved

Gee, would it not be true that the registrars own the privacy service company's.

Has not stopped anyone from scam/spaming me on my over 400 domains.

Privacy is a myth.

Go after those that use this info for bad purposes with enforceable consequences and at least verify and record who is asking for it.

I don't have a problem with it being public. Even want it to be but not for ill intent.

People can send you emails, they just do not send you directly, but rather through privacy email.

That does not mean that you do not have privacy from those spammers who can NOT see your email.

PO Box
Pre Paid Cell
1 Bulk edit to change your whois address once a month and delete the old email

:2 cents:

Not quite as easy as using a free email and P.O. Box.

Your real name will be listed in the whois records. May not seem like a big deal...but try and get a job after you have registered adult related domains. Almost every company now does a search on Facebook, a search on google and a search on sites like linkedin prior to even considering calling you for an interview. A search for your name and city will likely bring your domain whois near the top of googles results. If they find adult sites connected to you, you are dead before you ever had a chance.

Wanna be a Scout Leader, chaperone your kids on a school trip or anything at all public, might as well throw those dreams away.

Bump to those who did not see it yet.

Just an FYI ... It's very easy to see who owns a LLC/Corp on state gov websites.

Yup. A lot of people will have to think twice before registering adult related domains if whois privacy is stripped away.

However, am I right in thinking that it's only commercial projects that won't have privacy protection?

Register offshore company then?

sounds like less competition for those who can work out how to get around it, which isn't exactly hard... :thumbsup