On Thursday, October 2, 2003 1:22 PM -0700 Owen DeLong <owen@delong.com> wrote:
Because you don't need a domain name to live on the Ineternet. If you choose to have a domain name, then, it's akin to hanging out your own shingle. If you hang out a shingle, you have an obligation to provide a certain amount of contact information as a matter of public record.
As a company director and officer I do not have to make my home address and telephone number available. I don't even have to make the company's office address or telephone number public. But I do have to provide an "office of record" where the company (or its officers and directors) can be served legal notice. Typically this is the address of the company's lawyer. There's no reason why domain registrations should be any different. I can think of many good reasons for someone not wanting their home address and telephone number listed in the domain contact info. (For starters, think spousal abuse. Your policy would prevent a woman hiding from an abusive spouse from registering a .name domain.) HOWEVER, there does need to be *some* form of valid contact information provided. Registrars might want to consider offering a point-of-contact intermediary service as a "value added" product. --lyndon