--On Thursday, October 2, 2003 12:08 PM -0400 Jeffrey Meltzer <jeffrey@icsnet.com> wrote:
Not to start a war, but you can block your Telephone Number from being listed in the phone book, so why shouldn't you be able to block your whois info?
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. Noone is saying you should have to give up your contact information to posess a single /32 IP address, or, even a small collection of them. However, domain names are a different thing from phone numbers. Domain names are the ability to operate your own phone book. Certainly I have never heard of a phone book publisher that didn't provide contact information for redressing errors/etc.
What valid reason would you have for getting in contact with a domain owner, if they've unlisted themselves and don't want to be contacted?
What valid reason is there for allowing a domain owner to be unlisted and uncontactable. If you want to remain anonymous, then you don't need a domain. Owen