WHois and data mining

[Marc Schneiders]

>From the terms of reference of this TF:

"The task force must ensure that any access restrictions do not
restrict the competitive provision of services using WHOIS information
(for example ensure that intellectual property protection can be
provided competitively)..."

What is this about? This provision blocks any meaningful change to
the status quo.

I think it is not about competition between providers of intellectual
property protection at all, as it pretends. They will all have to
spend the same amount of extra money if there is no public whois like
now, because they would have to go to court to get the address to send
a cease-and-desist to. So what?

I would like a whois of owners of property (real estate). Would make
it possible for me to be more competitive (read: save money).

Why is the uspto.gov database of trademarks not listing phone numbers,
fax numbers and email addresses?

The problem with whois for domains is that it goes much further in
invading upon privacy than any other public database. This is the main
issue. Is there any reason why domain name owners have to sacrifice
privacy more than any other owners? Esp. since they aren't even owners
but licensees or something. Ask and get a good answer that question
first or you end up in getting tiny little meaningless victories like
limiting to 10 or 100 queries per IP number per day. These are so easy
to circumvent for data miners and only mean trouble for the little guy
checking 11 or 101 domains.

"...nor restrict the transfer of domain name records between
registrars."

In the context this can only mean that other registrars (or their
resellers)  should be able to spam me with mails trying to trick me
into renewing my domain with them. Many of these mails are nearly
fraud.

Wouldn't it be great for car dealers to be able to get email addresses
of owners of cars? So good for competition. We should set up a whois
of license plates. Worldwide.