ICANN/DNSO



WHOIS Recommendations related to Bulk Access


WHOIS Recommendations related to Bulk Access

10 January 2003

  1. EXISTING contractual requirements relating to provision of WHOIS in the Registrar Accreditation Agreement (http://www.icann.org/registrars/ra-agreement-17may01.htm)
  2. 3.3.1 At its expense, Registrar shall provide an interactive web page and a port 43 Whois service providing free public query-based access to up-to-date (i.e., updated at least daily) data concerning all active Registered Names sponsored by Registrar for each TLD in which it is accredited. The data accessible shall consist of elements that are designated from time to time according to an ICANN adopted specification or policy. Until ICANN otherwise specifies by means of an ICANN adopted specification or policy, this data shall consist of the following elements as contained in Registrar's database:

    3.3.1.1 The name of the Registered Name;

    3.3.1.2 The names of the primary nameserver and secondary nameserver(s) for the Registered Name;

    3.3.1.3 The identity of Registrar (which may be provided through Registrar's website);

    3.3.1.4 The original creation date of the registration;

    3.3.1.5 The expiration date of the registration;

    3.3.1.6 The name and postal address of the Registered Name Holder;

    3.3.1.7 The name, postal address, e-mail address, voice telephone number, and (where available) fax number of the technical contact for the Registered Name; and

    3.3.1.8 The name, postal address, e-mail address, voice telephone number, and (where available) fax number of the administrative contact for the Registered Name.

    3.3.5 In providing query-based public access to registration data as required by Subsections 3.3.1 and 3.3.4, Registrar shall not impose terms and conditions on use of the data provided, except as permitted by policy established by ICANN. Unless and until ICANN establishes a different policy according to Section 4, Registrar shall permit use of data it provides in response to queries for any lawful purposes except to: (a) allow, enable, or otherwise support the transmission by e-mail, telephone, or facsimile of mass, unsolicited, commercial advertising or solicitations to entities other than the data recipient's own existing customers; or (b) enable high volume, automated, electronic processes that send queries or data to the systems of any Registry Operator or ICANN-Accredited registrar, except as reasonably necessary to register domain names or modify existing registrations.

    3.3.6 In addition, Registrar shall provide third-party bulk access to the data subject to public access under Subsection 3.3.1 under the following terms and conditions:

    3.3.6.1 Registrar shall make a complete electronic copy of the data available at least one time per week for download by third parties who have entered into a bulk access agreement with Registrar.

    3.3.6.2 Registrar may charge an annual fee, not to exceed US$10,000, for such bulk access to the data.

    3.3.6.3 Registrar's access agreement shall require the third party to agree not to use the data to allow, enable, or otherwise support the transmission by e-mail, telephone, or facsimile of mass, unsolicited, commercial advertising or solicitations to entities other than such third party's own existing customers.

    3.3.6.4 Registrar's access agreement shall require the third party to agree not to use the data to enable high-volume, automated, electronic processes that send queries or data to the systems of any Registry Operator or ICANN-Accredited registrar, except as reasonably necessary to register domain names or modify existing registrations.

    3.3.6.5 Registrar's access agreement may require the third party to agree not to sell or redistribute the data except insofar as it has been incorporated by the third party into a value-added product or service that does not permit the extraction of a substantial portion of the bulk data from the value-added product or service for use by other parties.

    3.3.6.6 Registrar may enable Registered Name Holders who are individuals to elect not to have Personal Data concerning their registrations available for bulk access for marketing purposes based on Registrar's "Opt-Out" policy, and if Registrar has such a policy, Registrar shall require the third party to abide by the terms of that Opt-Out policy; provided, however, that Registrar may not use such data subject to opt-out for marketing purposes in its own value-added product or service.

    3.3.7 Registrar's obligations under Subsection 3.3.6 shall remain in effect until the earlier of (a) replacement of this policy with a different ICANN policy, established according to Section 4, governing bulk access to the data subject to public access under Subsection 3.3.1, or (b) demonstration, to the satisfaction of the United States Department of Commerce, that no individual or entity is able to exercise market power with respect to registrations or with respect to registration data used for development of value-added products and services by third parties.

    3.3.8 To comply with applicable statutes and regulations and for other reasons, ICANN may from time to time adopt policies and specifications establishing limits (a) on the Personal Data concerning Registered Names that Registrar may make available to the public through a public-access service described in this Subsection 3.3 and (b) on the manner in which Registrar may make such data available. In the event ICANN adopts any such policy, Registrar shall abide by it.

  3. WHOIS Task Force Recommendations on bulk access related to Registrar Obligations
  4. 1. Registrars modify their bulk WHOIS access agreements to eliminate the use of data for marketing purposes.   

    The suggested revised section 3.3.6.3 is:

    “Registrar’s access agreement shall require the third party to agree not to use the data to allow, enable, or otherwise support any marketing activities, regardless of the medium used.  Such media include but are not limited to e-mail, telephone, facsimile, postal mail, SMS, and wireless alerts.”

    The suggested revised section 3.3.6.5 is:

    “Registrar's access agreement shall require the third party to agree not to sell or redistribute the data except insofar as it has been incorporated by the third party into a value-added product or service that does not permit the extraction of a substantial portion of the bulk data from the value-added product or service for use by other parties.


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