[registrars] Fwd: NeuLevel Advisory (Please read) - Domain-Renewal.biz (2nd notice)

[Paul Westley]

This guy's threats to harm Neulevel, together with all registrars and 
registrants of .BIZ domain names clearly highlight the urgent need for 
ICANN and the internet community to take firm action on the whole WHOIS 
issue. Undoubtedly this guy obtained his mailing list of .BIZ registrants 
by datamining the WHOIS.

Paul Westley
Internetters

>From: "Registrar Signup - NeuLevel" <registrarsignup at neulevel.biz>
>To: <paul at internetters.co.uk>
>Subject: NeuLevel Advisory (Please read) - Domain-Renewal.biz (2nd notice)
>Sender: "Registrar Signup - NeuLevel" <registrarsignup at neulevel.biz>
>Date: Mon, 21 Jul 2003 12:38:58 -0400
>X-Spam-Status: No, hits=0.7 required=5.5
>         tests=AWL,MSG_ID_ADDED_BY_MTA_3
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>X-Spam-Level:
>X-Spam-Checker-Version: SpamAssassin 2.55 (1.174.2.19-2003-05-19-exp)
>
>Dear Registrars:
>
>SUBJECT:  NEULEVEL ADVISORY (PLEASE READ)
>
>NeuLevel has received information directly from the owner of
>domain-renewal.biz, Mel Goudie, that he will retaliate against NeuLevel as
>well as all .BIZ domain name registrants in response to our action this
>past Friday, when we placed the domain name domain-renewal.biz on registry
>hold.
>
>In a written statement to the Registry, Mr. Goudie has threatened to send
>out 25,000 e-mail messages per day to .BIZ domain name registrants "so
>that [NeuLevel] is disrupted continually for the next month or so by
>thousands of phone calls each day."  More specifically, Mr. Goudie has
>admitted that he will spam each of your customers with an e-mail that
>purportedly comes from our Registry making customers believe that their
>domain names will be deleted by NeuLevel.  The text of Mr. Goudie's
>proposed e-mail is provided at the bottom of this e-mail.
>
>We take Mr. Goudie's threat of fraudulent activity extremely seriously and
>are providing it to you so that you may take any actions you deem
>necessary to alert your customers.  We are also investigating possible
>legal action on this matter as well.
>
>We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and appreciate your
>cooperation in this matter.  Please do not hesitate to give us a call if
>you have any questions.
>
>Richard Tindal
>Vice President, Registry Services
>
>
>****************************************************************************
>*******************************************
>
>From: NEULEVEL Notifications
>
>Subject: Domain Deletion (domainname.biz)
>
>Dear Registrant,
>
>This is notification that under our agreement with
>ICANN, your domain name may be deleted within the next
>24 hours, with no further notice to yourself.
>
>Our agreement states:
>
>"Registry Operator reserves the right to deny, cancel
>or transfer any registration that it deems necessary,
>in its discretion; (1) to protect the integrity and
>stability of the registry; (2) to comply with any
>applicable laws, government rules or requirements,
>requests of law enforcement, in compliance with any
>dispute resolution process; (3) to avoid any
>liability, civil or criminal, on the part of Registry
>Operator, as well as its affiliates, subsidiaries,
>officers, directors, and employees; (4) for violations
>of this Agreement and its Exhibits; or (5) to correct
>mistakes made by Registry Operator or any Registrar in
>connection with a domain name registration. Registry
>Operator also reserves the right to freeze a domain
>name during resolution of a dispute."
>
>Please contact Neulevel by telephone on +1 571 434
>5757 if you would like to discuss this matter.
>
><END>
>
>
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Registrar Signup - NeuLevel [mailto:registrarsignup at neulevel.biz]
>Sent: Friday, July 18, 2003 2:37 PM
>To: cs at neulevel.biz
>Subject: Domain-Renewal.biz - Notice to Registrars
>
>
>Dear Registrar Partner,
>
>As you may be aware, both NeuLevel and Tucows have received numerous
>complaints from both Registrars as well as .BIZ domain name registrants
>regarding the activities of Mr. Mel Goudie, the domain name registrant of
>domain-renewal.biz ("Registrant") involving the purported renewal of .BIZ
>domain names.
>
>According to the complaints, the domain name registrant for
>domain-renewal.biz, has been sending out domain name renewal notices which
>have not only been regarding .BIZ domain names that are not due for
>renewal for at least a year, but also have been delivered to registrants
>of .BIZ domain names that are not listed in the Registry's Whois database
>as being the registrant's customers.
>
>We continue to believe that these types of notices may involve
>questionable trade practices, and therefore, we feel obligated to forward
>these notices to all of you as well as to the Federal Trade Commission for
>their review.  In addition, we are also currently investigating whether we
>believe that the registrant has violated the WHOIS policy ("WHOIS Policy")
>which can be found when a Whois query is performed at www.whois.biz.  More
>specifically, we are looking into whether it obtained information about
>other Registrars' customers in violation of the WHOIS policy:
>
>By submitting a WHOIS query, you agree that you will use this data only
>for lawful purposes and that, under no circumstances will you use this
>data: (1) to allow, enable, or otherwise support the transmission of mass
>unsolicited, commercial advertising or solicitations via direct mail,
>electronic mail, or by telephone; (2) in contravention of any applicable
>data and privacy protection acts; or (3) to enable high volume, automated,
>electronic processes that apply to the registry (or its systems).
>
>In addition, this past week we have received at least one complaint from a
>separate .BIZ domain name registrant that had allegedly mistakenly gone to
>the registrant's website, www.domain-renewal.biz, and entered its credit
>card information expecting to renew its domain names.  However, according
>to the complaint with the registry, although payment was accepted,
>services were not performed.
>
>We view such activities as harmful to the .BIZ domain name registry and,
>if allowed to continue, threaten the stability and integrity of the
>registry.  In light of the above, we hade no choice but to invoke our
>rights under Section III of Exhibit E to Appendix F of our
>Registry/Registrar Agreement and place the domain name on "Registry Hold"
>until this matter can be resolved.
>
>We take the conduct of this particular registrant extremely seriously and
>do not view the actions we have taken lightly.  We are continuing this
>investigation and may be seeking your assistance the coming weeks on this
>matter.
>
>Thanks again for all your cooperation.
>
>Richard Tindal
>Vice President, Registry Services