[registrars] Comments on RC whois statements

[Ross Wm. Rader]

On 4/7/2004 7:58 PM tbarrett noted that:

> 
> Specifics on Task Force 3:
> Based on ICANN's own data, it is not clear if Whois data accuracy is a
> significant enough problem to even warrant a task force.
> 
> I would propose a study that would scientifically sample and analyze whois
> data to determine the current magnitude of this issue.  Again, this snapshot
> is important if we are to ever determine if progress is being made or not.
> We should have the results of this study before ICANN starts implementing
> compliance programs.  Otherwise, how will we know if they are effective?

As a general note, contractual compliance really is a separate issue 
from whois database contact record accuracy.

To the specific, there have been a couple of analysis done and the 
results indicate that up to 10% of the whois records contain some 
problem of some sort with the data.

There is an elephant in the room that no one is talking about. It is 
being assumed that because intellectual property lawyers and trade 
lobbyists want "more accurate data" that registrars are going to foot 
the bill to get them more accurate data.

Neither registries, nor registrars have any sort of obligation to 
pre-screen data today (outside of standard technical considerations 
like "is this a fully formed telephone number?") Registrants are the 
ones with the obligation to provide accurate data - compliance, 
outreach, education and *enforcement* of and about these obligations 
is incredibily important - and totally ignored during most discussions 
on the issue.

Registrars and registries already play a proactive role in ensuring 
that Registrants are aware of their obligations, but we can' force 
Registrants to stop making spelling mistakes or providing us with 
misleading data. This is the real sum of the IPC miscalculation - the 
existing framework is working quite well and continues to be improved. 
  Scrapping the consensus policy that we've evolved over the last 7 
years in favor of a one-sided regime of policing and punishment is not 
the right answer.

No amount of study is going to fix the misperceptions and prejudice of 
the intellectual property lobby.



-- 


                        -rwr








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