popupbloke

Hi folks.

Could anyone tell me if it is desirable to opt for whois privacy if you've nothing to hide?
I would think it better to be public in case of offers from buyers, but since privacy is free with some registrars I wondered if it is a usefull business practice for some domainers appart from hiding their identity for dodgy domains they've registered.

OH. if you do opt for it, can you opt back in??

Thanks in advance.
Dave. Popupbloke.

Skinner

Its always free for .co.uk domains, any company who charges for it, ditch em. You can opt back in, as you wish. However if you are making any revenue from a site, nominet can remove you ability to opt out.

I opt out some of my names which are NOT for sale, or are personal use, otherwise I add a line to my address so its like "For Sale: dom@site.co.uk, Address Here", which seems to be an acceptable practice.

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accelerator

If you are regging domains to sell them on, I would say it is better to show your details as then the buyer can see who they are dealing with.

For .uk domains, my understanding is that if you are running the domain for business purposes, i.e. generating revenue, then strictly speaking you should not use address Opt Out, although this rule is not always adhered to.

Rgds

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Aaron Clifford

From my understanding you can only choose to opt out of the WHOIS if you are a non-trading individual. Anyone that actually buys and sells names must have a full WHOIS. (Didn't see accelerators post!)

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DomainBeans - Domain & Affiliate Developer

Bailey

I actually believe it looks a little bit suss when the domain is of obvious commercial value and has 'Privacy'. I'd like to see Nominet include contact email in the registration details (perhaps as an option).

500+ .com domains with my email tells me spamming is not a problem

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TheDon dot Com

Edwin

Or set up a system like some of the .jp registrars have, of providing a "contact form" link in the Whois, with the email address fully concealed behind it. That way, people could contact the owner of a domain name, but any spam sent would have to be on a custom, 1-by-1 basis since their email address couldn't be harvested.

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Please note: All sale prices over a week old are automatically invalid. No exceptions. Thanks!

Bailey

I'll look into thanks Edwin.

PS: Looking at your post timestamp +1min 50 seconds from my posting - your not into mind reading are you ?

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TheDon dot Com

Edwin

No, I just happened to be reading the thread a couple of seconds after you posted your reply...

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Please note: All sale prices over a week old are automatically invalid. No exceptions. Thanks!

invincible

I actually think the "OP" was referring to WHOIS privacy services, as offered by some gTLD Registrars, rather than consumer opt out which is a free facility and available from the Registry (Nominet) via their Registrars. The giveaway is the "OP" mentioning that privacy is "free with some registrars" part of the post.

Consumer Opt Out isn't the same as WHOIS privacy because the Registrant name is still displayed. Only the address is omitted. Any consumer, not utilising their domain name for business purposes, can choose to have their address opted out of the WHOIS for free via any Nominet Registrar.

WHOIS privacy is an additional service which hides everything and isn't suitable for use with .uk domain names despite some gTLD Registrars which are also .uk Registrars mistakingly offering it.

If a domain name is registered to a WHOIS privacy service then Nominet, including for DRS purposes, consider the privacy service to be the Registrant. That isn't the case with gTLD's, where the corresponding Registrar will release the true Registrant's details when legal or UDRP proceedings are filed.

So consumer opt out hides the address of consumers who aren't profiting from their .uk domain names. WHOIS privacy is not suitable for use with .uk domain names and is a feature offered for an additional charge by some gTLD Registrars for use with some gTLD domain name extensions.

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invincible

Are you absolutely sure you're not a mind reader and that it wasn't simply that you happened to be reading this thread a couple of seconds after Bailey posted his reply?

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