https://www.icann.org/en/news/public-comment/whois-regid-15feb13-en.htm Whois Registrant Identification Study, Draft Report Comment/Reply Periods (*)Important Information Links Comment Open:15 February 2013 Comment Close:9 March 2013 Close Time (UTC):01:00Public Comment Announcement <https://www.icann.org/en/news/announcements/announcement-15feb13-en.htm> Reply Open: To Submit Your Comments (Forum) <mailto:comments-whois-regid-15feb13@icann.org> Reply Close: View Comments Submitted <http://forum.icann.org/lists/comments-whois-regid-15feb13> Close Time (UTC): Report of Public Comments Brief Overview Originating Organization:GNSO Categories/Tags:Policy Processes Purpose (Brief):This study, conducted by NORC at the University of Chicago, uses Whois to classify entities that register gTLD domain names, including natural persons, legal persons, and Privacy/Proxy service providers. Using associated Internet content, the study classifies entities using those domains, and observed potentially commercial activities. Findings will help the community understand how Registrants identify themselves in Whois. Current Status:This Public Comment solicitation represents an opportunity for the community to consider the study results detailed in this draft report, ask questions, and request clarifications. In parallel, ICANN and NORC will conduct Webinars to facilitate feedback by summarizing this study's purpose, methodology, key findings, and conclusions. Next Steps:NORC will consider all comments submitted to this Public Comment forum during the comment period, incorporate any needed clarifications, and then publish a final version of this WHOIS Registrant Identification study report. Afterwards, the GNSO Council will use this report to inform future Whois policy-making. Staff Contact:Barbara RosemanEmail:Policy-staff@icann.org <mailto:Policy-staff@icann.org?subject=More%20information%20on%20the%20Whois %20Registrant%20Identification%20Study,%20Draft%20Report%20public%20comment% 20period> Detailed Information Section I: Description, Explanation, and Purpose The WHOIS Registrant Identification Study uses Whois to classify entities that register gTLD domain names, including natural persons, legal persons, and Privacy/Proxy service providers. Using associated Internet content, it then classifies entities using those domains and potentially commercial activities. NORC at the University of Chicago has been selected to conduct this study and has issued a draft report, which is now available for public comment. Section II: Background As part of its effort to develop a comprehensive understanding of the gTLD Whois system, the GNSO Council expressed an interest in conducting an in-depth study of how entities that register and use gTLD domain names identify themselves in Whois. At the GNSO's request, ICANN issued an RFP in October 2009 describing a study to examine the extent to which domains used by legal persons or for commercial purposes (1) are not clearly identified as such in Whois Registrant data and (2) are correlated to use of Privacy and Proxy services.After considering RFP responses received in late 2009 from researchers willing to undertake that Registrant Identification study, along with significant concerns raised by GNSO Council members regarding the above-stated study hypothesis, the GNSO Council decided to revamp the study's goals and approach.In May 2010, a revised study was approved by the GNSO Council and awarded to NORC at University of Chicago. This exploratory study detailed by this draft study report seeks a more foundational understanding of the types of entities and kinds of activities observed in gTLD domains, including (but not exclusively focused on) those registered using Privacy or Proxy services. Accordingly, the categories of entities and activities to be studied were not pre-determined, but rather generated as researchers examined representative samples of active websites and related Whois data.Study findings are intended to provide raw data needed to understand how entities that register and use gTLD domain names identify themselves in Whois, including (but not limited to) domains registered Privacy/Proxy services and domains engaged in potentially commercial activity. This empirical data will not only enable Council to respond to GAC questions, but will also create a baseline for evaluating potential Whois policy changes. Section III: Document and Resource Links * WHOIS Registrant Identification Study Revised Terms of Reference <http://gnso.icann.org/issues/whois/tor-whois-registrant-id-studies-20may11- en.pdf> [PDF, 719 KB] * WHOIS Studies Report for GNSO <http://gnso.icann.org/issues/whois/whois-studies-report-for-gnso-23mar10-en .pdf> [PDF, 487 KB] * WHOIS Registrant Identification Study Rationale for Changes <http://gnso.icann.org/issues/whois/whois-registrant-id-study-rationale-20ma y11-en.pdf> [PDF, 121 KB] * NORC Selected to Conduct a gTLD Whois Registrant Identification Study <http://blog.icann.org/2011/09/norc-at-the-university-of-chicago-selected-to -conduct-a-gtld-whois-registrant-identification-study/> * WHOIS Registrant Identification Study | Draft Project Summary Report <http://gnso.icann.org/en/issues/whois/registrant-identification-summary-06f eb13-en.pdf> [PDF, 505 KB] * ICANN WHOIS Registrant Identification Project | Appendix A: Exploratory Analysis Report <http://gnso.icann.org/en/issues/whois/registrant-identification-analysis-20 dec12-en.pdf> [PDF, 1.1 MB] * WHOIS Registrant Identification Study | Appendix B: Variable Glossary <http://gnso.icann.org/en/issues/whois/registrant-identification-glossary-30 oct12-en.pdf> [PDF, 250 KB] Section IV: Additional Information Additional WHOIS studies are now being conducted at the request of the GNSO Council, as summarized by: http://gnso.icann.org/issues/whois/ <http://gnso.icann.org/issues/whois/> (*) Comments submitted after the posted Close Date/Time are not guaranteed to be considered in any final summary, analysis, reporting, or decision-making that takes place once this period lapses. ------------------ Regards, Heidi Ullrich, Silvia Vivanco, Matt Ashtiani, Gisella Gruber, Nathalie Peregrine and Julia Charvolen ICANN Policy Staff in support of ALAC E-mail: staff@atlarge.icann.org One World, One Internet