Verisign's zone file access program and the registrar bulk whois access program are administered under different policies. This is important to note because the data being accessed in both cases is extremely different.
It's true. I'm one of the 1,781 people with zone file passwords, and can confirm that all I get is a listing of domain names and name servers. On the other hand, I am sure that some of the 15 or however many bulk WHOIS users are grossly violating the terms of service, and have a pile of credit card and other solicitations snail mailed to names that appear only in WHOIS to prove it. Ross, do registrars have to apply for bulk WHOIS, or do they get access automatically? I'm particularly thinking of DROA/DROC who has sent me a separate pile of fake renewal invoices. Regards, John Levine, johnl@iecc.com, Primary Perpetrator of "The Internet for Dummies", Information Superhighwayman wanna-be, http://www.johnlevine.com, ex-Mayor "More Wiener schnitzel, please", said Tom, revealingly.