[Fwd: Re: [alac] Draft Terms of Reference for Whois Task Force]
Councilors, This concern from ALAC member John Levine seems like a fair subject for inclusion in the terms of reference. Specifically, could we have a discussion about what constitutes abusive v. legitimate access to a registrar's whois data? and avenues for users claiming to be legitimate users to follow when they want/need whois access? Bret -------- Original Message -------- Subject: Re: [alac] Draft Terms of Reference for Whois Task Force Date: 24 May 2005 22:46:31 -0400 From: John R Levine <johnl@iecc.com> To: Bret Fausett <bfausett@internet.law.pro> CC: ALAC <alac@icann.org> References: <4293D812.2000307@internet.law.pro> I don't know whether this is to the current negotiation, but I'd like to see something about ensuring WHOIS access to legitimate users. A nearby ISP and I provide secondary DNS service to each other, a very typical setup. Since I am a faster perl programmer than he is, I wrote a little program that runs every week and figures out which of his domains are nearing expiration and which have expired, by checking the WHOIS data. Its use of whois is quite moderate since it remembers the results from last time and only rechecks domains that are close to their expiration date, and the total number of domains we're talking about here is small, about 1100, spread over many registrars. Nonetheless, a while ago a computer at Network Solutions decided that I was abusing their whois server and blocked access from my entire network. I could deal with that if there were some way to get unblocked, but as far as I can tell there isn't, since they've never responded to any of my attempts to contact them. I realize that whois scraping is a problem, but it's hard to see how the modest number of lookups I've been doing would set off someone's scrape-o-meter, and it stinks that there's no way to correct errors. Regards, John Levine, johnl@iecc.com, Primary Perpetrator of "The Internet for Dummies", Information Superhighwayman wanna-be, http://www.johnlevine.com, Mayor "I shook hands with Senators Dole and Inouye," said Tom, disarmingly.
Dear Bret, We did start a conversation some time ago in the earlier WHOIS TF about trying to identify "legitimate users".... it broke down because of the very different perspectives on who is "legitimate", but it was a helpful information exchange effort... I think it is a useful discussion, about one of the "uses" of WHOIS, and important to the getting a broad and diverse perspective and awareness. John's example was an interesting illustration that wouldn't have been on the TF "rader screen" otherwise. I am not sure how it fits into the ToR specifically.... it might be already viewed as included in examining the purpose of WHOIS... maybe the better terminology is examine the present "uses" of WHOIS, in order to identify what the purpose of WHOIS access is... Sorry, that was a little clumsy... Thanks for sharing John's post. Informational. -----Original Message----- From: owner-council@gnso.icann.org [mailto:owner-council@gnso.icann.org] On Behalf Of Bret Fausett Sent: Wednesday, May 25, 2005 4:21 PM To: council@gnso.icann.org Subject: [council] [Fwd: Re: [alac] Draft Terms of Reference for Whois Task Force] Councilors, This concern from ALAC member John Levine seems like a fair subject for inclusion in the terms of reference. Specifically, could we have a discussion about what constitutes abusive v. legitimate access to a registrar's whois data? and avenues for users claiming to be legitimate users to follow when they want/need whois access? Bret -------- Original Message -------- Subject: Re: [alac] Draft Terms of Reference for Whois Task Force Date: 24 May 2005 22:46:31 -0400 From: John R Levine <johnl@iecc.com> To: Bret Fausett <bfausett@internet.law.pro> CC: ALAC <alac@icann.org> References: <4293D812.2000307@internet.law.pro> I don't know whether this is to the current negotiation, but I'd like to see something about ensuring WHOIS access to legitimate users. A nearby ISP and I provide secondary DNS service to each other, a very typical setup. Since I am a faster perl programmer than he is, I wrote a little program that runs every week and figures out which of his domains are nearing expiration and which have expired, by checking the WHOIS data. Its use of whois is quite moderate since it remembers the results from last time and only rechecks domains that are close to their expiration date, and the total number of domains we're talking about here is small, about 1100, spread over many registrars. Nonetheless, a while ago a computer at Network Solutions decided that I was abusing their whois server and blocked access from my entire network. I could deal with that if there were some way to get unblocked, but as far as I can tell there isn't, since they've never responded to any of my attempts to contact them. I realize that whois scraping is a problem, but it's hard to see how the modest number of lookups I've been doing would set off someone's scrape-o-meter, and it stinks that there's no way to correct errors. Regards, John Levine, johnl@iecc.com, Primary Perpetrator of "The Internet for Dummies", Information Superhighwayman wanna-be, http://www.johnlevine.com, Mayor "I shook hands with Senators Dole and Inouye," said Tom, disarmingly.
Dear GNSO Council: Please be advised that the ICANN Board is scheduled to meet next Wednesday, June 1, 2005 via teleconference to discuss the following three agenda items: - .NET - .XXX - Strategic Plan See http://www.icann.org/minutes/ Best regards, Michael D. Palage
Thanks, Mike for posting this. I am sure that the Councilers are pleased to see items they have discussed on the Board's agenda. I note that there are not yet minutes for the May 3 meeting. Do you mind just also sharing an alert when minutes are posted? That would be helpful as well. I know that some day ICANN will have a system that allows the interested stakeholders to be alerted of postings of interest that they have opted into, but in the meantime, this is very helpful. -----Original Message----- From: owner-council@gnso.icann.org [mailto:owner-council@gnso.icann.org] On Behalf Of Michael D. Palage Sent: Thursday, May 26, 2005 2:57 AM To: council@gnso.icann.org Subject: [council] Next ICANN Board Call Dear GNSO Council: Please be advised that the ICANN Board is scheduled to meet next Wednesday, June 1, 2005 via teleconference to discuss the following three agenda items: - .NET - .XXX - Strategic Plan See http://www.icann.org/minutes/ Best regards, Michael D. Palage
Dear Marilyn, Tony and other Council members: In the interest of bandwidth efficiency I am responding collectively to Marilyn's and Tony's respective emails. With regard to Marilyn's question about the minutes from the May 3 meeting. The bylaws do not contain a fixed time period for the posting of minutes, Article III, Section 5 subparagraph 1 merely states that minutes "shall be approved promptly." This is unlike Article III, Section 5, subparagraph 2 which provides a fixed time frame of "no later than five (5) business days after each meeting any actions taken by the Board shall be made publicly available in a preliminary report on the Website." My "personal opinion" is that the Board should seek to follow the practice of the GNSO council which as a first item of business in most meetings, is the formal adoption of the minutes from the previous meeting. As previously stated, I will endeavor to keep the Council informed of all important action items (posting of agenda, posting of preliminary reports, posting of minutes, etc.) via the Council list. Turning to the question of Tony with regard to .ASIA. In the interest of full open and transparent disclosure, I need to inform the Council that I have abstained from participating in the .ASIA discussions because of my consulting arrangement with Afilias who is providing the backend registry services, although I have had no involvement with the .ASIA application. In accordance with the resolution passed on May 3rd there now appears to be an affirmative duty on behalf of the applicant to furnish additional information to the ICANN staff in connection with Section 8.3 of the "Principles for Delegation and Administration of ccTLDs Presented by Governmental Advisory Committee" see, http://www.icann.org/minutes/resolutions-03may05.htm. There are two variables that I am unable to account for. First, will the applicant need the full 90 days, and then after submitting the information to staff how fast will staff be able to provide the information to the Board. These are two variables which I believe it is not prudent for me to speculate upon. In connection with you and your fellow colleagues pursuing an sTLD for your region, I wish you well. As many can tell you, applying for a TLD is not for the feint of heart, however, without your participation I am sure that you will provide excellent leadership skills and advice. The only words of caution I would stress is that the RFP criteria may change just as it has changed from the original 2000 round to the most current sTLD round. During the last GNSO Council call Olaf discussed how he was working on a new ICANN policy with regard to TLDs. I would encourage you and your colleagues to closely follow and participare in this process to ensure that you interests are not materially impacted. I hope this information helps. Best regards, Michael D. Palage -----Original Message----- From: Anthony Harris [mailto:harris@cabase.org.ar] Sent: Thursday, May 26, 2005 4:05 PM To: michael@palage.com Subject: Re: [council] Next ICANN Board Call Hi Michael, Many thanks for keeping us informed! BTW do you know when a decision may be upcoming on .asia? This is of critical interest to the Latin American participants in the ICANN proceedings, since we are waiting in the wings with our proposal for a regional sTLD to serve our region, and we have expressed our support for the .asia proposal which has been presented with support from many ICANN stakeholders in that region. Kind regards Tony Harris -----Original Message----- From: Marilyn Cade [mailto:marilynscade@hotmail.com] Sent: Thursday, May 26, 2005 10:06 AM To: michael@palage.com; council@gnso.icann.org Subject: RE: [council] Next ICANN Board Call Thanks, Mike for posting this. I am sure that the Councilers are pleased to see items they have discussed on the Board's agenda. I note that there are not yet minutes for the May 3 meeting. Do you mind just also sharing an alert when minutes are posted? That would be helpful as well. I know that some day ICANN will have a system that allows the interested stakeholders to be alerted of postings of interest that they have opted into, but in the meantime, this is very helpful. -----Original Message----- From: owner-council@gnso.icann.org [mailto:owner-council@gnso.icann.org] On Behalf Of Michael D. Palage Sent: Thursday, May 26, 2005 2:57 AM To: council@gnso.icann.org Subject: [council] Next ICANN Board Call Dear GNSO Council: Please be advised that the ICANN Board is scheduled to meet next Wednesday, June 1, 2005 via teleconference to discuss the following three agenda items: - .NET - .XXX - Strategic Plan See http://www.icann.org/minutes/ Best regards, Michael D. Palage
participants (3)
-
Bret Fausett -
Marilyn Cade -
Michael D. Palage