Dear WG members,
Following Petter’s question, I reached out to Kristine Dorrain from the National Arbitration Forum. She confirmed that the NAF does indeed use the WHOIS data, but they only copy-paste the information as displayed in the WHOIS. So to them it is irrelevant whether the information is accurate and/or in Latin or any other script. You will find our conversation in full below. 
I hope this helps - 
Best wishes,
Lars




From: <Dorrain>, Kristine
Date: Thursday 22 May 2014 16:35
To: Lars HOFFMANN <lars.hoffmann@icann.org>
Cc: Julie Hedlund <julie.hedlund@icann.org>
Subject: RE: Not IRTP related ...

Yes, that’s correct.

 

We copy and paste the text in the Whois fields…regardless of script. 

 

Note that the primary service of the complaint now is email, so the only thing sent via mail or fax is a notice.

 

From: Lars Hoffmann [mailto:lars.hoffmann@icann.org]
Sent: Thursday, May 22, 2014 9:15 AM
To: Dorrain, Kristine
Cc: Julie Hedlund
Subject: Re: Not IRTP related ...

 

HI Kristine – thank you for the quick response – so, assuming there was a non-Latin script WHOIS, you would serve that address (say in chinese). And if there was also a translation or transliteration of the address you would serve that too but without verifying to what extent (if at all) the translation is correct?

I think that is all the Group requires at this time. Thank you again so much for your help with this!

Best wishes,

Lars

 

 

From: <Dorrain>, Kristine 
Date: Thursday 22 May 2014 15:45
To: Lars HOFFMANN <lars.hoffmann@icann.org>
Cc: Julie Hedlund <julie.hedlund@icann.org>
Subject: RE: Not IRTP related ...

 

Hi Lars:

 

Yes, all of the Policies require us to serve the information listed in the Whois.  That information is considered to be “the registrant/the respondent.”  We do not verify accuracy at all.  If a Whois record says Mickey Mouse, address 1234 Main Street, that’s the respondent according to the UDRP/URS etc.  If a registrar or registry were to notify us when we request the domain name lock that there is another contact information for Respondent (billing information under UDRP, a removal of a privacy service, etc) we will serve that information as well.  The URS does not require that…it only requires that we serve the information in the Whois, but we take the extra step to prevent problems with service due to Whois inaccuracies a Registrar was trying to fix.

 

I’m happy to do a deeper dive if needed, or make a guest appearance on your next call.

 

Best,

 

Kristine

 

 

 

From: Lars Hoffmann [mailto:lars.hoffmann@icann.org]
Sent: Thursday, May 22, 2014 8:34 AM
To: Dorrain, Kristine
Cc: Julie Hedlund
Subject: Not IRTP related ...

 

Hi Kristine,

I hope all is well!  I am supporting the PDP WG on Translation and Transliteration of Contact Information. And the WG members are wondering whether and if so, how, NAF is using WHOIS to contact registrants that are party to disputes (under any of the ICANN dispute resolution policies). And if NAF contacts registrants, to what extent do you/can you/ do you need to verify the accuracy of WHOIS information?  

Many thanks for your help with this and best wishes,

Lars