This is a new doc that is not on our current list, but should be added. --Greg "INTERNET MANAGEMENT: Prevalence of False Contact Information for Registered Domain Names." United States Government Accountability Office. Report to the Subcommittee on Courts, the Internet, and Intellectual Property, U.S. House of Representatives. November 2005. http://www.gao.gov/assets/250/248452.pdf "The Whois service was originally intended as a source of contact information that technicians could use to reach each other when necessary to troubleshoot problems with Internet connectivity or functionality. However, users of the Whois service have broadened over time to include law enforcement officials, owners of intellectual property, and others seeking contact information about Web site owners for a variety of reasons." (page 4) "Created in the 1970s, Whois began as a service that Internet operators could use to identify and contact individuals or entities responsible for the operation of a computer on the Internet when an operational problem arose. Since then, the Whois service has evolved into a tool used for many purposes, such as determining whether a domain name is available for registration, identifying the source of spam e-mail, enforcing intellectual property rights, and identifying and verifying online merchants." (page 19) "Data accuracy is important to the effectiveness of the Whois service in helping Internet operators to resolve technical network issues, as well as helping law enforcement officers to investigate such things as intellectual property misuse or online fraud. According to federal agency officials, accurate Whois data have the potential to allow law enforcement officials to identify individuals involved in criminal activities on the Internet more quickly than if such information were not available." (page 20)