Moniker_Man - 8:52 pm on Oct 7, 2005 (gmt 0)

G - can access a lot of info about domains by being a registrar....but they are not using privacy to down grade page ranks.

registrars have access to zone files, dns, creation dates, expiration dates, update dates, lock status, etc.

EPP registries provide full contact records as Dave was saying - Thin vs. Thick registries and info.

.net will be moving to EPP by year end and eventially .com will as well.

In either case, privacy still is protected if that is the whois output. the only times you must release true identity of registrants are for WIPO/UDRP, Court Order, and other legal/govermental authorized requests.

hope that helps with the additional questions/comments