UK domain ownership

hiding your identity

[George]

This is a standard problem, and I am part way to finding a solution.
Lisa' s whois site will not show details for .co.uk domains. I understand this is due to different privacy laws and gives anyone with a co.uk an advantage in this arena. however it is still easy to look the up individually. On top of this, it is possible to get:
THE REGISTRANT IS AN INDIVIDUAL WHO HAS ELECTED TO HAVE THEIR ADDRESS OMITTED FROM THE WHOIS DATABASE.

This avoids the necessity of a proxy.
Anyone come across this before, and is it still available?

[lazerzubb]

NOt sure i don't think that option is available anymore it used to be at registers like 123reg etc, but even if you click it now the whole info still shows up, and for whois at .co.uk domains there is nominet.org.uk which is the destination.

[George]

thanks lazerzubb
Had a look round there before, and I seemed to be missing it. It is mentioned on their:
www.nominet.org.uk/nominet-terms.html page, but that is it!

[Stretch]

As an individual, not a company, I registered a .co.uk in march at easyspace. This still shows:

THE REGISTRANT IS AN INDIVIDUAL WHO HAS ELECTED TO HAVE THEIR ADDRESS OMITTED FROM THE WHOIS DATABASE

Same result on nominet, geektools and samspade.

[aspdaddy]

It used to be instant with 123reg, you could register as a limited company and still opt out afterwards by saying you are an individual.

Doesnt seem to work anymore, maybe you need to put the registrant as a persons name not a company?

<added>Nope, it DOES still work, just takes a few minutes to update :)</added>

[AdamUk2003]

UKReg have also now added an option to opt-out your personal information when you register a domain, I've got quite a few domains with them and only noticed it in the last week or so.

<edited - can't spell :)>

[edited by: AdamUk2003 at 10:47 am (utc) on Aug. 1, 2003]

[George]

Thanks folks, and welcome AdamUk2003.
I guess i will open a new ukreg account then.

[percy]

Every admin-c should be able to be contacted. At least through a valid email address.

You should also have your address and contact information on every website you publish. In some countries, it is illegal to have a website without any contact information.

You need to provide a company name/owner name, address and on the website your tax id if you are using banner advertising or if you sell goods/services.

[George]

Percy,
Is that law? If so which country?

[percy]

In Germany you must provide contact information, otherwise anyone might sue you. Even if you live in the UK and have a German .de website.

I dont know the story with other European countries though.

I personally cant stand websites that keep completely anonymous either - it is especially quite dodgy if you pay a membership fee or something to a completely anonymous website.

Data protection is interpreted differently in different countries. The same with the fact in the UK nobody needs to carry around an ID card and in Germany (in theory) you might be arrested if you can not prove your id with an id card, driving license or whatever.

I think it might change all over Europe with the EU harmonization.

[George]

And how about a joke site, run for fun? I see a good reason there to keep your name hidden.

I agree, I would not purchase from a site that is anonymous, but I think ecommerce is not the only reason for having a site.

You should also have your address and contact information on every website you publish. In some countries, it is illegal to have a website without any contact information.

There are plenty of people who do not respect privacy laws, hence spam :)