As a web developer and an owner of a website, I find this a little troubling, someone can know my identity just by getting the WHOIS information of my website. Well, I still prefer preserving my identity as a person and not exposing it in the world wide web. But the thing is this is under the law,  according to eHow.com, All domain registrars and Web hosts offering domain registration services must sign with the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) an agreement to make available to the public the name and contact information of the domain owner.

So basically this means that if you own a nasty website or is planning to create a nasty website you better think again because you can still be traced.

I recently tried using www.uwhois.com to see if my identities can be found through the domain name of my website and to my surprise uwhois.com was able to show my infos. Although I find it troubling, I also find it helpful at the same time. With www.uwhois.com now I can know the person who owns the domain names that interests me. I could either send them email and ask if they are selling their website or remind them how silly their blog sites are.

There are ways in which you can hide or protect your privacy. Next time when you apply for a domain name make sue to read all the terms and conditions if you are open and comfortable with the ICANN agreement. The ICANN agreement for me is actually beneficial for it will provide restrictions in domain name registrations.

Next blog, How to hide your domain name identity. i havent tried it but I am excited to test it.

My answer is always the same, Domain Name Dispute.

Domain name disputes happens when a company finds that the domain name corresponding to their corporate name or product trademark is registered by others. The company can either choose a different name or fight to get the domain name and this is where the domain name dispute enters.

All domain registrars follow the ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers) policy. The ICANN helps regulate the internet’s unique identifiers such as domain names. Without ICANN and its policies, anyone can own a domain name even if it is a trademark of an existing company or product. For example, I can own www.microsoft.com even if its not my company or trademark.

When a domain name dispute occurs, the complaining party can always go to the court and file complains, although the courts and judges can award ownership of the domain name, the process is slow for both companies need to prove and submit supporting documents showing that they have more rights on the domain name. Usually, domain name dispute avoids courts and usually come up with a settlement for both parties.

Another speedy resolution for domain name dispute is the UDRP or Uniform Domain-Name Dispute-Resolution Policy, the policy allows domain registrars to cancel, suspend or transfer domain names if the domain-holder is proven to be a cybersquatter or those who register the company name of trademark products for malicious purposes.

So before you think of registering celebrity names and claiming them as yours, think again because cyberspace is also being regulated by laws and policies.

Sponsored sTLDs are limited to narrow communities for which the sponsor sets the rules generally. Since then several more were added (.asia, .cat, .jobs, .mobi, .travel). Each TLD has its own registry maintained by the registry operator.

As a user you will buy your domain name from a registrar who then send the information to the registry.

Registrars typically will not do anything unless there is a court action or arbitration, particularly if there are trademark issues.

If you have an issue you are probably looking to have a domain canceled, suspended, or transfer a domain name.

So what do you do? Well if you are a Trademark holder you can (a) file a complaint in a court of proper jurisdiction against the domain-name holder (or where appropriate an in-rem action concerning the domain name) or (b) in cases of abusive registration submit a complaint to an approved dispute-resolution service provider.

Find more here.