> Since this is the only source, of which I am aware, for a comprehensive list
> of registered domains updated on a daily basis, I believe restricting access
> to this publically-owned information is both illegal and provides Network
> Solutions with a critical competitive advantage in online market research.
On the other hand, the database is a *big* privacy intrusion.
And, as I've been indicating, it was paid for and authorized via the
Cooperative Agreement and is hence subject to the Privacy Act of 1974.
As such, you, or anybody, should not have been obtaining access unless you
had entered into an undertaking to protect the privacy of the data as
required by the act (and which neither NSF nor NTIA seem to be bothering
to require of NSI.)
> I call upon members of these lists to pursue every available avenue to
> pursuade the federal government, ICANN, and Network Solutions to once again
> provide this information to the very people who paid for its collection.
Not me. I won't advocate opening the database to anyone (*including* NSI,
even for its own billing purposes) until it is subject to appropriate
privacy limitations.
> As far as using these data to SPAM domain name holders, I do not believe
> restricting access to information for all is an acceptable answer to those
> problems caused by a select few.
There's more at stake than merely preventing spammers and telemarketers
from using the data.
--karl--
