11,770
edits
Changes
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
Line 5:
Line 5: − During the foundational period of the Internet the only organization that was responsible for the administration of domain name registrations was [[DARPA]]. As the Internet grew in the 1980s, the Whois system appeared with the purpose of administering and looking-up domain names, registrants and other resources related to domain name registration. Still, at that time there was only the one organization registering domains, so the system acted as a centralized query-based server. Over time the number of [[gTLD]]s significantly increased, which led to complex networks of registrars and related associations; in response the Whois servers became stronger and less permissive.<ref>[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whois Whois History]</ref>+ + + + + + + + + +
Rewrote History Section
==Whois History==
==Whois History==
WHOIS was initially established to provide information for resolving technical issues with [[ARPANET]]. As the Internet grew and became commercialised, the new uses of WHOIS began to emerge, such as tracking abusive practices, attempting to purchase the domain from the owner and to discover registrant information in cases of potential trademark infringement.<ref>David Lindsay, International Domain Name Law: ICANN and the UDRP, Hart Publishing, 2007</ref>
The conception of WHOIS came in 1982, when Ken Harrenstien submitted [https://tools.ietf.org/html/rfc812 RFC-812] to the IETF, which created the protocol for [[ARPANET|ARPANET's]] directory service.<ref>[https://tools.ietf.org/html/rfc812 IETF RFC-812]</ref> In 1985, this RFC-812 was obsoleted by [https://www.ietf.org/rfc/rfc954.txt RFC-954]. which made minor expansions and updates to the WHOIS service, also known as NICNAME at the time.<ref>[https://tools.ietf.org/html/rfc954 RFC-954]</ref>
In 1998, when ICANN was created, it inherited the WHOIS protocol and the existing TLDS, including [[.com]], [[.org]] and [[.net]].<ref>[https://www.icann.org/en/system/files/files/final-report-11may12-en.pdf WHOIS Policy Review Team Final Report, p.25]</ref> [[Network Solutions]] acted as the sole manager of these gTLDs, so the WHOIS system acted as a centralized query-based server.
In 1999, to promote competition in the gTLD market, ICANN created [[registrar|registrars]]. In order to create competitive fairness, ICANN made [[.com]] a thin registry, meaning they hold limited registrant data, with complete data held by the registrar.
The specifications from RFC-954 remained intact, until 2004 when the IETF published [https://tools.ietf.org/html/rfc3912 RFC 3912], which removed information no longer relevant to today's internet. Additionally, this update outlined shortcomings in the WHOIS system, such as internationalisation and security considerations.<ref>[https://tools.ietf.org/html/rfc3912 RFC-3912]</ref>
==WHOIS Issues==
How to maintain both a privacy secure and safe Whois system, and an accurate database for contacts for any domain registrant, has been one of the most intractable issues at [[ICANN]]. Whois is one of 4 issues areas that is subject to Independent Review under ICANN's Affirmation of Commitments with the U.S. Government.<ref name="Deja Whois">[http://news.dot-nxt.com/2013/01/16/deja-whois Deja Whois, News.Dot-Nxt]Published & Retrieved 17 Jan 2013]</ref> At [[ICANN 45]] in Toronto, the fist opening ceremony address by new ICANN CEO, [[Fadi Chehadé]], he memorably said that the Whois problem should not have been drawn out for 12 years and should not be a difficult problem to solve.<ref>[http://domainincite.com/10941-chehade-sets-out-12-point-plan-for-next-six-months Chehade Sets out 12 Point PLan for Next 6 months, DomainIncite.com]Retrieved 17 Jan 2013</ref><ref>[http://www.icann.org/en/news/press/kits/toronto45/video-chehade-15oct12-en.htm Video Chehade, ICANN.org]Retrieved 17 Jan 2013</ref>
How to maintain both a privacy secure and safe Whois system, and an accurate database for contacts for any domain registrant, has been one of the most intractable issues at [[ICANN]]. Whois is one of 4 issues areas that is subject to Independent Review under ICANN's Affirmation of Commitments with the U.S. Government.<ref name="Deja Whois">[http://news.dot-nxt.com/2013/01/16/deja-whois Deja Whois, News.Dot-Nxt]Published & Retrieved 17 Jan 2013]</ref> At [[ICANN 45]] in Toronto, the fist opening ceremony address by new ICANN CEO, [[Fadi Chehadé]], he memorably said that the Whois problem should not have been drawn out for 12 years and should not be a difficult problem to solve.<ref>[http://domainincite.com/10941-chehade-sets-out-12-point-plan-for-next-six-months Chehade Sets out 12 Point PLan for Next 6 months, DomainIncite.com]Retrieved 17 Jan 2013</ref><ref>[http://www.icann.org/en/news/press/kits/toronto45/video-chehade-15oct12-en.htm Video Chehade, ICANN.org]Retrieved 17 Jan 2013</ref>