CLSR1804.
qxd 7/3/02 2:54 PM Page 302
CLSR Briefing
The Whois service provides free pub-
lic query-based access to update data
concerning all active registered
names sponsored by the Registrar
for each top level domain (TLD) in
which it is accredited.The data acces-
sible consists of elements that desig-
nated from time to time according
to an ICANN adopted specification
or policy. Currently this data consists
of the following:
• The name of the registered name;
• The names of the primary name-
server and secondly nameserver(s)
for the registered name;
• The identity of the Registrar (which
may be provided through the
Registrar’s web site);
• The original creation date of the
registration;
• The name and postal address of the
registered name holder;
• The name, postal address, email
address, voice telephone number
and (where available) fax number
of the technical contact of the
Registered Name; and
• The name, postal address, email
address, voice telephone number
and (where available) fax number
of the administrative contact for the
Registered Name.
The advisory goes on to define the
required provisions in service agree-
ments with registrants and the regis-
trar obligation to correct inaccurate
data. Registrars are also required to
include in their registration agree-
ment with each registrant a provision
under which the registrant promises
to provide accurate and reliable con-
tact details to the Registrar and
promptly correct and update them.
The RAA also obliges registrars to
“take reasonable steps to investigate”
any inaccuracy in Whois data upon
notification from “any person”. The
advisory also deals with cancellation
of registrations in the event of materi-
al breached by the registrant and its
applicability to resellers.
Editor’s Note: Further information
from: <wwww.icann.org>.
302
The Organization for Economic
Cooperation Development (OECD) has
published a report on Cybersquatting
detailing the OECD’s experience and the
problems it illustrates with registrar prac-
tices and the `Whois’ system. This indi-
cates that there are “many problems”with
the system as it operates today. It further
sets out some thoughts on the public pol-
icy agenda concerning this area. A copy
of the report can be found from the
OECD web site: <w www.oecd.org>.
OECD hails IP telephony
and falling Internet costs
The Organization for Economic Co-
operation Development (OECD) has
published two reports dealing with
aspects of international Telecoms
policy. The first – Trends in IT Tech-
nology: Their Impact on the Tradi-
tional Telephony Carrier world deals
with the impact of the Internet
Protocol (IP) on telephony, which is
anticipated to replace traditional voice
services with integrated voice and IP-
based applications in the future. It
notes that: “The impact of IP-based
applications will be to significantly
increase the volume of global network
traffic”. This will become an “enabler
of new uses and business and con-
sumer applications”. The report sees
the potential for IP-based voice com-
munication as a cheaper alternative to
traditional telephony but this is less
important than “the opportunity for
the integration of voice in new IP-
based applications that are considered
drivers for broad band services”. The
successful exploitation of such oppor-
tunities will be best utilized when tra-
ditional carriers form new alliances
and partnerships in order to bring
these services to businesses and con-
sumers.
The second report – Internet
Traffic Exchange and the Develop-
ment of End-to-End International
Telecommunication Competition up-
dates and extends previous work done
by the OECD on Internet traffic
exchange between networks. It notes
that competition is increasing in
Internet backbone markets as a result
of liberalization and the consequent
ability of telecoms carriers to provide
infrastructure and services on an end-
to-end basis. The report concludes
that the current arrangements provide
the right incentives for developing
these markets including the two
largest points for international traffic
the exchange in the UK and the
United States. It suggests that regula-
tors should continue to investigate the
adequacy of existing data to inform
them on these issues while sharing
national experience particularly in
relation to the feasibility of such data
collection. The net result has been “A
sharp decrease in the cost of Internet
access for consumers and business
users and, importantly, new pricing
structures more favorable to Internet
development”.
Editor’s Note: Both Reports are
available on the OECD web site at
<wwww.oecd.org>.
DIARY
• Data Protection Workshops 2002 -
Two day interactive events across
the UK (next event - September
10/11 - Cardiff) or in-house privacy
laws & business. Telephone: +44(0)
20 8423 1300, Email: gill@privacy -
laws.com, Internet: <w www.privacy -
laws.com>.
• IT Law – Summer School 2002 12-16
August 2002. A residential course at
Downing College, Cambridge, IBC
UK Conferences Limited. Tele-
phone: +44(0) 1932 893852, Email:
cust.serv@informa.com, Internet:
<www.ibclegal.com/itlaw>.
• Intellectual Property Law Summer
School 2002 19-22 August 2002,
Downing College, Cambridge, IBC
Global Conferences. Telephone:
+44(0) 1932 893852, Email:
cust.serv@informa.com , Internet:
<www.ibclegal.com/iplaw>.