Help ! Nominet want to shutdown Deleting.co.uk

[Whois-Search]

Nominet have requested we do not store data sourced from their whois database.

Including the words "detagged" and "suspended".

Extracts from their letters are shown below :


"On your deleting.co.uk site you create your own word list independent of Nominet (which is obviously fine) and then query the WHOIS. From that WHOIS query you just take the status (detagged, suspended, not registered, etc.) and then record that, together with the domain name, on your database.

The question was whether we objected to that use."..............

"The database and WHOIS database are copyright and database right Nominet UK. We provide the WHOIS data under the terms of us (see www.nic.uk/whois) which includes the term "You are not allowed to reuse, compile, store or transmit any or all of the WHOIS records unless you have our prior written consent.

The information contained within the WHOIS is extremely valuable and is of great commercial benefit, and accordingly even small sections of the WHOIS are are substantial part of the database.

Our view therefore is that no part of the WHOIS or WHOIS data should be reused or stored. If you wish to find out the status of domains (except on a insubstantial or domestic scale of a couple of dozen) you must use the live WHOIS, and not store the data. Equally, putting that data on a website (i.e. www.deleting.co.uk) is 'transmitting' that data, and is also prohibited.

So that is why we feel that we were correct in our letter in requesting the deletion of your WHOIS sourced data and database (but not the list of names).

Domain Availability Checker ('DAC')

We are aware that some members/tagholders wish to do a high number of queries on the WHOIS just to determine registration status, and not the address, namerservers etc.

For this reason we will be launching a new service (release date not yet fixed) called the Domain Availability Checker which will allow up to 100,000 queries per 24 hours for this information. This will be linked to a change in how tag-holders can query domains not on their tag, since the DAC will be a more appropriate service for them to use. It will be released under a standard term contract (so users will have to register with us, rather than being free to all comers, like the WHOIS is). There may be a cost recovery charge.

I would expect that this service will suit your needs, as you appear to have about 30,000 names to query, well below the 24 hour limit.

Conclusion

The effect of the introduction of the DAC may be that you may actually be able to make more queries (provided that you apply for and are accepted to use it) which presumably would assist you. However, our underlying point, which is that WHOIS data (or DAC data) must not be compiled, disseminated or otherwise stored outside Nominet remains."..................

Therefore we would repeat our request.................

"(a) request that you cease copying our register;
(b) request that you delete the database(s) that you have created through copying our register; and
(c) obtain your confirmation that you will not copy our database again."

In respect of (a) to (c), we would request confirmation within 21 days that this has been done.

[Whois-Search]

www.deleting.co.uk will re-open tonight with the detagged and suspended column gone.

They say .com and .net is different because they have different copyright laws.

[Nexus]

Sounds pretty serious.

~ Nexus

[LewR]

Whois-Search - While it certainly may put a crimp in your plans - I have to say from reading what you posted that they are correct in asking you to cease using that info on your site.

In reality, if they were not launching a money making endeavor to provide the same info, it would actually SAVE them traffic since the traffic would go to your site instead.

But the launch of their new service (which you may actually have triggered - LOL) makes it clear as to their true intent in upholding and enforcing their rights.

I hope you find another means of gleaning and posting such information - Good Luck!!

[laskos]

yeah but nominet uk are a non profit organisation? so they can not charge for a simular service.

Laskos

[Dominion]

Originally posted by LewR
But the launch of their new service (which you may actually have triggered - LOL) makes it clear as to their true intent in upholding and enforcing their rights.

If you mean the "Domain Availability Checker" then Nominet announced this At the bottom of this page 6 months before Whois-Search even registered the name deleting.co.uk

For them to say "Equally, putting that data on a website (i.e. www.deleting.co.uk) is 'transmitting' that data, and is also prohibited." is crazy. Every site that has a Whois, that shows .co.uk results, is transmitting their data. Are they going to go after everyone?