Mark Monitor helps keep .us domain registration records private.
It’s been years since the average consumer could register a .us domain name using whois privacy, thanks to a decision by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration.
But apparently if you’re a big brand you can still do it.
A company recently registered a slew of domain names related to dairy products, including BadDairy.com, DairyBad.com, and Bad-Dairy.com. Whomever registered these domains also registered versions under multiple top level domains including .net, .info, .biz, and .us.
The domains were registered to DNStination Inc., an affiliate of brand protection company Mark Monitor. And make no mistake; DNStination Inc. is effectively a proxy service for Mark Monitor customers. [email protected] is currently associated with about 20,000 domain names. Big brands tend to use this service when they don’t want to tip off that they’re the registrant of a domain name (at least yet).
Take a look at the whois record for BadDairy.us:
Let’s call a spade a spade: Mark Monitor is offering whois proxy services on .us domain names.
John UK says
Hmm, that whois image is for the .com not the .us .Interesting anyway thanks.
John UK says
Oops, my mistake sorry the image on this page is for .us but the one you sent my email link is for .com .
Andrew Allemann says
@ John – I had accidentally put the .com in at first, fixed to the .us
Frank Michlick says
I’ve seen then having private whois for .CA domains as well, which isn’t permitted there either.
Volker says
It really depends on the contractual setup behind the scenes. If MarkMonitor registered these domain names on behalf of their client, then yes, its a proxy service in violation of .US registry policies. If on the other hand they have a different kind of arrangement where their subsidiary registers the domain names in its own name and later transfers the domain to their client, they are the legal registrant for all intents and purposes at this time, and thus not a proxy.