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Google Who s Information Used For Other Purposes
o Daddy’s Patents results based on domain name
related reputation (US Patent
A recent trio of patents Application 20060095404)
published last May 4, 2006 by Go
Daddy has lead people to Google’s Patents
speculate on whether Google is
using Who Is information for Although Google has nothing to do
other purposes such as improving with Go Daddy’s patents, a patent
their ranking mechanism. The of their own filed in December of
patents by Go Daddy all had the 2003 and published last March 31,
same description and in essence 2005 has raised some eyebrows and
explored the possibility of made people wonder whether they
adding additional information in are indeed using WhoIs
the WhoIs database in which the information in the way that Go
additional information can be Daddy’s patents suggest they
used to improve search engine could. The patent Information
results and help combat various retrieval based on historical
forms of Internet abuse like data (US Patent Application
spamming and phishing. The three 20050071741) stated that “systems
patents, whose inventors are and methods…may score documents
Warren Adelman and Michael based, at least in part, on
Chadwick, are as follows: history data associated with the
documents. This scoring may be
• Publishing domain name related used to improve search results
reputation in WhoIs records (US generated in connection with a
Patent Application 20060095459) search query.” The history data
• Tracking domain name related indicated in the Google’s patent
reputation (US Patent Application description just might be,
20060095586) according to speculation, the
• Presenting search engine additional data or information
that can be added to the WhoIs mentions that there is an
database that the Go Daddy’s emerging strong feeling among
patent is speaking of. This makes people that there should be less
sense since the use of both access to WhoIs information, and
information or data is consistent yet it is also around this time
with each other in that the that the Go Daddy’s patent on
history data that will be used in other possible uses of the WhoIs
scoring documents in turn would information was published and
help improve relevancy of search emerged.
engine results.
GNSOs Definition of WhoIs Purpose
Issue of Privacy
Discussions regarding the
The improved search results are possible use of WhoIs information
of course not a problem for for other purposes by Google
Google users since they will could, however, be pointless due
benefit from it. However it is to a recent vote made by ICANN’s
not the improved results that are Generic Names Supporting
raising eyebrows, rather privacy Organization (GNSO) Council
matters is what’s under question. regarding the purpose of WhoIs
People have always been concerned and thus the use of WhoIs
about their privacy and many see information as well.
the additional data to be added
to the WhoIs database as To come up with a definition for
unnecessary and furthermore the the purpose of WhoIs a WhoIs Task
use of such information to be a Force was formed with the two
step towards invading their primary responsibilities of
privacy. It is actually ironic defining the purpose of WhoIs
that just recently an article service in context with ICANN’s
appeared on CircleID which mission and relevant core values
and to define the purpose of the And
Registered Name Holder,
technical, and administrative "The purpose of the gTLD WhoIs
contacts, in the context of the service is to provide information
purpose of WhoIs, and the purpose sufficient to contact a
for which the data was collected. responsible party or parties for
The task force then developed the a particular gTLD domain name who
definition from July to November can resolve, or reliably pass on
of 2006 and finally submitted two data to a party who can resolve,
definitions of the purpose for technical, legal or other issues
WhoIs, which was put up for related to the registration or
further discussion. The two use of a domain name."
definitions according to the (Definition 2)
Preliminary task force report on
the purpose of WhoIs and of the After much discussion a majority
WhoIs contacts were: vote of 2/3 of the GNSO Council
finally voted on Definition 1 as
"The purpose of the gTLD WhoIs the definition of the purpose for
service is to provide information WhoIs. The definition was
sufficient to contact a supported by was supported by the
responsible party for a registries, registrars, the three
particular gTLD domain name who Nomination Committee appointees,
can resolve, or reliably pass on and the noncommercial users
data to a party who can resolve, (NCUC) while the Business,
issues related to the Intellectual Property, and ISP
configuration of the records constituencies did not agree.
associated with the domain name
within a DNS nameserver." The US Government expressed
(Definition 1) displeasure with the final
decision unsurprisingly since the
definition restricts their line with their core values. As
ability to use WhoIs information the registry constituency said in
for other purposes as well. In their discussion regarding the
the discussion NCUC even purpose of WhoIs “The WhoIs
expressly stated that one of the function had one original
excluded or invalid purposes of purpose…[but now] has additional
WhoIs is to “expand the purposes that have arisen from
surveillance powers given to law the change of character of the
enforcement under law, or to Internet.” They acknowledge the
bypass the protections and change in purpose but the
limitations imposed by sovereign statement was said with illegal
governments to prevent the abuse or criminal activities in mind
and misuse of personal data, even and the need to change the WhoIs
by law enforcement.” function to combat such
activities and yet preserve the
It was not explicitly statements individual’s privacy. Go Daddy’s
though against using WhoIs patent explicitly stated that
information for search engine WhoIs information could be used
results optimization and for to combat such activities and
combating Internet fraud. That is since the use is noble and not
not to say though that it is in aimed to divulge any information
line with the defined purpose, for the whole world to see then
since it is not. However, there there could be hope for their
might yet be hope that Google can proposed use of WhoIs
continue such use of WhoIs information. As for Google, we
information (if they are using it just have to wait and see if
in that way) since the definition improving ranking mechanisms will
of purpose can eventually be be seen by ICANN as a justifiable
expanded to fit that use if ICANN use of such information.
decides that it would still be in
About the Author:
http://www.theinternetone.net
Read more articles by: Danny Wirken
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