Providing fake info during domain registration - does it matter?

Question

All domain registrars ask for your real name, address, and phone which immediately become available for everyone to see through whois. If you don't want that (and you certainly don't) they offer you to basically pay double fee and they will hide it. What if just enter wrong info during registration, would anyone care to check (and how would they do that)?

Answer 1

ICANN (not the domain registrar) requires that all information in your registration be valid.

If any dispute arises (see the ICANN Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy rules here) you will be contacted via the means specified in your domain registration. Notice that section 14 of the rules is a section that defines what happens as part of a 'default' (in other words, they can't contact you): They'll proceed with a judgement, and you won't get a say in the proceedings.

ICANN has the power to take a domain from you and give it to somebody else.

So yes, it's important that you include valid information in your registration information.

For a comparison of a what a private domain registration looks like (compared to a regular domain registration) see this: http://www.domainsbyproxy.com/popup/whoisexample.aspx

Answer 2

Personally, I wouldn't insert false data. Whilst you generally should not have problems, it is usually against the rules of the registrar you are using and for some TLD's, it is against the registry's rules.

If someone chooses to complain (for any reason) and they have no way to find out who owns the record, and they kick up enough fuss, it is possible that either the registrar or the registry will delete the domain.

However, if privacy is important for you, some places offer privacy for free.

Answer 3

Well, I know this. If you are running a legit business or anything that makes profit, you want to use legit information for all legal reasons.

You are going against the registrars rules also by inserting false information. They could deny you services for violating those terms of use. You are legally purchasing a product that belongs to you and you want to make sure it belongs to you and not "Susie Sue".

Answer 4

I believe that there is an ICANN reg that requires valid information for domain registrations. ICANN requests that registrars reverify the domain registration information periodically. Thus it is possible that you could suddenly find your domain to be inaccessible at some point if invalid information is used.

As you indicate, if you wish to keep your identity out of whois and such, various registrars offer a 'proxy' method of hiding your information. This service is generally not free and cost varies from registrar to registrar.

Answer 5

Yes, it matters!

At most registries it is a breach of their contract to supply incorrect information, and if caught they can cancel your domain name.

If the registration is for personal (non-trading) use then some registries (like .uk) offer an opt-out so that personal information is not revealed in the "whois" database. However the registry itself still requires your real information.

Answer 6

Use Private Registration to avoid SPAM and any obvious ties to your organization.

This also lets you register and run a site like: www.DirtyNastyOMGMyMotherWouldKillMeIfSheKnewIRanThisSite.com

and not be the obvious owner while you work at:

www.KittensAndBunnyRabbitsForGoodHomes.com

See GoDaddy's Private Registration

Answer 7

It is illegal to provide false information when registering a domain name. The Intellectual Property Protection and Courts Amendments Act of 2004 makes it illegal, http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/D?c108%3A5%3A./temp/~c108ZA4CCY::

Answer 8

This is not possible to provide false information when you are going to register your domain name even the domain registrar also couldn't do that. The information you give is required and whole responsibility came to head of the domain registrar, so you never cheat to anyone with false information. The information about the domain name owner is the legal and required information by the American cyber law.

Answer 9

"is not possible to provide false information when you are going to register your domain" on which planet? If you are registering a .co.uk it is possible to choose to opt out of the public dissemination of your your details for free. As others have said, for instances where you are a bona fide company it makes more sense to publicly acknowledge your ownership of a domain. If you have valid reasons (and there are many) to retain your privacy, the annual fee for so doing is small. The net is chock-a-block with fraudulent or misleading registration details. The desire to avoid spam is not a good enough reason to fabricate an identity. If the purpose of your domain registration is legit, be out and proud! If it might cause embarrassment or itching, cough up the privacy fee.