Domains
Reregistered for Distribution of Unrelated Content, Revisited
A Case Study of "Domain Strategy" and "Tina's Live Cam"
Benjamin
Edelman - Berkman Center for
Internet & Society - Harvard Law
School
[
Background - Raw Data - Analysis
- Conclusions - Support & Extend This
Work ]
|
Abstract Domains expire, are renewed. Author previously documented some 4,500+ examples of this behavior. In the face of continued scrutiny of this practice, and new policies intended to reduce its ease and its profitability, it is of interest to investigate the continuing scope of the behavior. Research indicates that domain reregistrations remain prevalent, and many thousands of domains continue to provide access to sexually-explicit content on domain names that previously provided other content and that do not, by their names, suggest the availability of sexually-explicit content. |
Related Projects |
General overview.
Domain name registrations, terms, expirations.
Prior work on expiring domain names.
Prior work on misleading domain names more generally.
Scrutiny by researchers, press, industry policy-makers (ICANN, registrars, committee), government
Prior work on this registrant. Last year's work, UDRP links, etc.
Overview.
Methodology.
Results. List of thousands of domains that are now porn sites.
Highlights
Analysis and Summary Statistics
Kinds of domains affected. Small businesses. Politicians (gorman2000.org, former web site of Dan Gorman, independent presidential candidate), public policy groups (givethanksgivelife.org, a group considering organ and tissue donation)
Destinations of the redirect include: A site calling itself "100% Free Porn" using URL http://internetcam.net/ (screen shot -- warning: sexually-explicit); sexy-girls-live.com (screen shot); various searches using a system called netguide, relying on search keywords including "gay" (screen shot). Redirect destinations are sometimes masked using HTML FRAMEs. Internetcam.net is itself registered to Domain Strategy, but it consists solely of links to other sites, using affiliate links to receive commissions from click-throughs. Sexy-girls-live.com is registered to another individual, Vincent Tremblay of Valdor, Quebec.
Rate of churn.
Additions per week
Drops from last time around -- due to expiration (domains now expired, not operational); due to repurchase by some other registrant; due to some other reason.
Companies used. Registrars. Domain Strategy's DNS and redirects are provided by mydomain.com. Its web content is provided by a server that uses DNS operated by TheColoGroup of Las Vegas, and its web hosting is provided by California Regional Internet, an ISP and web host in San Diego.
Significant situation. Thousands of domains.
Policy options: Delete grace period. Truth in labeling requirement.
Difficulty of enforcement. Geographic, jurisdictional issues. Zuccarini. Domain Strategy from Montreal.
Partial support for this project was provided by the Berkman Center for Internet & Society at Harvard Law School. Additional financial support will assure the continuation of this and related projects. Please contact the author with suggestions.
The author has developed the ability to identify and report most or all additional domain names registered by a given registrant. Collaborations are welcomed with those who have research, legal, policy, or other interests in these methods and their results.
Last Updated: March 24, 2003 - Sign up for notification of major updates and related work.
