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Privacy is in the headlines a lot recently...
While reading up on what Nominet (.uk registry) allow/don't allow in their OPT OUT rules I found this Guardian article: ...end of user's privacy.
I come across many co.uk websites that contain Google Ads (AdSense), Amazon and similar affiliate links which in theory all break Nominet's rules as the owner has 'opted out' from WHOIS! Any website that serves ads is classed as 'commercial' and so has to display the owners name and postal address.
The Guardian article links to a bloggers struggle with Nominet after someone used Nominet's complaint system to report an incorrectly 'opted-out' domain - it's a long read!
It seems(I think) Nominet are happy for domains to be registered using the postal address of the provider (Freeola's in our case!) - they just require a way of contacting the owner.
Perhaps Freeola could see if that's the case and offer that as a service/option when registering a domain?
I'm guessing Nominet don't allow the paid for privacy services that are used for .com etc. to be used for .UKs?
If they are happy with that perhaps Freeola could extend their paid-for privacy options for those that do 'trade' using a co.uk but don't want any Tom, Dick or Harry turning up on their door step?
While reading up on what Nominet (.uk registry) allow/don't allow in their OPT OUT rules I found this Guardian article: ...end of user's privacy.
I come across many co.uk websites that contain Google Ads (AdSense), Amazon and similar affiliate links which in theory all break Nominet's rules as the owner has 'opted out' from WHOIS! Any website that serves ads is classed as 'commercial' and so has to display the owners name and postal address.
The Guardian article links to a bloggers struggle with Nominet after someone used Nominet's complaint system to report an incorrectly 'opted-out' domain - it's a long read!
It seems(I think) Nominet are happy for domains to be registered using the postal address of the provider (Freeola's in our case!) - they just require a way of contacting the owner.
Perhaps Freeola could see if that's the case and offer that as a service/option when registering a domain?
I'm guessing Nominet don't allow the paid for privacy services that are used for .com etc. to be used for .UKs?
If they are happy with that perhaps Freeola could extend their paid-for privacy options for those that do 'trade' using a co.uk but don't want any Tom, Dick or Harry turning up on their door step?
[s]Hmmm...[/s]
Admittedly the blogger was quite 'enthusiastic' with his defence - but the bottom line (to me) was that by serving an Amazon ad for his book Nominet were happy to reveal his address.
So I'm guessing anyone serving ads etc. (which I don't see as being a trader as you aren't taking any money directly from visitors) could find themselves in the same situation.
Just something so be aware of (IMO).
As for Limited companies - the issues are different for them so not likely to be a problem.
The current system is certainly being abused so I can see Nominet might be looking at how it works.
I've just been reading the BBC's item on Gary McKinnon who is now working in SEO. His co.uk domain is making use of the privacy opt-out which is clearly against Nominet's rules.
But my concern is for small time publishers having their privacy removed on request because they are displaying a few Google ads or similar.
So I'm guessing anyone serving ads etc. (which I don't see as being a trader as you aren't taking any money directly from visitors) could find themselves in the same situation.
Just something so be aware of (IMO).
As for Limited companies - the issues are different for them so not likely to be a problem.
The current system is certainly being abused so I can see Nominet might be looking at how it works.
I've just been reading the BBC's item on Gary McKinnon who is now working in SEO. His co.uk domain is making use of the privacy opt-out which is clearly against Nominet's rules.
But my concern is for small time publishers having their privacy removed on request because they are displaying a few Google ads or similar.
[s]Hmmm...[/s] 
Seems like a bit of sensationalist journalism there. As Nominet said
Our policy on WHOIS opt-out has not changed in several years. However, we totally appreciate that since these rules were drawn up, the nature of trading online has changed – and there are some grey areas- such as affiliate marketing, pay-per-click etc. In many cases, the definition of what constitutes trading, and what a reasonable threshold is not absolute.
We will review our guidelines and policy around privacy opt-outs, as we want a sensible approach that is sensitive to those who rightly wish to keep their details private, and fair to consumers who expect to know who they are dealing with. We will implement any changes we consider necessary
The only thing that has change recently is the launch of .uk. If you register one of these you cannot register them to a P.O Box address. If you provide a foreign address then we provide a 'service' address and will forward on an correspondence received for the domain reigstrant.
Nominet do not allow paid for privacy services.
As far as I'm aware they simply want to try and stop people registering domains using false details or hiding the addresses they trade from. If you are trading then why would you want to hide your address? If you are a limited company, for example, you are required to provide your registered address on your website, so trying to hide it on the WHOIS database is pointless.
Our policy on WHOIS opt-out has not changed in several years. However, we totally appreciate that since these rules were drawn up, the nature of trading online has changed – and there are some grey areas- such as affiliate marketing, pay-per-click etc. In many cases, the definition of what constitutes trading, and what a reasonable threshold is not absolute.
We will review our guidelines and policy around privacy opt-outs, as we want a sensible approach that is sensitive to those who rightly wish to keep their details private, and fair to consumers who expect to know who they are dealing with. We will implement any changes we consider necessary
The only thing that has change recently is the launch of .uk. If you register one of these you cannot register them to a P.O Box address. If you provide a foreign address then we provide a 'service' address and will forward on an correspondence received for the domain reigstrant.
Nominet do not allow paid for privacy services.
As far as I'm aware they simply want to try and stop people registering domains using false details or hiding the addresses they trade from. If you are trading then why would you want to hide your address? If you are a limited company, for example, you are required to provide your registered address on your website, so trying to hide it on the WHOIS database is pointless.
Privacy is in the headlines a lot recently...
While reading up on what Nominet (.uk registry) allow/don't allow in their OPT OUT rules I found this Guardian article: ...end of user's privacy.
I come across many co.uk websites that contain Google Ads (AdSense), Amazon and similar affiliate links which in theory all break Nominet's rules as the owner has 'opted out' from WHOIS! Any website that serves ads is classed as 'commercial' and so has to display the owners name and postal address.
The Guardian article links to a bloggers struggle with Nominet after someone used Nominet's complaint system to report an incorrectly 'opted-out' domain - it's a long read!
It seems(I think) Nominet are happy for domains to be registered using the postal address of the provider (Freeola's in our case!) - they just require a way of contacting the owner.
Perhaps Freeola could see if that's the case and offer that as a service/option when registering a domain?
I'm guessing Nominet don't allow the paid for privacy services that are used for .com etc. to be used for .UKs?
If they are happy with that perhaps Freeola could extend their paid-for privacy options for those that do 'trade' using a co.uk but don't want any Tom, Dick or Harry turning up on their door step?
While reading up on what Nominet (.uk registry) allow/don't allow in their OPT OUT rules I found this Guardian article: ...end of user's privacy.
I come across many co.uk websites that contain Google Ads (AdSense), Amazon and similar affiliate links which in theory all break Nominet's rules as the owner has 'opted out' from WHOIS! Any website that serves ads is classed as 'commercial' and so has to display the owners name and postal address.
The Guardian article links to a bloggers struggle with Nominet after someone used Nominet's complaint system to report an incorrectly 'opted-out' domain - it's a long read!
It seems(I think) Nominet are happy for domains to be registered using the postal address of the provider (Freeola's in our case!) - they just require a way of contacting the owner.
Perhaps Freeola could see if that's the case and offer that as a service/option when registering a domain?
I'm guessing Nominet don't allow the paid for privacy services that are used for .com etc. to be used for .UKs?
If they are happy with that perhaps Freeola could extend their paid-for privacy options for those that do 'trade' using a co.uk but don't want any Tom, Dick or Harry turning up on their door step?
[s]Hmmm...[/s]