Re: FYI - Suspension of Cogent access to ARIN Whois

[David Hubbard <dhubbard () dino hostasaurus com>]

When they spam me I typically just ask if they have IPv6 to Google and never hear back…

From: NANOG <nanog-bounces () nanog org> on behalf of David Guo via NANOG <nanog () nanog org>
Reply-To: David Guo <david () xtom com>
Date: Monday, January 6, 2020 at 11:06 AM
To: John Curran <jcurran () arin net>, "nanog () nanog org" <nanog () nanog org>
Subject: RE: FYI - Suspension of Cogent access to ARIN Whois

Good News! But we still received several spams from Cogent for our RIPE and APNIC ASNs.

From: NANOG <nanog-bounces () nanog org> On Behalf Of John Curran
Sent: Monday, January 6, 2020 11:43 PM
To: nanog () nanog org
Subject: FYI - Suspension of Cogent access to ARIN Whois
Importance: High

On 22 Sep 2019, at 8:52 AM, Tim Burke <tb () tburke us<mailto:tb () tburke us>> wrote:

That is just The Cogent Way™, unfortunately. I just had (yet another) Cogent rep spam me using an email address that is 
_only_ used as an ARIN contact, trying to sell me bandwidth. When I called him out on it, with compliance () arin 
net<mailto:compliance () arin net> CCed, he backpedaled and claimed to obtain my information from Google.

ARIN has repeatedly informed Cogent that their use of the ARIN Whois for solicitation is contrary to the terms of use 
and that they must stop.  Despite ARIN’s multiple written demands to Cogent to cease these prohibited activities, ARIN 
has continued to receive complaints from registrants that Cogent continues to engage in these prohibited solicitation 
activities.

For this reason, ARIN has suspended Cogent Communications’ use of ARIN’s Whois database effective today and continuing 
for a period of six months.  For additional details please refer to 
https://www.arin.net/vault/about_us/corp_docs/20200106_whois_tos_violation.pdf    ARIN will restore Cogent’s access to 
the Whois database at an earlier time if Cogent meets certain conditions, including instructing its sales personnel not 
to engage in the prohibited solicitation activities.

Given the otherwise general availability of ARIN Whois, it is quite possible that Cogent personnel may evade the 
suspension via various means and continue their solicitation.  If that does occur, please inform us (via compliance () 
arin net<mailto:compliance () arin net>), as ARIN is prepared to extend the suspension and/or bring appropriate legal 
action.

FYI,
/John

John Curran
President and CEO
American Registry for Internet Numbers