IP: NSI Offers Database to Marketing Firms

[Dave Farber <farber () cis upenn edu>]

> Date: Fri, 16 Feb 2001 17:28:51 -0700
> To: dave () farber net
> From: Brett Glass <brett () lariat org>
>
> Network Solutions Offers Its Database Of Domain-Names to Marketing Firms
>
> By Thomas E. Weber Staff Reporter of The Wall Street Journal
>
> The Internet's phone book is up for sale -- and though the listings may 
> represent a treasure trove for marketers, the move also risks a serious 
> privacy backlash.
>
> At issue are millions of entries in the domain-name database operated by 
> the Network Solutions unit of VeriSign Inc., Mountain View, Calif. It is, 
> essentially, the master address book for the Internet. Since the dawn of 
> commerce on the Web, companies that want their own dot-com addresses have 
> registered with Network Solutions.
>
> Now Network Solutions is selling that information. "On your mark, get set, 
> go!" gushes a recent advertisement in a newsletter for direct marketers. 
> "Available for the first time ever. Approximately 6 million unique 
> customers, sliced and diced for you to target prospects, learn about a 
> specific audience or retain customers ... Take this information and run 
> with it."
>
> Exactly what's for sale may come as a surprise to many of the individuals 
> and businesses who have registered Web addresses. In addition to names, 
> street addresses, and other routine information gathered when someone 
> signs up for a domain name, Network Solutions promises marketers 
> information on whether sites are dormant or up and running, whether 
> they're set up for e-commerce -- even whether a site has security 
> precautions installed.
>
> Full text at
>
> http://public.wsj.com/sn/y/SB982282009562632162.html



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