Direct Access To Your Domain Name Details

A List Of Some Common Inter/National Domain Name Registries

When you order a domain name, either via a domain name registrar (such as GoDaddy or NameCheap) or via a web hosting provider (such as Krystal Hosting or NetHosted), they will inevitably have to pass on your domain name registration details to the appropriate organization responsible for physically registering and maintaining your domain name; and more precisely its TLD (Top Level Domain) such as .co.uk or .com.

Such an organization is referred to as a Registry - It is the job of a country based TLD organization (ccTLD registry), such as Nominet (for the co.uk TLD), to physically insert/register your domain name into their database whereby the computer (server) storing that database then has the job of making sure your domain name is working whenever someone types it into a web browser.

When you order a domain name, especially an international domain name, it is wise to be familiar with the actual organization (registry) of the country you are dealing with and more importantly to know whether or not they offer WHOIS Privacy Protection for their TLD(s). Nominet for example, who maintain the database of .uk TLDs (such as .co.uk and .org.uk), do not allow businesses to hide (WHOIS Protect) their business address; therefore it might be pointless for a work-from-home business for example to obtain a .co.uk domain name. They might prefer a .com even though they are based in the UK.

Below is a list of some common international organizations (registries), from the viewport of the UK, together with their WHOIS Privacy Protection policy and registration requirements.....to give you an idea of which organizations (registries) allow WHOIS Privacy Protection and Direct Domain Name Registration.

Many organizations (registries) prefer you to register a domain name via an accredited Registrar or Web Hosting Provider, even if they do offer a direct registration service. In the case of Nominet for example it will cost you £80 +V.A.T (Value Added Tax) for direct registration.

ICANN - Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers

It is worth noting that a country code TLD (ccTLD) organization (registry), such as Nominet, is not under the jurisdiction of ICANN even though they work closely with ICANN. ICANN is basically the organization that regulates the Internet Network Structure and has contracts with the organizations (registries) that manage Global/Generic TLDs (such as .mobi, .org and .com for example) and therefore cannot dictate what Nominet do with their .uk domains in terms of WHOIS Privacy Protection. ICANN only gets organizations (registries) to sign contracts stating they will follow Domain Name protocol/etiquette, basically.

WHOIS Privacy Protection - Not Directly Offered

If an organization (registry) or registrar does not offer WHOIS Privacy Protection, even though they could, you may need to consider using one that does (if it is possible of course). For example. dotMobi do not offer WHOIS Privacy Protection directly for their .mobi domain names but do have a list of registrars who may and may not offer WHOIS Privacy Protection (known in the industry as: Proxy Services).

Cannot Register A Domain Name.....Because I Am "Johnny Foreigner"

Another thing worth noting is that if a country or continent states "No Foreigners can register a domain name", such as Canada (.ca) and Asia (.asia), you may find that some registrars will offer to act as your agent, usually for free, when you purchase a domain name from them.

A flipside of this scenario is that a country such as Russia requires that you to fill out an Agreement Form whereby you have to supply your Passport Details; which I highly recommend you do not entertain. NEVER GIVE OUT SUCH PERSONAL DETAILS ONLINE, especially not for a domain name registration. If anything, forefit that country or try and get an agent to represent you if you really need your website in that country.