From the terms of reference of this TF: "The task force must ensure that any access restrictions do not restrict the competitive provision of services using WHOIS information (for example ensure that intellectual property protection can be provided competitively)..." What is this about? This provision blocks any meaningful change to the status quo. I think it is not about competition between providers of intellectual property protection at all, as it pretends. They will all have to spend the same amount of extra money if there is no public whois like now, because they would have to go to court to get the address to send a cease-and-desist to. So what? I would like a whois of owners of property (real estate). Would make it possible for me to be more competitive (read: save money). Why is the uspto.gov database of trademarks not listing phone numbers, fax numbers and email addresses? The problem with whois for domains is that it goes much further in invading upon privacy than any other public database. This is the main issue. Is there any reason why domain name owners have to sacrifice privacy more than any other owners? Esp. since they aren't even owners but licensees or something. Ask and get a good answer that question first or you end up in getting tiny little meaningless victories like limiting to 10 or 100 queries per IP number per day. These are so easy to circumvent for data miners and only mean trouble for the little guy checking 11 or 101 domains. "...nor restrict the transfer of domain name records between registrars." In the context this can only mean that other registrars (or their resellers) should be able to spam me with mails trying to trick me into renewing my domain with them. Many of these mails are nearly fraud. Wouldn't it be great for car dealers to be able to get email addresses of owners of cars? So good for competition. We should set up a whois of license plates. Worldwide.