The 'whois' database contains details of all registered domain names, kept at the NIC. The information for people shows a person's company name, address, phone number and email address.
There is a unix command 'whois', for querying the database. Alternatively visit a website such as http://www.dnsstuff.com/ (also offers various other domain name tests and look-ups)
The 'whois' information can be a useful tool for spam fighters, since we can try to use it to find out more about spamvertised domain names, and the people who own them.
They should, but a lot depends on the registrar. The rules at least for the main TLDs are that you must supply valid information or risk loosing your domain. It seems to be rarely enforced though except possibly in domain disputes. I don't know if each contact address is required, but at least something valid has to be available. – Joe - 2005-04-13 23:17 UTC
There is also an RFC that says that certain contacts must be given for any domain (I think postmaster@ and abuse@ for example). But since even RFCs for transport protocols aren't always adhered to, an RFC that requires the domain owner to do something cannot be trusted (see http://rfc-ignorant.org/ for more). The validity of whois information is required by most registrars, but rarely enforced. The ICANN provides a way to report bad whois information here: http://wdprs.internic.net/. Sadly, there are also services that will register a domain for you so you can remain anonymous (this is something American geeks like immensely, but which is kind of strange from my Euro-centric perspective). – Manni - 2005-04-14 07:18
Hey, I am an American geek. For those annonymous registration services its not actually false information, they are valid addresses that pass on the info to the owners. They just makes it hard to find out who the actual registrants are without involving lawyers. Which is nice if the owner perfers to stay annonymous. – Joe - 2005-04-14 05:33 UTC
You see? You sound just like an American geek. Free speech and all that plus the right for everybody to remain anonymous. Somehow, these two don't go well together for me. – Manni - 2005-04-14 07:56
Sometimes that is the only way speech remains free. Just look at the blogger recently having to give up his source since the court decided freedom of press does not apply to bloggers. True freedom of speech just doesn't exist. – Joe - 2005-04-14 06:00 UTC