Greetings, bpemmm!
These days, there are many registrar sites which provide the lookup
traditionally known as "WhoIs". Many -- if not most -- only provide
information for domains registered through them. So how do you find
out where to look?
I usually start a WhoIs search at BetterWhoIs:
http://www.betterwhois.com
If they can't tell you who a site's owner of record is, they can
usually tell you where you need to look to find out.
Inputting "usedbooks.com" into their search yields:
http://www.betterwhois.com/bwhois.cgi?domain=usedbooks.com&x=42&y=25
If you click on "if you are researching this domain...", the first
option that pops up is "Visit the registrar of record:". In this case,
it's "NETWORK SOLUTIONS, INC." If you click on this name, you will be
taken to NetSol's site at
http://www.networksolutions.com
Up toward the top of their page, just to the right of center, is a
tiny hyperlink button labeled "WhoIs". Click on that to be taken to
their WhoIs search page:
http://www.networksolutions.com/en_US/whois/index.jhtml
*****
Most registrars' sites will have either the actual WhoIs lookup
utility or a link to it on their home page -- but sometimes you really
have to look for it. If it's not there, see if they have a link to
"Domain Registration Information" or something similar. You can also
look for a link to "FAQ" or "Site Map" or "Site Index" link (sometimes
these are in very tiny print at the very bottom of the home page).
*****
If you enter "usedbooks.com" into NetSol's search box and click
"Search", you'll be taken to a page where you need to enter a
verification code (this is done to discourage massive automated
lookups which overwhelm the company's servers). Once you do this, the
requested ownership information should appear. Note that the
Registrant, Administrative Contact, and Technical Contact may or may
not be the same person. Depending on what you are trying to
accomplish, you should contact the person who's over that area. For
problems and technical questions regarding their website, use the
Technical Contact. For things like information about their company or
products, or offering to buy their domain name, contact the Registrant
(or possibly the Admin Contact).
If the contact information for a domain name turns out to be
non-existent or fraudulent, you should contact the Registrar directly
via their "Contact Us" or similar link (the law recently changed so
that providing false information is now illegal).
For additional information, check out About.com's entry for "WhoIs":
http://familyinternet.about.com/cs/internethelp/a/aawhois.htm
and Graphite Design's Support page "Domains and Hosting":
http://www.graphitedesign.net/support/web/domains
Search Strategy
"how to" "look up" a domain owner
://www.google.com/search?q=%22how+to%22+%22look+up%22+a+domain+owner
I hope that this Answer has provided exactly the information you were seeking!
Regards,
aceresearcher |
