Is a PO Box a Valid Address for Whois Information? - GoFuckYourself.com

Paul Waters · 11-11-2004, 11:50 AM

The ICANN site refers to a valid postal address.

Is a PO Box a valid postal address?

If so, how do you serve court documents to a registrant if they are uncooperative?

Thanks

Mr Dickovitch · 11-11-2004, 11:56 AM

Yes a PO Box is valid. You can send a certified letter to a PO Box and in America to own a PO Box you must show them your real proven home address too anyway.

princess · 11-11-2004, 11:57 AM

a P O Box is what shows up when you do a whois on one of my domains.

Paul Waters · 11-11-2004, 11:59 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Mr Dickovitch
Yes a PO Box is valid. You can send a certified letter to a PO Box and in America to own a PO Box you must show them your real proven home address too anyway.

But the addressee need never accept the certified letter. At least in Canada they must sign for it, so a card is left in the PO Box, that they might simply destroy.

What about documents that must be served in person?

Thanks

Spunky · 11-11-2004, 12:01 PM

I thought that wasn't allowed..maybe I'm wrong

Paul Waters · 11-11-2004, 12:03 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by princess
a P O Box is what shows up when you do a whois on one of my domains.

I see it a lot as well.

But can I complain to their registrar?

I am thinking the requirements for a corporation would be similar. A legal address to serve legal papers should be required.

Paul Waters · 11-11-2004, 01:17 PM

Abyss_Vee · 11-11-2004, 01:20 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Mr Dickovitch
Yes a PO Box is valid. You can send a certified letter to a PO Box and in America to own a PO Box you must show them your real proven home address too anyway.

not if you pay extra

BoNgHiTtA · 11-11-2004, 01:20 PM

Im pretty sure PO boxes are ok.

Paul Waters · 11-11-2004, 08:31 PM

DEA - banned for life · 11-11-2004, 08:36 PM

The rules for Getting a po box or having to have a valid street adress to register a domain are like the Department Motor Vehicle's rules...everytime you go there its a diffrent story

ProjectNaked · 11-11-2004, 08:36 PM

P.O. Box is not good for anything official--

Dynamix · 11-11-2004, 08:43 PM

http://www.pwregistry.pw/downloads/p...s/policy06.pdf

Quote:

Data Accuracy of Personal Data
The registrant will be required to provide their legal identity along with postal mailing address, email
address, facsimile number (if any) and telephone number where they can be reached during standard
business hours in country. They may also provide other contacts for the domain, including
Administrative, Technical and Billing contacts. Each contact must include name or organization,
mailing address, email address, facsimile number (if any), and telephone number where they can be
reached during standard business hours in country.
The required fields collected for each contact to complete the registration will be:
? Name
? Organization ( if an organization)
? Postal mailing address (street, city, state/province, postal code, country; post office box accepted where no street address is available)
? Telephone number
? Fax number ( if any)
? Email address

xclusive · 11-11-2004, 08:49 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Dynamix
http://www.pwregistry.pw/downloads/p...s/policy06.pdf

You might still have a case if you can prove that where the person lives that the PO Box is not needed and then if mail can be delivered in that town to the physical address then they are in violation...

Mr.Fiction · 11-11-2004, 08:51 PM

PO Boxes have always been accepted and legal.

You will not get anywhere fighting against that rule.

You're lucky the person you're looking for isn't using WHOIS privacy protection. Then you'd really have something to complain about.

Dynamix · 11-11-2004, 08:51 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by xclusive
You might still have a case if you can prove that where the person lives that the PO Box is not needed and then if mail can be delivered in that town to the physical address then they are in violation...

Very true. Your safest bet:

Register in a company name that has no physical address. You'll be clear of any allegations your business has one.

PrivateIvy · 11-11-2004, 09:02 PM

PO Box is fine for Whois info...it's 2257 that will not allow use of a PO Box

Ivy

GeorgeK · 11-11-2004, 09:17 PM

I had asked this question of ICANN a few years ago, as we were debating this very question in one of the policy lists.

Their answer was that indeed a P.O. Box *is* ok for the WHOIS address.

I found the email exchange archived on the mailing list (Dan Halloran was the ICANN person). You can find it at:

http://www.opensrs.org/archives/disc...0205/0810.html

Q.E.D.

11-11-2004, 11:50 AM	#1
Paul Waters Confirmed User Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Toronto, Ontario Posts: 4,402	Is a PO Box a Valid Address for Whois Information? The ICANN site refers to a valid postal address. Is a PO Box a valid postal address? If so, how do you serve court documents to a registrant if they are uncooperative? Thanks __________________ Paul

11-11-2004, 11:57 AM	#3
princess Confirmed User Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Ringgold, Georgia Posts: 1,939	a P O Box is what shows up when you do a whois on one of my domains. __________________ HUGS! Marsha

11-11-2004, 12:01 PM	#5
Spunky I need a beer Industry Role: Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: ♠ Toiletville ♠ Posts: 133,944	I thought that wasn't allowed..maybe I'm wrong __________________ *YOUR INFORMATION HERE*

11-11-2004, 01:17 PM	#7
Paul Waters Confirmed User Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Toronto, Ontario Posts: 4,402	bump __________________ Paul

11-11-2004, 01:20 PM	#9
BoNgHiTtA Confirmed User Join Date: May 2003 Location: Seattle Posts: 2,176	Im pretty sure PO boxes are ok. __________________ Wanna see how Adult Site Traffic Scammed me? Click Here:

11-11-2004, 11:56 AM	#2
Mr Dickovitch Confirmed User Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 1,070	Yes a PO Box is valid. You can send a certified letter to a PO Box and in America to own a PO Box you must show them your real proven home address too anyway.

11-11-2004, 08:31 PM	#10
Paul Waters Confirmed User Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Toronto, Ontario Posts: 4,402	bump __________________ Paul

11-11-2004, 08:36 PM	#11
DEA - banned for life V.I.P. Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: InYour Head Posts: 7,886	The rules for Getting a po box or having to have a valid street adress to register a domain are like the Department Motor Vehicle's rules...everytime you go there its a diffrent story

11-11-2004, 08:36 PM	#12
ProjectNaked Confirmed User Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Detroit Areola Posts: 4,309	P.O. Box is not good for anything official--

11-11-2004, 08:51 PM	#15
Mr.Fiction Confirmed User Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Free Speech Land Posts: 9,484	PO Boxes have always been accepted and legal. You will not get anywhere fighting against that rule. You're lucky the person you're looking for isn't using WHOIS privacy protection. Then you'd really have something to complain about. __________________ Don't be lazy, protect free speech: ACLU \| Free Speech Coalition \| EFF \| IMPA

11-11-2004, 09:02 PM	#17
PrivateIvy Confirmed User Industry Role: Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 4,257	PO Box is fine for Whois info...it's 2257 that will not allow use of a PO Box Ivy

11-11-2004, 09:17 PM	#18
GeorgeK Confirmed User Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 423	I had asked this question of ICANN a few years ago, as we were debating this very question in one of the policy lists. Their answer was that indeed a P.O. Box is ok for the WHOIS address. I found the email exchange archived on the mailing list (Dan Halloran was the ICANN person). You can find it at: http://www.opensrs.org/archives/disc...0205/0810.html Q.E.D. __________________ I buy good domain names. Send lists to George (at) LOFFS.com