Use of 'WHOIS': Terms and Conditions

 

Contract terms

Use of our 'WHOIS' database and any associated services by any means is subject to these terms and conditions: you may not access any 'WHOIS' service if you do not agree to them and you may only use the data returned by a 'WHOIS' query if the use is permitted by these terms.

If you send a WHOIS query to us (or cause one to be sent) you are representing to us that you agree to these terms.

 

Who we are

CI Domain Registry Ltd is the registry operator for a number of top-level domains. We are an incorporated company registered with the Court of Alderney with registration number 1850. Our registered office is Maison Postel, Alderney, GY9 3JZ (UK).

The owners of the rights in the WHOIS

The .GG WHOIS database and underlying register is database right and copyright © Island Networks Ltd, 1996 - 2022
The .JE WHOIS database and underlying register is database right and copyright © Island Networks (Jersey) Ltd, 1996 - 2022
The .AS WHOIS database is database right and copyright © AS Domain Registry Ltd, 1997 - 2022 and is under licence from gDNS, Inc.as ultimate owner of the underlying register and its data. 
(All Rights Reserved)

 

How we provide the WHOIS

We (CI Domain Registry) operate the domain name register, and associated systems including a WHOIS server for these top-level managers on behalf of the abovementioned rightsholders. We provide access WHOIS free of charge for private, non-commercial use through various channels, e.g. via our website, and via responses to queries made to the WHOIS server whois.channelisles.net on various ports including port 43. (Note: If you use WHOIS for commercial use, or access the Wholesale WHOIS or Domain Availability Checker systems you must also agree to specific terms of use.)


Unauthorised use of the WHOIS

If you make commercial use of the WHOIS server, and you do not have a licence, we may take technical measures to slow down, or stop you. In any event, there is a fee for each and every WHOIS access that is otherwise than in accordance with a licence, which is £3 per domain searched for.
 

 

Purpose of the WHOIS and no promises of accuracy

We provide the WHOIS as a publicly viewable search facility solely to allow users to obtain information about the existence and status of the domain name and the identities of the domain name for the general purposes set out below under “Allowed uses of WHOIS data” but always subject to the restrictions listed below under “Restrictions on the use of WHOIS and WHOIS data”.

At any time it may lag behind the underlying register. We do not guarantee the accuracy or availability of the WHOIS records. We are not liable for any damages or loss of any kind arising out of or in connection with the WHOIS or the records generated by the WHOIS or for any omissions or errors in the WHOIS records.

 

Allowed uses of WHOIS data

This is not an exhaustive list, and is always subject to the restrictions below, but generally the WHOIS is intended to allow a user to:

(a) identify whether or not a domain name is registered; and (if an Organisation Name has been supplied by the registrant) to identify the company or responsible for a domain name;

(b) allow registrants and authorised contacts to see publicly visible information about their domain name;

(c) show publicly if a domain name is in a special status (such as transfer-locked).

 

Restrictions on the use of WHOIS and WHOIS data:

You may not (for any reason)

(a) use any or all of the WHOIS data for advertising or as part of a process of identifying entities, names or addresses for future advertising activity of any sort (any such use may also be unlawful under the Data Protection (Bailiwick of Guersey) Law or similar legislation in other jurisdictions; or

(b) conduct queries of an excessive nature, rate or volume. (Note that we record details about all WHOIS queries for the purposes of detecting and preventing unacceptable use.)

Additionally, you may not repackage, compile, redistribute or reuse any or all of the WHOIS database or data unless you are a lawful user using an insubstantial part;nor may you obscure, remove, hide or alter any part of the copyright notice and legal wording returned with a WHOIS result unless you show the user no part of the WHOIS output at all and simply report on availability. (However, if this is what you primarily do, you should use the Domain Availability Checker which has more appropriate rate limitations).

You must comply with any part of the Acceptable Use Policy that relates to WHOIS use.

Control of the WHOIS

We are may change the WHOIS records, or withdraw the service, at any time. We are entitled, in our sole discretion, to terminate or slow down your access to the WHOIS for any reason, particularly breach of our query limits, relevant Acceptable Use Policy or a failure to adhere to, or accept, these terms or any part of them.

Excluded Queries

Domain names not under our control (e.g. .uk), not directly operated by us (e.g. .sch.gg) or which cannot be registered do not return valid results on this WHOIS. For information about official domains such as those ending in sch.gg/sch.je or gov.gg/gov.je, please contact the States of Guernsey, or States of Jersey as appropriate.