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PIR’s Takedown and Anti-Abuse Policies

This is a statement of PIR’s position with regard to demands and requests for the take-down of domains registered in .ORG.

PIR, as a registry operating as a nonprofit corporation, has a special obligation to serve the public interest. PIR knows that the Internet is making a difference in people’s lives, and especially in countries that are moving towards greater democracy and freedom. PIR believes that domain registrants are entitled to due process when domains are the subject of claims of violation of law.

Every registrant of a domain name in the .ORG domain has a contract with the registrar of its name. Among the provisions required in this contract is the following:

  • “[Registrant] acknowledge[s] and agree[s] that PIR reserves the right to deny, cancel or transfer any registration or transaction, or place any domain name(s) on registry lock, hold or similar status, that it deems necessary, in its discretion; (1) to protect the integrity and stability of the registry; (2) to comply with any applicable laws, government rules or requirements, requests of law enforcement, or any dispute resolution process; (3) to avoid any liability, civil or criminal, on the part of PIR, as well as its affiliates, subsidiaries, officers, directors, and employees; (4) per the terms of the registration agreement or (5) to correct mistakes made by PIR or any Registrar in connection with a domain name registration. PIR also reserves the right to place upon registry lock, hold or similar status a domain name during resolution of a dispute.” RRA Sec. 3.6.5.

When law enforcement agencies require action in connection with .ORG domains, PIR cooperates to the fullest extent consistent with the Principles and Goals of the Internet Society (http://www.isoc.org/isoc/mission/principles/) and the legal obligations of PIR as manager of a top level domain registry. For purposes of transparency, a record of law enforcement seizure demands is kept on the PIR web site.

When other third parties make demands for take down of .ORG domains, PIR responds  to the orders of courts with jurisdiction over PIR.

In connection with privacy issues arising from the public character of WHOIS data, PIR believes that registrants, including organizations, are entitled to fundamental rights of personal privacy. Privacy protection should include the availability of proxy registrations or tiered access to WHOIS, or both. At the same time, proxy registration and tiered access should be structured to provide information on registrants for the legitimate needs of law enforcement and to promote consumer trust.
 
Please refer to the separate statement regarding PIR’s Anti-Abuse Policy.