GoDaddy shuts down a domain at the request of MySpace

[tcolvinMI]

I just came across a forum that complains about the actions taken

by GoDaddy at the request of MySpace.  Yet, in any of those comments, no one places any blame on MySpace for

taking an incorrect action.  Granted, GoDaddy probably should have taken a better stance by suggesting that

MySpace contact the host or the owner of the site prior to complying with the request.  I think a lot of people

are overreacting to what GoDaddy did.  I dont think what they did was wrong, probably just a little too hasty

though. 

Interesting topic I think.

http://www.domainstate.com/sho…..adid=73164

[tcolvinMI]

http://it.slashdot.org/it/07/0…..2218.shtml

I

came across this article about 10 minutes ago and its really quite interesting.  SecLists.org is a security

mailing list archival site.  Apparently, MySpace came across a list of users and passwords that were archived

on seclists.org and rather than contacting the guy who runs the site, they immediately contacted the domain

registrar, which happened to be GoDaddy (which is also who we're hosted under).  MySpace demanded that

GoDaddy disable the domain, which GoDaddy did without hesitation.  Now, if you read both articles linked on the

Slashdot story, you'll read two different stories, one that the guy was never contacted, and another that says

he was.  The guy who runs seclists.org says that he was contacted but it seems as if he was never given a

chance to respond before GoDaddy killed his domain.  This article, along with some of the more intelligent

comments, brings to light a few thoughts.

1)A domain registrar can shut down your site if they find

illegal material on the hosted site.  In their universal agreement they

specifically say that they can change the agreement at any time and that “Except as set forth below, Go Daddy

may also cancel Your use of the Services, after thirty (30) days, if You are using the Services, as determined by Go

Daddy in its sole discretion, in association with spam or morally objectionable activities. Morally objectionable

activities will include, but not be limited to: activities designed to defame, embarrass, harm, abuse, threaten,

slander or harass third parties; activities prohibited by the laws of the United States and/or foreign territories

in which You conduct business; activities designed to encourage unlawful behavior by others, such as hate crimes,

terrorism and child pornography; activities that are tortuous, vulgar, obscene, invasive of the privacy of a third

party, racially, ethnically, or otherwise objectionable; activities designed to impersonate the identity of a third

party; illegal access to other computers or networks (i.e., hacking); distribution of Internet viruses or similar

destructive activities; and activities designed to harm or use unethically minors in any way. Notwithstanding

anything to the contrary herein, in the event Go Daddy cancels Your Services during the first thirty (30) days after

You purchase the Services, You will receive a refund of any fees paid to Go Daddy in connection with the Services

being canceled. In the event Go Daddy deletes Your Services because they are being used in association with spam or

morally objectionable activities, no refund will be issued. You agree You will not be entitled to a refund of any

fees paid to Go Daddy if, for any reason, Go Daddy takes corrective action with respect to Your improper or illegal

use of its Services.”

While this says 30 days, Im sure there is something that says, hey, its

illegal, we're gonna pull it.  He was contacted.  The comments in the article suggest that MySpace

should have contacted the guy first, and I agree with this.  However, they may have attempted to contact him

and never got through.  If you receive a fair amount of email in a day, you're unlikely to see it,

especially if you avoid MySpace like the plague. 

While GoDaddy's actions may have been

warranted because of the type of information, there should have been more investigation, in my opinion, and more of

a chance for the provider to respond.  What I found was interesting is that they told the guy to email abuse @

godaddy.com and they'd get back to him within a business day or two.  Although, it does say in the

agreement that GoDaddy can pull your site without reason at any time. 

There is one lesson to be

learned here, read your licensing agreements before agreeing to them.

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