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How do I use the GoDaddy WHOIS Lookup tool?
- Who the domain is currently registered to
- When the domain was registered
- Contact information about the domain
- When the domain is scheduled to expire
What is the WHOIS database?
The WHOIS domain database is an online directory of all registered domain names. The directory includes information about each individual domain name that is registered and is sometimes used for legal reasons. Common uses of the WHOIS database are to check the availability of domain names, view registrant information, and in some cases, identify trademark infringement.
The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) oversees the WHOIS database. ICANN helps protect domain registrants by prohibiting the use of WHOIS listings for marketing and spam-related purposes.
For more information on the details that are publicly viewable for each domain on the WHOIS database, view: What shows in the WHOIS directory?
What if the domain I want has already been registered?
Because I really don't want to. Personal vendetta against GoDaddy. Could I somehow use another broker service?
But I've tried every method I can think of to get into contact with this possible owner.
I used the wayback machine, it was being used in the early 2010s, but they let it expire. Then it was bought by a reseller, I got into contact with him, but that poor fella also let it expire in 2017. In 2018 it got registered on GoDaddy and there's been nothing on it since, according to the wayback machine.
Can't find it on any premium domain marketplace. Estibot says 1500$, which honestly I'd probably pay.
What should I do?
There is no way around this. If you want to use godaddy as your registrar that's the price you have to pay for private registration. If you can get a domain name with private registration cheaper elsewhere, and cost is an issue to you then register your domain at the cheaper registrar.
From this question asked previously about entering fake information when registering your domain:
ICANN (not the domain registrar) requires that all information in your registration be valid.
If any dispute arises (see the ICANN Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy rules here) you will be contacted via the means specified in your domain registration. Notice that section 14 of the rules is a section that defines what happens as part of a 'default' (in other words, they can't contact you): They'll proceed with a judgement, and you won't get a say in the proceedings.
ICANN has the power to take a domain from you and give it to somebody else.
So yes, it's important that you include valid information in your registration information.
For a comparison of a what a private domain registration looks like (compared to a regular domain registration) see this: http://www.domainsbyproxy.com/popup/whoisexample.aspx
Since it hasn't been mentioned so far: At least EU citizens are protected by GDPR. From an article on TNW:
If you order from the UK or any other EU country, you are not required to pay to make your data private in the WHOIS database.