Notifying ServerPoint of DNS abuse

ServerPoint takes the stability of the Internet very seriously. Any client using our Services for purposes that are against the law will be suspended or terminated from our platform.

What is DNS abuse?

When a domain resolves to an IP that is being used for nefarious purposes, this is considered DNS abuse. Some examples are:

  1. The domain may be resolving to an email server that is sending unsolicited bulk email;
  2. The domain may be resolving to a server that is being part of a DDoS attack;
  3. The domain may be resolving to a website that is designed to steal the identity of others, such as when stealing banking credentials;
  4. The domain may be resolving to a website that is conducting illegal activities, such as selling illicit drugs or illegally distributing copyrighted content, such as Hollywood movies.

DNS abuse are cases of high crime, which eventually end up hurting someone in some way, either financially or physically.

Non-DNS abuse related crime

Abuse outside of what is considered "DNS abuse", there may be cases where a domain is not being used for abuse, but a law agency may believe the domain belongs to someone that is under investigation for other crimes.

Abusing the abuse reporting system

Other than what is described above, it is very rare that other situations fall within the parameters of what "abuse" is.

As a warning to those reporting abuse: it is very typical for someone on the Internet to report "abuse" about a competitor, or, report "abuse" that is present in a website with content that is not in agreement with the ideas of the person reporting abuse, in order to try to get a Registrar to shut it down.

This, of course, will not work. See "Our rights" below.

Proper evidence

Before submitting any report to ServerPoint, you must gather enough evidence to present your case. This means that what you report to us must be extremely detailed and technical in order for us to validate your claim.

Privacy

Based on our Private policy, the information about the owner of a registered domain will remain private and will not be provided just for asking.

Proper legal channels must be followed in order to obtain a subpoena that will allow us to reveal such information.

Notice to customer

In the case of receiving a valid subpoena that does not involve a criminal urgency, secrecy, or a matter of national security, we may notify the customer that is involved in said subpoena in order for the customer to either make changes to comply with the law or for the customer to challenge the subpoena.

Serving a subpoena or warrant

Please see our document Registrar information for contact information related to the serving of legal documents from government law agencies, such as subpoenas and warrants.

Subpoenas and warrants must be issued by law enforcement, consumer protection, quasi-governmental or other similar authorities within the United States.

As we also have a presence in several countries outside the United States, such as the Netherlands as well as Singapore, we may also accept similar legal submissions from these countries.

Subpoenas and warrants from agencies outside the United States or the countries listed above must go through their proper liaison in the United States, such as the FBI, NSA, Secret Service, etc., in order for your subpoena or warrant be valid in United States territory.

All submissions must be in English.

Alternatively, electronic submission of a report

Once you have gathered all of the proper evidence and have written a thorough report, you may submit it to [email protected].

Acknowledgement of your report

We will acknowledge receiving your report. However, please be aware that due to the possible sensitivity of your abuse report, possibly involving criminal activity, we may be unable to provide you with updates about a case.

Costs

Investigating an abuse report connected to a subpoena or warrant consumes a considerable amount of time on our staff and it may also involve ServerPoint's attorneys.

ServerPoint will charge an hourly fee of $200 for research, plus costs involved with shipping if it is necessary to ship documentation.

An invoice will be included in our response and is payable within (30) days.

Our rights

ServerPoint reserves the right to challenge the validity of any report.

Suspension of a domain

If ServerPoint decides that the right course of action is to suspend a domain in order to prevent criminal activity, we may do so at any time.