Go Daddy files three patents for whois and DNS.

Go Daddy Group, Inc., parent company of domain name registrar GoDaddy, has filed three patents related to interactive and enhanced whois and DNS records. The three applications were published by the United States Patent and Trademark Office on Thursday.

The applications cover various aspects of how to add additional information to whois and DNS records, such as information about whether the domain name is for sale and comments about the domain owner’s business (e.g., hours of operation or product listings). The additional information could be collected through various entities and in several different ways, such as through information stored at a web site. It could also allow for various queries to be made of the whois record’s owner, effectively making whois and DNS records interactive.

Copies of patent applications (pdf):

Interactive DNS for Non-Controlling Party, USPTO application 20090240709

Interactive DNS for Controlling Party, USPTO application 20090240799

Interactive WHOIS, USPTO application 20090240835