I always thought there was something really strange about the WHOIS searches done at Registrars. Specifically the searches would have to be done on their website, a normal “whois” lookup through Linux wouldn’t show up registered the next day.
A story is developing regarding domain name registrar Network Solutions front running domains. According to multiple sources on http://DomainState.com, it appears that domains searched via NSI are being purchased by the registrar thereby preventing a registrant from purchasing it at any other registrar other than NSI. As an example, a random domain which DNN searches such as http://HowDoesThisDomainTasteTaste.com can be seen in this whois search to now be unavailable to register at other registrars but at NSI it can be purchased