WHOIS significantly predates the existence of the web. The notion is if you have a public network resource identifier (IP address, domain name, AS number, etc.)

WHOIS significantly predates the existence of the web. The notion is if you have a public network resource identifier (IP address, domain name, AS number, etc.) that there be a record of who to contact to report administrative or technical problems to pertaining to that network resource. It is perhaps similar to having a formally registered place of business on record for a company to receive important correspondence. Obviously the usages of WHOIS have drifted over time to go beyond that.