Wikipedia Labeling All Domainers as Cybersquatters

JoshuaPz said:

If this is how Wikipedia's entry from "Domainer" reads, I think I'd much rather that entry redirect to Cybersquatter.

If you don't have something literature to say, please don't say it.

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I think the "Domainer" page will probably wind up being edited and revised as well. Possibly redirected to "Domaining" once all is said and done. Everything is up in the air at this point.

I think the person who originally submitted on "Domainer" had good intentions. At this point, I am grateful to anyone who takes an interest since this is such an important cause.

:wave:

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IMPORTANT: Let me add too that ICANN are next. The domainer community, and domain registrants in general, pour many millions of dollars per year into ICANN's bank accounts through our domain registrations. ICANN will be pressured to do the right thing until it happens ... and that is to acknowledge domain investor rights, and to acknowledge the huge distinction which exists between general domainers and cybersquatters.

I envision this as a top down event in which new ICANN CEO, Rod Beckstrom, will state that ...

1. domainers do contribute significantly to internet commerce & to the ICANN budget, and
2. that the majority of domainers (domain investors) are not cybersquatters, and do operate within the law and within their rights of registration.

Uh, folks, it is WIKIPEDIA.
If you feel the article needs editing, don't rely on someone else to do it for you.
Step up. I've made a few changes to the "domainer" entry, which needs much, much more.
We also need to advocate that "domaining" not be considered a synonym with "cybersquatting".
That is a completely inaccurate characterization being perpetrated by people who don't have a clue what we're doing.

(sigh)
This is the inherent weakness with the Wikipedia model.
Sometimes, the vast majority of people have an incorrect view of something. Given that Wikipedia tends to run as a pure democracy, if enough people are misguided, legitimate cognoscenti are shouted down by hordes of idiots who are empowered not by knowledge and understanding, but by the fact that any moron can edit the article and every moron has a misguided view.

You then have a Port-A-Potty technician from Akron providing commentary in the "Heart Surgery" article and editing the entries made by a heart surgeon.

We really, really, REALLY have to educate them about this. Domaining is NOT the same thing as Cybersquatting, no more than owning a car is the same thing as illegal street racing. Perception is reality, folks and unfair as it may be, Wikipedia controls the perception of a large portion of the rabble. We cannot let them perpetrate lies. It's up to us to stop this. If we don't take action now, expect sentiment to shift against us, because we've allowed ourselves to be defined as "cybersquatters" and every law clerk doing research for a ruling judge on domain name cases sees that, right off the bat.

Original Domaining Page Submitted to Wikipedia 7/31/09

This first section (directly below) is the Domaining article I wrote/submitted to replace the redirect to "cybersquatting". A key point in the article was to illustrate the terms "domaining" and "domainers" are not dirty words, but commonly referenced terms separate from "cybersquatting". And to provide these Wiki admins, who know NOTHING about domaining, some kind of working introduction. The second section (underneath the article) is the letter I submitted in the Wikipedia discussion section after they trimmed my submission down to about 10 - 20% of what was submitted to them.

Original Submission To Wikipedia on 7/31/09

Domaining

'''Domaining''' is the business of monetizing internet domain names using a variety of approaches and strategies. These monetization strategies include full scale website development, development of minisites, hosting parked pages which display advertiser feeds (pay per click), affiliate partnerships, domain name forwarding arrangements, domain name sales & leasing, the selling of direct sales leads via customer opt-in, providing online hotel and flight booking, the inclusion of paid directory listings and other commonly accepted business approaches.

'''Domaining''' and '''domainer''' are general domain name industry terms which possess no inherent negative connotation. Domaining is commonly used to refer to the varied business-oriented activities of domain enthusiasts or those involved in the domain name industry. The larger domain name industry and domain name community have often been categorically misrepresented as "cybersquatters" by uninformed or poorly researched writers.

'''Domainer''' is used to refer to individuals who engage in domaining, similar in function to developers who engage in developing, sales people who engage in selling, or writers who engage in writing.

"Cybersquatting" is a Federal offense as defined by the Anticybersquatting Consumer Protection Act. This act prohibits registering, trafficking in, or using a domain name with bad faith intent to profit from the goodwill of a trademark belonging to someone else. The greater domaining industry and domainer community are against cybersquatting, do not register trademark infringing domain names, and have publicly voiced opposition to this practice via international domain conferences, published articles, participation in online discussion forums, and membership in the Internet Commerce Association (ICA) who represent domain name investors, developers, and the direct search industry.

Internet Commerce Association (ICA)

ICA Mission Statement

The Internet Commerce Association (ICA), founded in 2006, is a non-profit trade organization representing domain name investors and developers and the direct search industry. ICA is made up of responsible businesses and individuals who have joined together to improve public confidence in internet commerce. Based in Washington D.C., our mission is to promote and share best practices among participants in the domain name industry and to educate consumers, policy makers, law makers and the media about the value and benefits of direct navigation traffic and the domain name industry.

ICA Member Code of Conduct

The Internet Commerce Association’s (ICA) Member Code of Conduct expresses the ICA’s recognition of the responsibilities of its members to the intellectual property, domain name, and at large Internet communities and will guide members in conducting their domain name investment and development activities with professionalism, respect and integrity.

All members of ICA are committed to addressing the issues facing the evolving domain name industry, which include:

Protection of Intellectual Property Rights: A registrant shall follow accepted trademark law and respect the brands and trademarks of others. Members will not intentionally and in bad faith register and use a domain name that is identical or confusingly similar to a trademark or service mark. Registrants shall respond promptly to legitimate disputes relating to alleged infringement of intellectual property rights.

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"Domaining" and "Domainer(s)" are common terms referenced millions of times in video and written publications across the internet (a current Yahoo search of "Domaining" produces 6,960,000 indexed web pages, and a YouTube search produces 39,200 results for the term). Periodicals and domain news aggregators devoted to domaining include: ModernDomainer.com, DomainersMagazine.com, Domaining.com, DNHeadlines.com, and Namebee.com.

Numerous online news and blog sites are dedicated to covering domaining news & events including: DNJournal.com, DomainNameWire.com, TheDomains.com, ElliotsBlog.com, and RicksBlog.com. As of this writing, the DNJournal Daily Lowdown contains twenty-five separate references to domaining, domainer, or domainers illustrating how common these terms have become. Not one of the twenty-five references is mentioned in relation to the illegal act of cybersquatting.

As a credible domain industry news source, DNJournal.com has been referenced in The Wall Street Journal, ABC News, BBC News, Forbes, Newsweek, USA Today, New York Times, CNN/Money, Investors Business Daily, MSNBC, Boston Herald, and the Montreal Gazette.

Domaining is well represented by popular industry discussion forums at: DNF (78,336 members), Namepros.com (156,999 members), ccTLD's.com (1473 members), Mobility.mobi (4013 members), and DomainState.com (who provide a "Domainer Orientation Glossary" for new domaining enthusiasts).

Major domain sales, leasing, auction and drop-catch sites include: Sedo, AfternicDLS, BuyDomains, LeaseThis, NameJet, Rick Latona, Snapnames, 4Domains, Pool, GoDaddy, and Moniker who also provide domainer asset management services. This does not represent a complete list.

Examples of domain industry trade shows (past and present) include, but are not limited to: TRAFFIC, Domain Roundtable, Domain Convergence, Domainer Mardi Gras, and Domainer Paris 2008.

Domainer portfolio management software is available at DomainerScript.com as well as a Domainer Accreditation Program for establishing one's own registry status at LogicBoxes Registry Solutions.

Many well known domainers are not only domain investors, but have allocated considerable resources to full scale web development projects, and they operate some of the most popular sites on the world wide web. Examples are brothers David and Michael Castello (PalmSprings.com, Nashville.com, DayCare.com), Skip Hoagland (Atlanta.com, Honolulu.com, MyrtleBeach.com), Boulevards New Media (Houston.com, Seattle.com, LosAngeles.com), Elliot Silver (Burbank.com, TropicalBirds.com, Lowell.com), InternetRealEstate.com (Software.com, Phone.com, Chocolate.com), Rob Grant (Adirondacks.com, RobGrantRealEstate.com), Sahar Sarid (Bido.com, FuneralHomes.com), Rick Latona (aeiou.com, RickLatona.com), Ron Jackson (DNJournal.com), Andrew Alleman (DomainNameWire.com), and Michael Berkens (TheDomains.com).

The domain name industry is a multi-million dollar enterprise and is growing steadily year after year. Sedo is a single online marketplace whose 2008 reported sales were $77,413,370 alone. Sedo's 2006 domain sales were $45,076,536, and 2004 sales were $11,148,922 showing a significant rise in domain name sales over time. Sedo provides periodic news and articles on domain name investing. "A Time To Buy: A Domainer's Guide" provides a brief overview of parking and selling domain names for novices entering the field.

Further clarification on domaining vs. cybersquatting is contained in "Cybersquatting is Not Domaining" (January 10, 2009 at PremiumDomains.biz/blog).

This page is the first authoritative draft on domaining submitted for inclusion to Wikipedia.org. Its author aims to dispell the mischaracterization of domain name investors as cybersquatters, and to provide a useful starting point for Wikipedia users who are interested in learning more about domaining and the domain name industry. The author owns a portfolio of 850 domain names of which 17 are fully developed websites, approximately 10 are under construction, and the remainder are utilized for targeted search and monetized through PPC advertising. The author does not engage in cybersquatting, and has never received a UDRP or been accused of trademark infringement. The author has been actively domaining since year 2000, and registered his first domain name in 1998 (which was his first and last name in .com). The author is a member of the Internet Commerce Association. The author works full-time in a field totally unrelated to domain names and internet technology.

- END -

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Comments to Wikipedia Regarding Domaining Page Submission

I would like to respond with a few comments. I do understand that the number of links I submitted in the Domaining article was excessive. Agreed. I was trying to provide an accurate picture of the domain industry, and domainers, as a legitimate group who are ethical, well-organized and who do not deserve to be associated with the crime of cybersquatting. While my comments were perceived as "biased" by one Wikipedia commenter, I can only say that his perception is a projection, and a gross overgeneralization which itself cannot be justified.

We all know that cybersquatting exists and is wrong, but if one were to visit the domainer sites and tradeshows, reference our trade associations, and work within the greater industry, then you would see just how unjust it is that the whole domain name industry has been characterized at Wikipedia as cybersquatters or scammers. Ironically, I find those statements to be born of extreme ignorance of our industry and heavily injected with personal bias against all people who invest in domain names for whatever reasons.

I know that what I am sharing here is factual and objective, not merely subjective, but it is hard to prove a negative, i.e. that the majority of domainers don't engage in cybersquatting. This is why I tried to provide so many links ... so that I could provide Wikipedia staff, and eventually their users, with the names and faces of real people, real businesses, and a greater context around our industry that has absolutely nothing to do with cybersquatting.

An example for the reviewers of Wikipedia which will hopefully illustrate my point. Suppose one Wikipedia administrator was convicted of a terrible crime, and by association all wikipedia admins suddenly began being accused of the same terrible crimes and were castigated publicly. For one, we know that you are not responsible for the bad acts of another person, and ultimately his poor choices do not reflect on you personally or negate all of the good will and collective hard work done at Wikipedia. This parallels the damage that was being done by redirecting domaining and domainers to cybersquatting. The bad acts of a relative minority were being used to humiliate and disparage a large group of people who have worked ethically and responsibly for years, and always within the law and within their rights of domain name registration.

Thank you for being willing to work with me on this important subject. Domainers, as a large group, are basically investors, internet enthusiasts, and people who have careers in a variety of fields. They are reasonable people with families, the same hopes and dreams as everyone else. And moreover, have notable achievements in life. The extensive list of domainers I provided to you, and their associated websites (in my original submission), are a small representative sample of the quality of individuals involved in the domain name industry. One of my investing partners is a licensed psychiatrist working everyday to help people with mental health disorders. Another of my domainer friends heads a non-profit fund raising organization. Yet another is a professor of economics at a major university. Many of my peers are attorneys, stay at home moms, realtors, high-level techies, college students, you name it. This diverse group of people interested in domaining are everyday people with intact values and a guiding set of principles that govern their choices in life. And they have specifically avoided internet crimes and cybersquatting. I know this on a personal level which is why I was so incensed and outraged that a couple of Wikipedia admins took it upon themselves to publicly denigrate so many reputable people.

Thanks again for considering these comments, and for allowing me a voice on this critical issue.

Addendum: Another reason I included so many industry links is I want the Domaining page to be an actual resource for anyone who searches on domaining and is interested in learning more about it. The links I provided you are high quality, relevant, and central to understanding the domain name industry. Please consider allowing me to perhaps place the links at the bottom of the article such that Wikipedia users will have a great resource guide for learning.

The current Domaining page link (under review): Domaining/sandbox - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

"Domain Aftermarket" was also redirected to "Cybersquatting". There didn't seem to be any discussion on that page so I changed it to redirect to "Domain Name Speculation", which at least is a real article without the biased opinion.

Amazing bias. Very disappointing.

Domain page is still under construction. I added a few comments (below) to the Wikipedia discussion area. To emphasize the pointless damage:

I see the Domaining page has received considerable editing. I will be glad to prune relevant links down to 3 as suggested by the administrator. I have refrained from further editing or contributions in order to give others a chance for input.

Thank you Wikipedia for assisting in the development of a reasonable & informative page on Domaining/Domainers. I assume "Domainers" can be forwarded to the Domaining page once it is published.

Due to the despicable decision to redirect domaining and domainers in the first place to the Wiki page on "cybersquatting", it is now indexed very highly in all the major search engines. This is extremely unfortunate and will be very difficult to reverse. This alone should illustrate the unnecessary damage which can occur when someone is allowed to comandeer an entire industry and trash its community on Wikipedia. Wikipedia is often considered an authoritative resource so in this instance Wikipedia were being exploited and used to defame thousands of people in the domain community by labeling them as cybersquatters.

Never again should something like this be allowed. And in the future, there should be a much more expedient process in place for undoing improper redirects. Someone one can call in urgent situations. This wasn't an innocuous or laughable situation. Very, very serious. Thank you Wiki admins for your time.

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LA Times Duplicates Wikipedia's Bias Against Domainers

A Los Angeles Times "writer" has revealed more personal bias against domain name investors in an article on a recent domain name theft. Domain industry is described as "shady".

Original article at LA Times: Mark Madsen: Clipper, ex-Laker and domain name speculator | Technology | Los Angeles Times

Interesting commentary on this article (below)

Ron Jackson (DNJournal.com post): Open Season on Domainers and Domaining - Overtly Biased L.A. Times Article Leads Latest Assault on Objectivity and Accuracy

Michael Berkens (TheDomains.com post): LA Times: Domaining is “Shady” | The Domains

---------- Post added at 09:45 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:11 PM ----------

For anyone who is interested in seeing the Wikipedia Domaining page (still under review), here is the link. A Wiki mod states that the article will remain under review for 7 days, and currently today is the 5th day of that review.

-> Wikipedia Domaining page

Thanks for the links!

Domaining Official now at Wikipedia.org

Positive News: Wikipedia are now displaying the Domaining page, and it no longer redirects to cybersquatting!

The term, Domainer, also goes to the new Domaining page. Domainers, the plural, is still improperly directed to cybersquatting, but a request has been submitted to forward "Domainers" as well to the domaining page.

Thanks to everyone who showed interest in this issue, and who expressed their support and were willing to become involved. :tu:

What's interesting is how Ron Jackson becomes indignant and protective of domainers' reputations in this case, while throughout the year he highlights and glorifies typosquatters and other ethically-challenged domainers because they've made a bundle of cash squatting, hoarding, and manipulating domain auctions.

Jackson's righteous indignation would have more credibility if he was truly fair and balanced all year 'round. Knowing his track record, this episode reads more like a joke now.

mjnels said:

i posted about a similar thing 2 years ago..

http://www.namepros.com/domain-name-discussion/320988-domain-name-speculation-in-wikipedia.html

they used to have "Domain Name Speculation" redirected to this same "Cybersquatting" article... but someone from here took the time to write a better definition and its still there now.

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It is really sound very funny !

This article is being considered for deletion in accordance with Wikipedia's deletion policy.

wtf

chandan said:

This article is being considered for deletion in accordance with Wikipedia's deletion policy.

wtf

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I know. Truly nuts over there. My account has been suspended for "posting from multiple identities". Seriously, a Wikipedia troll has completely manufactured a lie I assume to somehow take control of the Domaining subject and block me from offering input or effective rebuttals to their personal biases.

For laughs ...

Wikipedia - Rotten Core with Deceptively Shiny Skin :tu:

Wow, Wikipedia really is run by a bunch of corrupt, power-mad morons.

Hmm, where's the pending deletion message? And the terms domainer, domainers and domaining point to domain name speculation as of this post.

Dave Zan said:

Hmm, where's the pending deletion message? And the terms domainer, domainers and domaining point to domain name speculation as of this post.

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now its not showing that previously it was

it redirecting to domain name speculation page now

Carlton said:

I want all domainers and those who enjoy domaining to know that a couple of mods at Wikipedia have taken it upon themselves to label all domainers as "cybersquatters".

It came to my attention a few days ago that anyone who types in "domaining" or "domainers" at Wikipedia is automatically redirected to their page on "cybersquatting". Doesn't that just piss you off? It does me.

I don't know about you, but I don't appreciate being classified as a cybersquatter. Cybersquatting is a crime. Domaining is a respectable business activity.

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:td: There are a great number of people that really need their heads examined these days.

Wiki's attitude is not unique unfortunately. I often encounter prospects who shoot back comments like "So you're a cybersquatter", when I introduce myself as a domainer. This paints myself, my business , the industry as a whole and the domain name I am attempting to sell in an extremely negative light, and makes the potential transaction much more difficult.

Perhaps it is time for a class action, as Wiki's deliberate and willful actions have slandered and/or defamed an entire industry and financially harmed us all.

Time to shine a light in the dark.

dtagr said:

Wiki's attitude is not unique unfortunately. I often encounter prospects who shoot back comments like "So you're a cybersquatter", when I introduce myself as a domainer. This paints myself, my business , the industry as a whole and the domain name I am attempting to sell in an extremely negative light, and makes the potential transaction much more difficult.

Perhaps it is time for a class action, as Wiki's deliberate and willful actions have slandered and/or defamed an entire industry and financially harmed us all.

Time to shine a light in the dark.

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I would respond to those accusations with "Are people who purchase physical real-estate also squatting on the land they purchased - simply because they waiting for the value to go up so they can sell it for a profit, or for the demand to increase hoping that someone will make an offer for it?"