Definition of "Domain Squatter" from Reputation.com

MeanerDomainer · 02-09-2011, 05:40 PM

They used to be reputationdefender.com until fairly recently. They have apparently acquired reputation.com.

They have the following helpful definition:

Domain Squatter
The definition of domain squatter is one who purchases domain names with the intent to sell them later to individuals or companies for a profit. Domain squatters will buy an un-owned domain name hoping that a company or individual will later find it pertinent to their business or simply important to own. The domain squatter can then sell the URL for a profit.

Not sure if related to their discovery that reputation.com was taken and subsequent purchase of said name....

????: NamePros.com http://www.namepros.com/domain-name-discussion/701472-definition-of-domain-squatter-reputation-com.html

This is, of course, nothing new. I just find it interesting that they use this specific definition in spite of the fact that they should know perfectly well how things work.

Edit: And for the home-schooled crowd, I am not agreeing with or endorsing their definition.

Ms Domainer · 02-09-2011, 07:38 PM

*

So, then, is a land owner who owns a tract of unimproved land (with the intention of selling or developing it later) called a "Land Squatter"?

Interesting perception held by reputation dawt com.

I would think that a true land squatter would be someone who pitches a tent on someone else's land.

*

defaultuser · 02-09-2011, 08:06 PM

Originally Posted by Ms Domainer

*

So, then, is a land owner who owns a tract of unimproved land (with the intention of selling or developing it later) called a "Land Squatter"?
????: NamePros.com http://www.namepros.com/showthread.php?t=701472

Interesting perception held by reputation dawt com.

I would think that a true land squatter would be someone who pitches a tent on someone else's land.

*

Analogies between domains and real-estate/property don't always hold up.

As far as I am aware, the term domain squatting has been used since inception to refer to people that hold a domain without any intention of developing and as a method to gain payment from someone who wants it.

I don't know why domainers get so defensive. Nowhere in the definition does it say ILLEGAL or WRONG. To many people it IS unethical.

All that changed was the ACPA tried to re-define the word to fit into criminal law so domainers hang to that saying "I'm no a squatter I am an investor"... often pointing out that "Windows" and "PlayStation" and "Blackberry" are generic..

Investing? Squatting?

"A rose by any other name would smell as sweet"

nowhammies · 02-09-2011, 08:50 PM

Squatting implies an act where the individual is using the property of another. Domain squatter makes sense only in the context of trademarked names, and then only clearly trademarked names. Like CocaCola.com, that would be squatting IMO. Buying a generic term with no clear TM attached is not domain squatting by any stretch of the imagination. It's pretty poor research on reputation - dt - com's part.

exsedo · 02-09-2011, 10:47 PM

From domaintools whois:-

Reputation.com, inc owns about 721 other domains.

They either have a massive amount of developed sites or its a case of the Pot calling the kettle black.

defaultuser · 02-09-2011, 11:29 PM

Originally Posted by nowhammies

Buying a generic term with no clear TM attached is not domain squatting by any stretch of the imagination. It's pretty poor research on reputation - dt - com's part.

Unfortunately you need to stretch your imagination a little to match that of IP Lawyers, UDRP panelists...etc

Originally Posted by exsedo

From domaintools whois:-

Reputation.com, inc owns about 721 other domains.

They either have a massive amount of developed sites or its a case of the Pot calling the kettle black.

They called themselves a domain squatter. It's a case of the Pot calling themselves a Pot. They didn't mention a kettle

DomainOutlaw · 02-10-2011, 12:45 AM

Lol, I like how the assume that internet real-estate is saved for only those who need it at any given time.

sdsinc · 02-10-2011, 03:23 AM

Originally Posted by MeanerDomainer

They used to be reputationdefender.com until fairly recently. They have apparently acquired reputation.com.

They bought from a squatter huh ?

**enlytend** · 02-10-2011, 07:17 AM

Before anyone gets all upset about this, consider the source

.

defaultuser · 02-10-2011, 09:13 AM

Originally Posted by sdsinc

They bought from a squatter huh ?

Probably.

alien51 · 02-10-2011, 10:31 AM

Originally Posted by MeanerDomainer

Domain Squatter
The definition of domain squatter is one who purchases domain names with the intent to sell them later to individuals or companies for a profit. Domain squatters will buy an un-owned domain name hoping that a company or individual will later find it pertinent to their business or simply important to own. The domain squatter can then sell the URL for a profit.

If that is the definition, then I don't see anything wrong or immoral with that practice. The definition above did say "un-owned" domain name. So if the domain is "un-owned", it "can" mean that nobody is interested in it. So why would it be immoral to buy something that nobody wants, then fear that someone else in the future might think it would be a nice name for his own business????
????: NamePros.com http://www.namepros.com/showthread.php?t=701472

I think when the term domain "squatter" was invented, they were really referring to DOMAIN SCALPERS.

A "scalper" is someone who EXPLOITS an existing demand using unfair advantage by being the first one to grab the merchandise with no real intention of consuming it, but simply holding the merchandise hostage and asking RANSOM MONEY from the real people who have legitimate use for the merchandise.

SCALPING always has malicious intent involved for profit.

But the keyword here is "intent". If people know your motives, then malicious activity can be speculated. So for domainers to avoid being accused of being a domain scalper, you probably have to lie to people about your intentions, and put some kind of "front" to make it look like you are going to "develop" the domain, then simply say you later cancelled the idea when somebody came up and offered you money to buy you out.

defaultuser · 02-10-2011, 10:52 AM

Squatting, Scalping, Domaining, Investing, its all the same, really.

For fun, a poem:

"“You are sad,” the Knight said in an anxious tone: “Let me sing you a song to comfort you.”

“Is it very long?” Alice asked, for she had heard a good deal of poetry that day.
????: NamePros.com http://www.namepros.com/showthread.php?t=701472

“It's long,” said the Knight, “but it's very, very beautiful. Everybody that hears me sing it - either it brings the tears to their eyes, or else -”

“Or else what?” said Alice, for the Knight had made a sudden pause.

“Or else it doesn't, you know. The name of the song is called ‘Haddocks' Eyes.’”

“Oh, that's the name of the song, is it?" Alice said, trying to feel interested.

“No, you don't understand,” the Knight said, looking a little vexed. “That's what the name is called. The name really is ‘The Aged Aged Man.’”

“Then I ought to have said ‘That's what the song is called’?” Alice corrected herself.

“No, you oughtn't: that's quite another thing! The song is called ‘Ways And Means’: but that's only what it's called, you know!”

“Well, what is the song, then?” said Alice, who was by this time completely bewildered.

“I was coming to that,” the Knight said. “The song really is ‘A-sitting On A Gate’: and the tune's my own invention.”

Ben42 · 02-10-2011, 10:59 AM

Domain Squatter still sounds better to me than Cyber Squatter.

MeanerDomainer · 02-10-2011, 04:33 PM

Originally Posted by Ben42

Domain Squatter still sounds better to me than Cyber Squatter.

Perhaps it does sound a bit better, but maybe only because you have not heard it used as many times in a negative context. Either way, neither is good because of the word "squatter".
????: NamePros.com http://www.namepros.com/showthread.php?t=701472

Squatter/squatting implies using/occupying something belonging to someone else wihtout the permission of the righful property owner.

Such inaccurate "definitions" are not helpful for the image of domaining.

nowhammies · 02-10-2011, 05:24 PM

Originally Posted by MeanerDomainer

Perhaps it does sound a bit better, but maybe only because you have not heard it used as many times in a negative context. Either way, neither is good because of the word "squatter".
????: NamePros.com http://www.namepros.com/showthread.php?t=701472

Squatter/squatting implies using/occupying something belonging to someone else wihtout the permission of the righful property owner.

Such inaccurate "definitions" are not helpful for the image of domaining.

Exactly right. Their definition is incorrect.

**Dave Zan** · 02-10-2011, 05:44 PM

Originally Posted by defaultuser

I don't know why domainers get so defensive.

Ah, it's the negative connotation or meaning attached to the word squatter. It isn't exactly a positive word just from the definition itself, and surely lots of people want to stay away it.

If the original definition of squatter were followed and maybe thought about, how can one "squat" something another person or entity doesn't own? It's a bit more applicable to intellectual property like trademarks, of course.

If we're to follow along those lines, anyway, which some IP lawyers, UDRP panelists, etc. perhaps unfortunately don't and tend to stretch things further as implied. It happens.
????: NamePros.com http://www.namepros.com/showthread.php?t=701472

Anyway, there's really no ultimate source that everyone follows. Just depends what can be agreed upon...or not.

lincolndsp · 02-11-2011, 03:21 AM

yes, it's kind of unplesant to hear that but who cares.

if you own a valuable domain the right buyer who understands its value will come and appreciate its value and possibly buy it regardless of what pissed off crowd says.

exsedo · 02-11-2011, 03:46 AM

It's rather sad that someone has enough intelligence to buy a domain name, put up a website on it, and then host a stupid article like that.

With that kind of reasoning, virtually anyone who owns anything is a squatter.

**enlytend** · 02-11-2011, 04:26 AM

It's how some people see the industry - old story, we've gone there before.

I guess "Joe Public" might be influenced by it, but "Joe Public" is visiting that site because they heard a commercial and want to empty their checkbook in a futile attempt to bury a couple of bad Yelp reviews, not to read something buried in the site's glossary. Seriously: Who reads the glossary?

This thread is just going to make the statement more visible in the search engines - they'll be secretly thanking us for the backlink.

the_poet · 02-14-2011, 12:04 PM

Long live ignorance!

dragtastic · 02-14-2011, 06:17 PM

the only wrong doing in the domaining world is registering a copyrighted domain

end of story

everything else is called capitalism - welcome to america

dnbknowledge · 02-18-2011, 03:13 AM

The Reputation.com Definition Has Been Changed!

Here's what happened:

1) After reading about this incident, I blogged about this situation on DomainingTips.com (of course, I linked to NamePros and quoted it as the source). Here is my first blog post.

2) One of my readers (Christine) contacted Reputation.com through their live chat after reading my post. Even though she was very reasonable, she only received canned responses and the chat was ended abruptly by Reputation.com. She posted the transcript of the conversation on my blog and as a reaction to what happened, I wrote another blog post and got the first one to rank for their name.
????: NamePros.com http://www.namepros.com/showthread.php?t=701472

3) The next day, Rob from Reputation.com emailed me and also posted an official apology on my blog. Here it is btw. They also edited the definition and the current one can be found on this page.

Conclusion: thanks to this thread, to my blog posts as well as to committed domainers like Christine, the problem was solved and this just goes to show you that if we as domainers actually stick together for a change, good things can happen.

the_poet · 02-18-2011, 05:05 AM

Originally Posted by dnbknowledge

Conclusion: thanks to this thread, to my blog posts as well as to committed domainers like Christine, the problem was solved and this just goes to show you that if we as domainers actually stick together for a change, good things can happen.

Great news! I couldn't agree with you more, we always need to join our forces to let others hear voice.
????: NamePros.com http://www.namepros.com/showthread.php?t=701472

BTW DomainingTips.com is currently down for me.

dnbknowledge · 02-18-2011, 06:17 AM

Originally Posted by the_poet

Great news! I couldn't agree with you more, we always need to join our forces to let others hear voice.

BTW DomainingTips.com is currently down for me.

I noticed that DomainingTips.com was down for a few minutes and was getting ready to contact the company it's hosted at (I'm not hosting it on my main server since in case something happens to the server my other important websites are hosted on, it's good to be able to provide updates through my blog without having to change name servers, move files and so on) but the site was running smoothly again just as I was about to submit a ticket

DubDubDubDot · 02-18-2011, 09:19 AM

There are TM squatters and there are speculative squatters. That means we are all squatters.

02-09-2011, 05:40 PM	THREAD STARTER #1 (permalink)
MeanerDomainer NamePros Regular Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 447	Definition of "Domain Squatter" from Reputation.com They used to be reputationdefender.com until fairly recently. They have apparently acquired reputation.com. They have the following helpful definition: Domain Squatter The definition of domain squatter is one who purchases domain names with the intent to sell them later to individuals or companies for a profit. Domain squatters will buy an un-owned domain name hoping that a company or individual will later find it pertinent to their business or simply important to own. The domain squatter can then sell the URL for a profit. Not sure if related to their discovery that reputation.com was taken and subsequent purchase of said name.... ????: NamePros.com http://www.namepros.com/domain-name-discussion/701472-definition-of-domain-squatter-reputation-com.html This is, of course, nothing new. I just find it interesting that they use this specific definition in spite of the fact that they should know perfectly well how things work. Edit: And for the home-schooled crowd, I am not agreeing with or endorsing their definition. Last edited by MeanerDomainer; 02-11-2011 at 09:19 AM.

02-09-2011, 07:38 PM	#2 (permalink)
Ms Domainer Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 2,467	* So, then, is a land owner who owns a tract of unimproved land (with the intention of selling or developing it later) called a "Land Squatter"? Interesting perception held by reputation dawt com. I would think that a true land squatter would be someone who pitches a tent on someone else's land. * __________________ Food for Thought So live that you wouldn't be ashamed to sell the family parrot to the town gossip.

02-09-2011, 10:47 PM	#5 (permalink)
exsedo Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: England Posts: 2,668	From domaintools whois:- Reputation.com, inc owns about 721 other domains. They either have a massive amount of developed sites or its a case of the Pot calling the kettle black. __________________ Unenforceable Loan ?-Desktop 3D Printer- Top 20 Coupons

02-10-2011, 12:45 AM	#7 (permalink)
DomainOutlaw NamePros Regular Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 257	Lol, I like how the assume that internet real-estate is saved for only those who need it at any given time. __________________ Scary Movies List / Comedy Movies List/ Flame War/ Sea Monsters/Best Entry Level DSLR Camera

02-10-2011, 07:17 AM	#9 (permalink)
enlytend Forum Moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: USA Posts: 2,150 Follow @enlytend	Before anyone gets all upset about this, consider the source . __________________ Enlytend Solutions - Internet marketing and web development Was my advice helpful? Please consider a small donation to the National Canine Cancer Foundation - a tax deductible 501(c)(3)that directly funds cancer research

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02-09-2011, 08:50 PM	#4 (permalink)
nowhammies New Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Posts: 15	Squatting implies an act where the individual is using the property of another. Domain squatter makes sense only in the context of trademarked names, and then only clearly trademarked names. Like CocaCola.com, that would be squatting IMO. Buying a generic term with no clear TM attached is not domain squatting by any stretch of the imagination. It's pretty poor research on reputation - dt - com's part.

02-10-2011, 10:52 AM	#12 (permalink)
defaultuser Senior Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: internet@ctivist.com Posts: 4,786	Squatting, Scalping, Domaining, Investing, its all the same, really. For fun, a poem: "“You are sad,” the Knight said in an anxious tone: “Let me sing you a song to comfort you.” “Is it very long?” Alice asked, for she had heard a good deal of poetry that day. ????: NamePros.com http://www.namepros.com/showthread.php?t=701472 “It's long,” said the Knight, “but it's very, very beautiful. Everybody that hears me sing it - either it brings the tears to their eyes, or else -” “Or else what?” said Alice, for the Knight had made a sudden pause. “Or else it doesn't, you know. The name of the song is called ‘Haddocks' Eyes.’” “Oh, that's the name of the song, is it?" Alice said, trying to feel interested. “No, you don't understand,” the Knight said, looking a little vexed. “That's what the name is called. The name really is ‘The Aged Aged Man.’” “Then I ought to have said ‘That's what the song is called’?” Alice corrected herself. “No, you oughtn't: that's quite another thing! The song is called ‘Ways And Means’: but that's only what it's called, you know!” “Well, what is the song, then?” said Alice, who was by this time completely bewildered. “I was coming to that,” the Knight said. “The song really is ‘A-sitting On A Gate’: and the tune's my own invention.” __________________ A Member of: IdeationTeam.com HowToBeADomainer.com - a Domaining How To AuthorEditor.com

02-10-2011, 10:59 AM	#13 (permalink)
Ben42 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Chi-Town Posts: 2,115	Domain Squatter still sounds better to me than Cyber Squatter. __________________ KG to Pounds Conversion Calculator

02-11-2011, 03:21 AM	#17 (permalink)
lincolndsp NamePros Regular Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 995	yes, it's kind of unplesant to hear that but who cares. if you own a valuable domain the right buyer who understands its value will come and appreciate its value and possibly buy it regardless of what pissed off crowd says.

02-11-2011, 03:46 AM	#18 (permalink)
exsedo Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: England Posts: 2,668	It's rather sad that someone has enough intelligence to buy a domain name, put up a website on it, and then host a stupid article like that. With that kind of reasoning, virtually anyone who owns anything is a squatter. __________________ Unenforceable Loan ?-Desktop 3D Printer- Top 20 Coupons

02-11-2011, 04:26 AM	#19 (permalink)
enlytend Forum Moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: USA Posts: 2,150 Follow @enlytend	It's how some people see the industry - old story, we've gone there before. I guess "Joe Public" might be influenced by it, but "Joe Public" is visiting that site because they heard a commercial and want to empty their checkbook in a futile attempt to bury a couple of bad Yelp reviews, not to read something buried in the site's glossary. Seriously: Who reads the glossary? This thread is just going to make the statement more visible in the search engines - they'll be secretly thanking us for the backlink. __________________ Enlytend Solutions - Internet marketing and web development Was my advice helpful? Please consider a small donation to the National Canine Cancer Foundation - a tax deductible 501(c)(3)that directly funds cancer research Last edited by enlytend; 02-11-2011 at 06:15 AM.

02-14-2011, 12:04 PM	#20 (permalink)
the_poet Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: The Web Posts: 4,648 Follow @ThePoet82	Long live ignorance! __________________ RunningShoes.in @ just $300 on Sedo auction (RunningShoes.com sold for $700,000 in 2011) Coater.com for sale - Premium industrial 1-worder.

02-14-2011, 06:17 PM	#21 (permalink)
dragtastic NamePros Regular Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Chicago Posts: 510 Follow @zoopdotco	the only wrong doing in the domaining world is registering a copyrighted domain end of story everything else is called capitalism - welcome to america __________________ ZOOP \|COMIC CON \| Comic Book News

02-18-2011, 03:13 AM	#22 (permalink)
dnbknowledge NamePros Regular Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 379	The Reputation.com Definition Has Been Changed! Here's what happened: 1) After reading about this incident, I blogged about this situation on DomainingTips.com (of course, I linked to NamePros and quoted it as the source). Here is my first blog post. 2) One of my readers (Christine) contacted Reputation.com through their live chat after reading my post. Even though she was very reasonable, she only received canned responses and the chat was ended abruptly by Reputation.com. She posted the transcript of the conversation on my blog and as a reaction to what happened, I wrote another blog post and got the first one to rank for their name. ????: NamePros.com http://www.namepros.com/showthread.php?t=701472 3) The next day, Rob from Reputation.com emailed me and also posted an official apology on my blog. Here it is btw. They also edited the definition and the current one can be found on this page. Conclusion: thanks to this thread, to my blog posts as well as to committed domainers like Christine, the problem was solved and this just goes to show you that if we as domainers actually stick together for a change, good things can happen. __________________ Auctionpus.com - Domain Auctions MiniEscrow.com DomainingTips.com - Domaining Blog Quality Banners \| Quality Logos \| Quality Themes \| Quality Articles

02-18-2011, 09:19 AM	#25 (permalink)
DubDubDubDot Senior Member Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 1,634	There are TM squatters and there are speculative squatters. That means we are all squatters.

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