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Tesla Motors Acquires Tesla.com: We Speak With the Seller

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By James Iles, Feb 18, 2016
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  1. James Iles

    James Iles Top Member PRO Gold Account VIP Trusted Blogger ★★★★★★★★★★

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    It was recently confirmed that the domain name Tesla.com has been sold to Tesla Motors, after being owned by a Mr. Stuart Grossman of California for a very long period of time. In the past, Mr. Grossman has defended the name in a UDRP against Tesla Industries, but as of today, the domain name redirects to Tesla Motors' official website.

    I just had the pleasure of speaking with Mr. Grossman, and here is what he told me:

    Basically, I realized that I would never have the time to use the domain in a productive manner. Between family, work and other obligations, there just isn't enough of me left over to devote any time to a web site.

    In addition, between the UDRP, and the frequent (but not very serious) requests to buy, borrow or use the name it was becoming a burden. Despite being insulated by my registrars privacy scheme, people still tracked me down, and called my home, sent letters, and in one case even dropped by for a visit.

    In another instance, a bunch of spam went out with tesla.com as the (faked) originating address. I think it contained a virus or a link to something bad. That resulted in a bunch of hate mail and a couple of very nasty phone calls to my residence.​


    As expected, Stuart was unable to share a price with us due to a non-disclosure agreement. Coincidentally, in a recent interview with us, Angel Investor @jason calacanis (friend of Tesla CEO Elon Musk) shared a piece of advice about Tesla.com:

    If the person with Tesla.com decides they want to buy a nice condo or house, sure, it’s a great idea [for Tesla Motors] to spend $500k or $1m buying that name.​

    Perhaps Jason knew something we didn't?
     
    James Iles, Feb 18, 2016
    | #1
    Reactions: +28 | Thanks: Eckhart, Winfluence and 7 others. | Likes: Vinod R, Acroplex and 17 others.
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  6. James Iles

    About The Author — James Iles

    James is a domain name industry professional currently working on numerous domain industry research, acquisition and sales projects. Contact [email protected] For all inquiries relating to NamePros stories and interviews, please email: [email protected]

    This is James Iles's 152nd blog post on NamePros. View all blog posts

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  7. Comments (28)

  8. daj

    daj Top Member VIP ★★★★★★★★★★

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    Could of made a wonderful site about Nikola Tesla. I wonder how he was able to hold on to it for so long considering his last name isn't Tesla and he didn't have an established brand called Tesla?
     
    daj, Feb 18, 2016
    | #2
    Reactions: +3 | Likes: Acroplex, James Iles and 1 other.
  9. cmdomains

    cmdomains Established Member

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    I was just wondering why domain wasn't with Tesla Motors yet.. about a month ago. Thanks again for this update =)
     
    cmdomains, Feb 18, 2016
    | #3
    Reactions: +1 | Likes: James Iles
  10. Keith DeBoer

    Keith DeBoer Top Member PRO VIP

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    Nice to see it's found its way home. I hope the prior owner was well compensated.
     
    Keith DeBoer, Feb 18, 2016
    | #4
    Reactions: +2 | Likes: James Iles and john_karr
  11. Acroplex

    Acroplex Top Member ✔ DomainGang.com PRO VIP ★★★★★★★★★★

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    Acroplex, Feb 18, 2016
    | #5
    Reactions: +4 | Thanks: Eric Lyon | Likes: James Iles, Mahogany and 1 other.
  12. Acroplex

    Acroplex Top Member ✔ DomainGang.com PRO VIP ★★★★★★★★★★

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    Correctin: 25%.
     
    Acroplex, Feb 18, 2016
    | #6
    Reactions: +1 | Likes: Mahogany
  13. James Iles

    James Iles Top Member PRO Gold Account VIP Trusted Blogger ★★★★★★★★★★

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    Apologies for the typo. Tesla.com was saved in a UDRP from Tesla Industries rather than Tesla Motors; this has now been fixed.
     
    James Iles, Feb 18, 2016
    | #7
    Reactions: +4 | Thanks: Acroplex, johname and 1 other. | Likes: cmdomains
  14. Recons.Com

    Recons.Com Top Member VIP

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    I must have something too:

     
    Recons.Com, Feb 18, 2016
    | #8
  15. Omar Negron

    Omar Negron Top Member VIP

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    Awesome!
     
    Omar Negron, Feb 18, 2016
    | #9
  16. jberryhill

    jberryhill Top Member ✔ John Berryhill, Ph.d., Esq. VIP ★★★★★★★★★★

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    That was a fun UDRP.
     
    jberryhill, Feb 18, 2016
    | #10
    Reactions: +7 | Likes: johname, James Iles and 5 others.
  17. Perceptron

    Perceptron "What you seek, is seeking you!" VIP

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    Perceptron, Feb 18, 2016
    | #11
  18. Recons.Com

    Recons.Com Top Member VIP

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    Elon Musk should have named his company Muskateer instead of Tesla ) The guy is not good at brandables )
     
    Recons.Com, Feb 18, 2016
    | #12
    Reactions: +2 | Likes: Acroplex and Rick Ace
  19. Mr. Deleted

    Mr. Deleted Slabaugh.com 800-266-2728 VIP ★★★★★★★★★★

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    166.77 now.
     
    Mr. Deleted, Feb 19, 2016
    | #13
  20. DomainVP

    DomainVP Domain Expert VIP

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    The domain did fall under fair use and this is directly from the UDRP:

    "Further, “Tesla” seems to be both a surname of a famous person and a common term, at least in the field of electromagnetics. Panels have often held that absent bad faith or no legitimate interest, the first to register such a generic or merely descriptive word should prevail."

    I doubt Tesla motors went into this UDRP thinking that it would work. It was just part of their process.

    One of the lesser complicated UDRPs.
     
    DomainVP, Feb 19, 2016
    | #14
    Reactions: +1 | Likes: asset.domains
  21. Mr. Deleted

    Mr. Deleted Slabaugh.com 800-266-2728 VIP ★★★★★★★★★★

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    It was Tesla Industries (teslaind.com) not Tesla Motors (teslamotors.com) filed the UDRP.
     
    Mr. Deleted, Feb 19, 2016
    | #15
    Reactions: +2 | Thanks: Kate and Eric Lyon
  22. TheWatcher

    TheWatcher Founder, MAJ.com VIP ★★★★★★★★★★

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    Excellent acquisition of property.
     
    TheWatcher, Feb 19, 2016
    | #16
  23. HUKU

    HUKU Established Member

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    Just as it would be for many companies and to simplify:

    In other words, why should we pay for the Domain Name if we can steal it through a process that has legitimacy?
     
    HUKU, Feb 19, 2016
    | #17
  24. brandsly

    brandsly Upgraded Member Gold Account

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    One of my favorite names of all time
     
    brandsly, Feb 19, 2016
    | #18
    Reactions: +1 | Likes: cmdomains
  25. Recons.Com

    Recons.Com Top Member VIP

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    Next one being Einstein.com? ))
     
    Recons.Com, Feb 19, 2016
    | #19
  26. manurawat

    manurawat Established Member

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    they want to use it for for years...but they cant honor the other persons business...... they want to use it for billions but they cant shred millions....... ..elon musk and and mark you bought doamains...means someone knew you will....they thought of this name well before you established your business.....UDRP is plane game........
     
    manurawat, Feb 19, 2016
    | #20
  27. AGAME

    AGAME optimalnames.com Gold Account VIP

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    Tesla Industries not Tesla Motors filed that UDRP..
     
    AGAME, Feb 19, 2016
    | #21
    Reactions: +2 | Thanks: Eric Lyon | Likes: Mr. Deleted
  28. manurawat

    manurawat Established Member

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    i m sorry.....as they say in UDRP well know name i thought Tesla motors..lol
     
    manurawat, Feb 19, 2016
    | #22
    Reactions: +1 | Likes: AGAME
  29. DNMRKT.COM

    DNMRKT.COM Bizful

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    I disagree with you, I think it fits perfectly, I also think that if Tesla would be alive he would love it.
     
    DNMRKT.COM, Feb 20, 2016
    | #23
  30. DNMRKT.COM

    DNMRKT.COM Bizful

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    Would not fit to Musk's style)
     
    DNMRKT.COM, Feb 20, 2016
    | #24
  31. HUKU

    HUKU Established Member

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    HUKU, Feb 20, 2016
    | #25
  
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