Network Solutions + Unethical go hand and hand.

Whois Record

Registrant:
This Domain is available at NetworkSolutions.com
13681 Sunrise Valley Drive, Suite 300
HERNDON, VA 20171
US

Domain Name: DONT-WANT-TO-PAY-OVER-34-DOLLARS-PER-DOMAIN-OOOOOPS-THINK-AGAIN.COM

Administrative Contact, Technical Contact:
Network Solutions, LLC
13681 Sunrise Valley Drive, Suite 300
HERNDON, VA 20171
US
1-888-642-9675 fax: 571-434-4620

Record expires on 08-Jan-2009.
Record created on 08-Jan-2008.
Database last updated on 8-Jan-2008 19:00:37 EST.

Domain servers in listed order:

ns1.reserveddomainname.com 205.178.190.55
ns2.reserveddomainname.com 205.178.189.55

WoW ! I never thought of searching for my name !

Acroplex said:

Here, taste some of your own 4 day medicine:

Domain Name: SHASHIBELLAMKONDA.COM
Registrar: NETWORK SOLUTIONS, LLC.
Whois Server: whois.networksolutions.com
Referral URL: http://www.networksolutions.com
Name Server: NS1.RESERVEDDOMAINNAME.COM
Name Server: NS2.RESERVEDDOMAINNAME.COM
Status: ok
Updated Date: 08-jan-2008
Creation Date: 08-jan-2008
Expiration Date: 08-jan-2009

Click to expand...

Thanks for searching my name

Perhaps the guise of doing it for the customer's benefit is true, but I am doubtful.

There needs to be some way for the customer to release the domain so they will be free to register it at another registrar. Otherwise it's a monopoly, and that is never good for the consumer ... :td:

-Frikkle

.

No domainer registers domains at NetSol.

This is clearly aimed at Joe Bloke who wants to register a domain for their business. Expect NetSol to increase their ad campaign soon, trying to reach the general public. Once the market is saturated with NetSol ads, Joe Bloke will try to look up a domain at NetSol, thus locking it down.

This is clearly an unjust use of the loophole that allows domain tasting. ICANN are a bunch of useless morons.

Seems to me that all registrars should have this capability if netsol does. Now think about this. All domainers (for the most part) use registrars other than netsol, and check domains at a rate that more than makes up for most single domain owners at netsol (just a guess). I check all major variations of things I track, and I track a *lot* of categories. I am sure every other domainer here does this too. So on an even playing field, the non-netsol registrars could lock up the entire *quality* parts of the domain space in record time, using other registrars if this goes universal.

Just a thought,
Marc

shashib said:

Hi my name is Shashi Bellamkonda and I work for Network Solutions. Wanted to give you our side of this subject. This measure is geared for our customers. It gives them a chance to look for domains consider if it’s what they want and then have an opportunity to register it.

Network Solutions is not front running. “ Front Runners” are people who register domain names known to have been searched, for the purpose of monetizing them and then selling them at inflated prices either directly to the customer who searched for the domain or through aftermarket channels.
We have started protecting all domain name searches at Network Solutions by holding the searched domains for our customers for a short period of time before releasing them. This gives our customers the opportunity to register names later without fear that the name will be registered by a “Front Runner.”
We are not monetizing these domains, nor do we intend to keep them after the holding period.

We did this because we heard customers complain that queried domain names are being snatched up by other people as soon as they searched. Network Solutions makes sure its search data is secure and we do not sell it any third party. I know that Network Solutions has no intention of keeping any searched domain or monetizing it.

Our response on Circelid is here :

http://www.circleid.com/posts/81082_network_solutions_front_running/

Thanks for listening,

Shashi

Click to expand...

Hi Shashi, I could "maybe" understand that if the domains were put on hold for a couple of days and only held as available to the person that did the initial search - but even then, is it right to block them for going elsewhere to register it if they choose to - I think not.

Is it right to stick up a page and PROMOTE that the name is available For Anyone to buy - Most definetly not, how is that doing anything positive for your customers ? < please answer this

Maybe its not "Front running" or "Domain Kiting" or any other trendy new term - maybe it's just plain STUPID !


How could you not think that most people would be Pissed ?

I would also like to ask you - once you have dropped, deleted or whatever else you want to call it, do you then make the name available to other tasters or do you intend to send them all to auction at NameJet ?

.... this is sooo strange and borders on the bizarre




PS - The new NetSol parking pages look very nice IMO


.

shashib said:

We did this because we heard customers complain that queried domain names are being snatched up by other people as soon as they searched. Network Solutions makes sure its search data is secure and we do not sell it any third party. I know that Network Solutions has no intention of keeping any searched domain or monetizing it.

Click to expand...

The data isn't very secure - Now is it ?

Fix the problem - Do not add to it.

gazzip said:

Hi Shashi, I could "maybe" understand that if the domains were put on hold for a couple of days and only held as available to the person that did the initial search - but even then, is it right to block them for going elsewhere to register it if they choose to - I think not.

Is it right to stick up a page and PROMOTE that the name is available For Anyone to buy - Most definetly not, how is that doing anything positive for your customers ? < please answer this

Maybe its not "Front running" or "Domain Kiting" or any other trendy new term - maybe it's just plain STUPID !


How could you not think that most people would be Pissed ?

I would also like to ask you - once you have dropped, deleted or whatever else you want to call it, do you then make the name available to other tasters or do you intend to send them all to auction at NameJet ?

.... this is sooo strange and borders on the bizarre




PS - The new NetSol parking pages look very nice IMO


.

Click to expand...

All very good points Gazzip!

I always thought the "tasting" process was in place if a Customer registered a domain name and there was a Typo? I better go transfer out my domains quick before some registerfly crap starts going on.....

I don't buy that for a second. I don't see a flashy button on the registration page that tells me NetSol is holding on to my domain when I decide I'll come back later or try a different registrar.

And, why, oh why, would the page say "Get it Now!" while visiting it after it's been searched for? That's stating that the domain is available to anyone -- most definitely not doing a service to your customers. :imho:

Could anyone not just search to see what domains are registered on the nameservers to see what domains people have searched via Netsol to register at an alternative registrar 4 days later?

Umm, did anyone notice this?
Based on the domain from above post
DONT-WANT-TO-PAY-OVER-34-DOLLARS-PER-DOMAIN-OOOOOPS-THINK-AGAIN.COM

Godaddy says the .com is registered - but everything else is available....

and networksolutions is showing
dont-want-to-pay-over-34-dollars-per-domain-ooooops-think-again
.com
.net
.mobi
.org
.us
.us.com
.info
.co.uk

With the bolded ones already registered????
I was surprised to see the others registered ...
Is that to make it more appealing?

npcomplete said:

Perhaps we should do an exhaustive search of all 63 character .com's.

Marc

Click to expand...

Do all LLLLL.COM AND LLLLLL.COM so the LLLL.com will skyrocket

Acroplex said:

1. Lookup hundreds of names that contain the words DELL, EBAY and other famous trademarks.

2. Email these "reserved" domains to Dell, eBay etc.

3. Sit back while NetSol receives C&D's in the mail.

4. Repeat every 4 days.

Click to expand...

couldn't resist...now netsol owns plenty of beautiful names containing "ebay", "microsoft", and "olympicgames2008" :sold:

kriss05 said:

couldn't resist...now netsol owns plenty of beautiful names containing "ebay", "microsoft", and "olympicgames2008" :sold:

Click to expand...

This actually qualifies as a "good deed". You just helped all the noobs save some money!

Marc

When the rep from NetSol decides to post again.... Is there a way to accept a transfer-out with-in your account at netsol to speed up the process? I know you can do this via Godaddy, were I transfered the domains that "were" at netsol! I called but the rep stated this is a registry thing? Interesting Godaddy let's you do it?

I've watched Network Solutions operate with virtual impunity since the beginning. They have historically have been shielded from conflict by being appointed by the U.S. gov't to run all the extensions, until the breakup. Things have changed. This is not 1997 anymore, but they are still acting like it. They still think they can get away with anything, and so far the last few years this mindset has not worked for them. I predict this won't either.

Being handed 100% market share of the domain market from the beginning, this company learned early on that being a government sanctioned entity is very financially rewarding. The ONLY thing they have every listed to was court orders, whether it was the judge that ruled the $30 domain surcharge was illegal in 96' , to the Sex.com case where they argured a domain is not property and instead is a lease (they lost), to the SiteFinder "service" (was that the name?) which hijacked every mistype of a domain, but was taken down after the public firestorm that ensued.

I predict : Here comes the new era of Gov't legislation because of this crap at every level (Domain Registrars, ISP's, Browsers Manufacturers (such as MS' IE), and for domainers too. They might even try to make mistypes of domains illegal. This is going to come to a head. It's just getting too silly and we will get swept into it too, don't you just know.

Network Solutions are dirty, dirty dogs IMO.

DnPresident said:

Do all LLLLL.COM AND LLLLLL.COM so the LLLL.com will skyrocket

Click to expand...

LOL!

PeterBrown said:

Could anyone not just search to see what domains are registered on the nameservers to see what domains people have searched via Netsol to register at an alternative registrar 4 days later?

Click to expand...

Yes, this is a good point and could likely be a big problem. This helps shady domainers find domains people are searching network solutions for. A big security problem. Network Solutions is now pioneering domain front running by giving shady people insight to what domains their customers are interested in.

But think of all of the great TM domains we can now taste for free. Or think of how many lawyers who we will keep busy.

This of how much much will be wasted by lawyers researching these domains.

sheraton-mastercard-americanexpress-fedex-timewarner.com
delllaptop-underarmour-wwe-yahoo-wyndham-sheraton.com
prada-clinque-tagheuer-gucci-ralphlauren-intuit.com
yahoo-xbox-luxorhotel-verizon-walmart-viagra-humana.com

Now if sheraton and mastercard go after NSI, who would get the domain?

On another note…

It would be a completely different if you could log into your account and do a “secure domain check” which puts the domain into your account for 4 days. That way nobody can register the domain but you. In fact, this is actually a good idea / service to give customers! But “securing” the domain then making a for sale page to the world is a bit too much. Seriously, give users the option to “just check” or “check and register for 5 days”.

And in all honesty – Network Solutions is probably paying for the domain registration temporarily – no? So if its “secured” by their money for that specific customer – they should be able to go ahead and put ads on the domain for the time being until the customer actually pays them for the domain. That would be a way to spin this into a truly win/win situation – and something to help domain front running, not contribute to it. (and bring in more revenue for them)

Rebies said:

On another note…

It would be a completely different if you could log into your account and do a “secure domain check” which puts the domain into your account for 4 days. That way nobody can register the domain but you. In fact, this is actually a good idea / service to give customers! But “securing” the domain then making a for sale page to the world is a bit too much. Seriously, give users the option to “just check” or “check and register for 5 days”.

And in all honesty – Network Solutions is probably paying for the domain registration temporarily – no? So if its “secured” by their money for that specific customer – they should be able to go ahead and put ads on the domain for the time being until the customer actually pays them for the domain. That would be a way to spin this into a truly win/win situation – and something to help domain front running, not contribute to it. (and bring in more revenue for them)

Click to expand...

This is the approach they should have taken to this "idea".

Nice idea Rebies, I think that it should be the other way round. They should offer secure domain check as standard and then offer the 4 day hold for optional. People looking to newly register will have no idea why their domain has been put into held etc the way it currently is, there is no notice to state the domain will be held or that the searches are recorded.

I tried 2 and it appears true, if they wish to not sell their searches that is fine as it is their information, but to register them I consider that shady, if they don't sell the searches the domain would still be available when the original person comes back to buy it, by registering it it is trapping the original person to buy it from network solutions simply because they made the first query there, if tasting is getting so much bad press I would think this should as well whether or not the domains are being monetized as it is still putting thousands of domains into the system and then dropping them which should be considered a strain on the system.

http://whois.domaintools.com/thisisshadybusiness.com
http://whois.domaintools.com/networksolutionssuckscowdong.com

SpareDomains said:

I tried 2 and it appears true, if they wish to not sell their searches that is fine as it is their information, but to register them I consider that shady, if they don't sell the searches the domain would still be available when the original person comes back to buy it, by registering it it is trapping the original person to buy it from network solutions simply because they made the first query there, if tasting is getting so much bad press I would think this should as well whether or not the domains are being monetized as it is still putting thousands of domains into the system and then dropping them which should be considered a strain on the system.

http://whois.domaintools.com/thisisshadybusiness.com
http://whois.domaintools.com/networksolutionssuckscowdong.com

Click to expand...

Agreed.

On top of that, they effectively advertise that this domain exists and is available to anyone (only via NetSol of course, but still anyone is more than welcome to purchase it - not just the person who came up with the idea).

They don't advertise this in the conventional sense of the word, but putting up a site within seconds - and the mere act of registering the domain - is likely to cause some people who search for related domains (say via domaintools.com) to notice the record and get interested - who wouldn't have thought of this particular domain in the first place.

Not to mention that tomorrow anyone could easily buy from domaintools.com a list of many domains that correspond to the email address used in the Administratve Contact field (yes, it seems to be the same for all domains, but Jay's system hasn't updated for the day yet - that's why the count is so low).

Even the mere possibility of one of those things occurring is likely to drive some people into parting with $34.99 that they didn't plan to part with when they were doing a mere check for availability.