A company asked me to return my domain to them

hjordis · Jun 2, 2018

Hi!

So I registered a brandable domain a while ago, and just found out the domain was belong to a company because they sent me an email and asked me to return it to them - apparently they forgot to renew the domain, I did a trademark search for the word, and it was abandoned long before I registered the domain. What should I do about it?

Thanks.

hjordis · Jun 3, 2018

stub said:
They certainly are already playing hardball. But I'd ignore that and get my own house in order for defending against a UDRP. They have almost no chance with TM infringement or Registered in Bad Faith, if the OP hasn't had it parked with ads.

I would definitely not give the domain back to them or even sell it to them at a reasonable price either. The consequences of playing hard-ball, is that it can backfire on you with higher price. If you really want it back. Playing hardball usually implies a 2nd plan. Either paying more than the true value of the domain, or going to find a second domain, or go to UDRP. There isn't much else they can do.

I mean what domain owner doesn't notice the domain has a) expired, b) deleted, c) re-registered, d) that their website isn't working for a year. It's beyond reasonable belief. What does archive.org say about their website?

OP might be sitting on a goldmine, or not. Too early to tell. After they lose the UDRP, we'd have a better idea.

Some people are just born bullies. It's in their DNA.

True that, I would have given them a reasonable price if they asked me politely, not anymore. I checked and it just had a landing page of "This Site is Under Construction" .

November · Jun 3, 2018

MapleDots said:
I cases like this I send something that looks like an automated response.

Thank you for your inquiry, the domain is under development, if we can be of further assistance please do not hesitate to contact us.

Then I wait

Patience is a virtue

Cool and very smart answer

hjordis · Jun 3, 2018

dexdn said:
No TM - No problems
Is a domain .com or ccTLD?

Company domain name or name is identical to your domain name or similar?

Did you get a normal email or cease and desist letter?

* I didn't read whole thread maybe there is answers on questions above :9

It's a .com and it's their company name. He sent me an email.

d-e-x · Jun 3, 2018

hjordis said:
It's a .com and it's their company name. He sent me an email.

Is company domain .com or ccTLD?

pinkdragon · Jun 3, 2018

Post the name here (masked), so we can have a clue of what are you talking about. TM's can be tricky.

hjordis · Jun 3, 2018

dexdn said:
Is company domain .com or ccTLD?

The .com domain I own now was their company domain, but they let it expire.

saintpro · Jun 3, 2018

stub said:
Be careful he doesn't report your eMails as Spam. I'd stop eMailing him altogether, and move on.

Thanks!

d-e-x · Jun 3, 2018

hjordis said:
The .com domain I own now was their company domain, but they let it expire.

And they don't have any website or domain name now? Hard to believe that

But if that is a case then you got a jackpot

Satyajit Adhikary · Jun 3, 2018

Since their TM expired, tell them you are going to trademark the name and develop the domain

frank-germany · Jun 3, 2018

pinkdragon said:
Post the name here (masked), so we can have a clue of what are you talking about. TM's can be tricky.

of course NOT

and the domain doesn't matter so much

hjordis · Jun 3, 2018

dexdn said:
And they don't have any website or domain name now? Hard to believe that
But if that is a case then you got a jackpot

I would like to think that, too early to tell.

aceeca · Jun 3, 2018

hjordis said:
I ain't give up on the name just because ONE buyer isn't willing to pay, it's a big world

Man, ppl don't get sarcasm

JudgeMind · Jun 3, 2018

Same thing happenes to me frequently. I usually end up selling their expired domain back to them for $1500-$3000

hjordis · Jun 3, 2018

aceeca said:
Man, ppl don't get sarcasm

Talking about being real in the virtual world

hjordis · Jun 3, 2018

JudgeMind said:
Same thing happenes to me frequently. I usually end up selling their expired domain back to them for $1500-$3000

Thanks for the advice, I'll contact them after I've gathered more info

aceeca · Jun 3, 2018

hjordis said:
Talking about being real in the virtual world

Haha

DomainGist · Jun 3, 2018

Just put a fair BIN price on the domain in one place, forward the domain to that place (e.g. Undeveloped). And then just leave it there, indefinitely.

Either he wants the domain enough to buy it or he doesn't. Simple.

No arguments needed.

likeslikes · Jun 3, 2018

DomainGist said:
Just put a fair BIN price on the domain in one place, forward the domain to that place (e.g. Undeveloped). And then just leave it there, indefinitely.

Either he wants the domain enough to buy it or he doesn't. Simple.

No arguments needed.

This is what I did once while in this same situation and it worked out well for me.

hjordis · Jun 4, 2018

An update, told them that the domain is under development, they replied nothing, but asked if I was willing to return it to them, eh what?

Talking about the word "return", what does it actually mean in this content? They want it back free of charge or?

BaileyUK · Jun 4, 2018

If they are just continuing on the same approach, Then I would do exactly the same and just state
"Please refer to my previous reply"

Yes of course they want it returned for 'Free' otherwise they would have mentioned an element of compensation/payment.

I've had as long as seven years pass, before a Company has tried to re-engage with me about one of their previously held domains. Just forget about them for now and continue as if they never made any approach.

They'll get the message

IMEZI · Jun 4, 2018

hjordis said:
An update, told them that the domain is under development, they replied nothing, but asked if I was willing to return it to them, eh what?

Talking about the word "return", what does it actually mean in this content? They want it back free of charge or?

dont reply anymore, if you use the wrong words your reply could became deadly assault for your self.... just like @DomainGist said put a fair bin price on some good place and forward the domain to the place

hjordis · Jun 4, 2018

BaileyUK said:
If they are just continuing on the same approach, Then I would do exactly the same and just state
"Please refer to my previous reply"

Yes of course they want it returned for 'Free' otherwise they would have mentioned an element of compensation/payment.

I've had as long as seven years pass, before a Company has tried to re-engage with me about one of their previously held domains. Just forget about them for now and continue as if they never made any approach.

They'll get the message

Thanks again!

They ain't gonna get it with their dirty business tactics, I no longer park it with ads, instead of, I'm working on a professional landing page, they either pay big bucks to get it, or lose it.

hjordis · Jun 4, 2018

IMEZI said:
dont reply anymore, if you use the wrong words your reply could became deadly assault for your self.... just like @DomainGist said put a fair bin price on some good place and forward the domain to the place

Thank you!

I will create a landing page for it, it's actually quite a good brandable name, no wonder there were more companies who TMed it in the past. I might even develop it myself.

IMEZI · Jun 4, 2018

hjordis said:
Thank you! I will create a landing page for it, it's actually quite a good brandable name, no wonder there were more companies who TMed it in the past. I might even develop it myself.

noooo dont develop it either, you might be fall into tiny flaw and got TM sued... just put plain landingpage stating your contact and your bin price

frank-germany · Jun 4, 2018

BaileyUK said:
If they are just continuing on the same approach, Then I would do exactly the same and just state
"Please refer to my previous reply"

Yes of course they want it returned for 'Free' otherwise they would have mentioned an element of compensation/payment.

I've had as long as seven years pass, before a Company has tried to re-engage with me about one of their previously held domains. Just forget about them for now and continue as if they never made any approach.

They'll get the message

renew the name for 10 years max
and show a LP with contact info only.

and move on

sometime it takes 10 years
you may speed it up
when the renewal date speaks loudy

A company asked me to return my domain to them

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