advice Idea / domain name was taken and replaced with .io extention

if I read correctly, u regged .com version at 2017, while someone else regged .io version at 2018.10.19, and develop it fast than you....and they may steal your idea via the post u made at 2018.9.2...

so, my suggestion is below 3

• wait them dev and growth, finally they will buy ur name..ask a highest price..
• dev ur .com site, fight with them, u have some advantage to win while owning .com, the traffic will come to u.
• hire an IP lawyer, fight with them, but the chance to win will be really low...if u didnot reg TM or anything similer before...

You're in for a serious trouble - people may register your domain name in other extensions, such as .net, .org, .me, .pro, .club, the list goes on. Then you will have to do a lot more calls and more digging.

If I were you, I would immediatelly register that domain name in all 500, or so, extensions, in order to prevent such a hassle.

As someone who has had many issues with Trademarks that other guy has officially beat you to "first in use". They have basically an unregistered trademark now. AT LEAST FOR THE AREA WHERE THEY ARE PHYSICALLY LOCATED.

if you are located in an area not the same as theirs you have some protection.

You can keep your domain for sure.
But as far as "starting your own"? If they move quickly and register a trademark? You are screwed as far as using your domain for anything related to the same idea.

You can always refer a lawyer to the post where you mentioned your idea on NP. Not sure how it would help.

It's your only proof you mentioned it before prior.

I would not reach out to them to try and sell.

You will start getting traffic as they paid for a press release.

Hey have backlinks for CannabisMarketcap xxxx .io now.

I personally would have modified the links as this thread will show up on Google searches now.

Good luck

I appreciate all the advise and tips. I had similar situation with another domain; same scenario except the other domain i had for 9+ years. Took me 2 months in negotiating back and forth with the ceo. I was even threatened with legal action which no one likes but was ready to go toe to toe if that was the only option. At the end i got paid 5 figures; they got the domain and everyone went on their way. I am hoping someone here knows a way to find the name or email so I can contact them without having to involve a 3rd party.

looks and feels just like the site:

CoinMarketCap . com

no surprise, whether they saw the name/idea or came up with themselves - they did it first

If you do same thing you will still end up on top of search engines and they make yours stronger sounds like win win it isn't as if you had a premium name to begin with.

strugar said:

You're in for a serious trouble - people may register your domain name in other extensions, such as .net, .org, .me, .pro, .club, the list goes on. Then you will have to do a lot more calls and more digging.

If I were you, I would immediatelly register that domain name in all 500, or so, extensions, in order to prevent such a hassle.

Click to expand...

I don't mind them having the same name but for a different business concept not the exact one that the .com was purchased for.

If had not advertised my intentions for everyone to see on here and I wouldn't had exchanged email messages back and forth with a few interested parties; I would have said yes they beat me to it.

im sure there is a contact form on the site

urlurl said:

im sure there is a contact form on the site

Click to expand...

Thank you. I had the same guy message them 44 min ago this late hour using the contact form; who helped me with the other domain. I can't just rely to get a reply using a contact form but thats a step.

He said he also video recorded when he was sending of the message as there is no option to get a copy.

Someone regging an inferior extension and stealing your idea seems like foul play to me. Don't know if the NP post would help you in this case, maybe you can consult an IP lawyer and you might end up as the complainant here. Good luck!

Lesson learned, always keep your idea to yourself

cipcip said:

Lesson learned, always keep your idea to yourself

Click to expand...

Very True but I am not a Developer that's why I posted a help wanted ad for partnership on here to get it developed. I was going to finance the business and help with marketing and day to day operations.

Does anyone know a good IP Lawyer that specializes in the .io extension?

I contacted about 3 IP Lawyers sofar here locally in Vancouver Canada. I had to give them each a few days time to review all the info I had prepared and send of in email.

They all are interested but they say they have to research .io and etc.

I am not to comfortable paying someone else's tuition so they can educate themselves in their field of work as they are charging an arm and leg per hour. The x,xxx retainer is just an appetizer and a trap to lock one down.

I rather pay more for experience than someone waisting my time and money just to make lunch and give me bad consultation.

Any help would be much appreciate it.

Thank you