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WARNING - Don't bother trying to do the right thing as a domainer.

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Well here I hope is an anecdotal experience that some will learn from, especially newbies. (I should say I have been a domainer for 17 years now - and this is one of the most disappointing experiences I have personally had.)

A couple of weeks ago I was doing some domain searches, looking for those little nuggets of a domain name that hasn't already been registered, as we all do. The program I use helps find domains similar to those being looked for according to key words and CPC. I of course then check any domains suggested by hand (never rely on a computer - after all they are programmed by humans! LOL).

Well one domain that was suggested as being available I immediately recognised as being the name of a pharmaceutical company, a relatively large German pharmaceutical company with the addition of the word 'Vaccines' added. The name was:

BioNTechVaccines.com

Now anyone who has been keeping up with the news will of course recognise the name for the work they are doing producing a Covid-19 vaccine with Pfizer. What many may not know is that BioNTech also producing and working on other vaccines including cancer, so there work is pretty important IMO. (One of my degrees was BioChemistry so I perhaps keep an eye on this sphere more than most, though my interest in this area is mainly to do with extremophiles rather than medicine, but this is why I recognised the company name.)

Anyway the domain proved to actually be available and I registered it immediately knowing that BioNTech should have the domain name. Following registration I then contacted BioNTech directly via LinkedIn 'in mail' messages including to Mr. James Ryan (VP Legal and IP at BioNTech) and offered to transfer the domain to the company absolutely free (not even asking the $8.49 registration fee), and what must surely be proof that Mr. James Ryan read my post is the fact he even looked up my LinkedIn profile.

Well having received absolutely no correspondance from BioNTech in nearly two weeks it seems that the company has no interest in being given the domain, but at the same time I do not want to be thought of or accused of being a cyber squatter, so the domain name is of no use to me. Yes I could try selling the domain name without letting on it would almost definitely be hit by a UDRP sometime in the future, but that is not how I operate (which most probably helps explain why after 17 years as a domainer I am still not a millionaire :xf.grin: ).

Seriously though this is just a warning - never assume that trying to do a good deed will be recognised or even as in this case even acknowledged. I have most probably over the years registered about a dozen domain names specifically to give it to someone starting up a business or a very small business making little to no money, the new owner is usually appreciative and no doubt I have brought a smile to their faces, but from now on I am NEVER going to do the right thing for a large company - if they are inept enough or stupid enough not to register relevent domains then that is their lookout.

Am I bitter? I am more annoyed than bitter about this, people earning 5, 6, or even 7 figure sums are not doing their jobs and either directly or indirectly hurting their company whilst others in the company are working generally for much less to make a success of the business - and to boot in this instance they insult me by not even giving a simple reply or even acknowledgement of any kind.

Oh, and should BioNTech now try a UDRP then let them, I have no problem holding the domain name - it is not even parked.
 
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The views expressed on this page by users and staff are their own, not those of NamePros.
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The right thing as a domainer
is not to register something with a distinctive trademark.
 
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Gray area, I avoid these potential TM infringe.

You could have done much worse.m

Take it as a lesson and move on.

Samer
 
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do the right thing with no expectations it will make life much easier ^^
 
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@Samer - Oh I am, it is just the idiocy of the company (or more than likely someone whose job it was to register the domains for the company in the first place).

All I have lost is $8.49 and about 7 hours of trying to give them the domain!

LOL

@noneisnone - I didn't expect a 'thank you', what I did expect was a reply!

Mind you even this I guess was over expectation on my part. :xf.frown:
 
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@capybara - I registered it to transfer free of charge to the company, please re-read and you will see that.
 
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if it was BioNTech.com I could understand, but as that's already used by someone else & this company has the exact-match in .de I doubt they'd want a longer .com, despite your good-faith intentions
 
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I didn't expect a 'thank you', what I did expect was a reply!

Mind you even this I guess was over expectation on my part. :xf.frown:
IMO, I'd say you answered your own disappointment - having an 'expectation' of a reply of some sort.

All I have lost is $8.49 and about 7 hours of trying
Your time, money and 'generosity' really don't mean much to anyone other than yourself. So I'd say - don't rinse and repeat this process and 'expect' such in the future. But then it is - Your time and money!! JMO.
 
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@hawkeye - I guess I am just one of those who actually tries to reply to messages and letters, perhaps that is something that is old fashioned, but that is me. And 'yes' I answered my own disappointment.

Oh, I shall undoubtedly do the same again in the future, but NEVER for a large company. I guess the old adage about big companies losing the personal touch rings true when you consider I have NEVER been ignored by a small business or individual like this - even on the one occassion that they refused the gift.

@griff - The number of monthly searches for BioNTech vaccine shows that the business is losing out by not having the domain name. Add to this the fact that they are working on other vaccines only increases the company's need for the domain.

As for BioNTech using the .de the simple fact is that their market is worldwide now, and as in the above paragraph it is likely only to increase being so.



I guess it is a case of just let others make the mistakes and don't try to help them, especially if they are big, for it seems they know better than domainers about the power of domains.
 
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And what did you expect in return? A letter of recommendation?

They're not obliged to accept your gifts and this situation definitely didn't teach that "one shouldn't be nice".

IMO they did nothing wrong.
 
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As for BioNTech using the .de the simple fact is that their market is worldwide now, and as in the above paragraph it is likely only to increase being so.

The things is, companies like that really don't have the need to own the domain you offered. They will do just fine with their emd ccTLD (although EMD in .com would be preferable as a redirect).

They don't cater to consumers. In the industry, they're well know. People will know where to find them.

Although it might be a highly searched product, it's not something that is for sale. I doubt owning it would generate much more additional traffic/more conversion, if that's even applicable in cases like this.

Accepting the domain, even for free, will actually cost them money, in time. That plus they don't know you. Imagine what it looks like for them.

You were trying to do a nice thing though so good for you!
 
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- I didn't expect a 'thank you', what I did expect was a reply!

Mind you even this I guess was over expectation on my part. :xf.frown:

Most probably you expected to build some trust, some sort of relationship with the company and eventually build some future leads ... say it isn't so ...

You shouldn't have registered the name, no matter the cost, no matter the excuses ...
 
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Why didn't you just send them a message on LinkedIn suggesting they register the domain name and let them decide if they actually want or need it? If it's been sitting unregistered for all of this time, chances are good that they don't want it and nobody else saw any value in owning it.
 
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@Lord Antares - What annoys me is their not replying, to me that is just bad business practice - not something I would expect or rather 'hope for' from such a company. A simple 'Thank you but at this time we do not consider we want to avail ourselves of your offer' sort of response. (Most probably just typed by a secretary in reality.)

@DirkS - In marketing they most definitely DO market to the public. (Perjhaps more than most realise the pharmaceutical companies spend a huge amount on marketing to the public, sometimes directly sometimes indirectly.)

@loredan - By actually registering the domain I did nothing wrong, nothing illegal, indeed from the outset my aim was to transfer the domain to whom I considered the company who could use it best, and that was free without any payment at all. As for some building some future leads with the company the simple answer is 'NO', 100% NO in fact. (The reason being that I am not planning anything more than for the next 12 months if even for that long ahead.)

@EJS - Because such messages often do not get seen or noted by the intended recipient. Offer something tangible that exists and suddenly it has to be considered. As it is obviously they do not want it (whether this is a good or bad business decision only they will discover in the future).

Right time for me to hit the sack now. Any other replies I will try to respond to tomorrow. :xf.smile:
 
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Why didn't you just send them a message on LinkedIn suggesting they register the domain name and let them decide if they actually want or need it? If it's been sitting unregistered for all of this time, chances are good that they don't want it and nobody else saw any value in owning it.

I was thinking the same thing. If they wanted the name it would not have been unregistered in the first place. Registering a trademarked name is NEVER a good idea even if you think it is.
 
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Anyway the domain proved to actually be available and ...

Always check the WIPO UDRP database. Almost every big-mid co. is using one of the brand protection services incl. multiple/different bot / crawler service providers. If you activate (landing page, blank, wp welcome, etc) or redirect, sooner or later the legal dep. will be busy w the findings and they'll decide - go get (c&d letter) or stand by (task-bot monitoring /+ 1-2 whois q per day, also).

Regards
 
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Rule #1... Don't EXPECT anything in this business or in Life.... But surely you should know this? Right? Be humble, keep hoping and dreaming and doing the right thing... In domaining and IN LIFE. Just do your thing and always be grateful... No matter what...
 
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Im with you on this one, its totally unprofessional and rude to not even reply to someone, even more so when trying to do the right thing.

A quick "no thank you" would have been fine but not replying at all is bullshit. I guess I am old school so I expect a reply. I dont really give a crap about how big or small a company is, just be professional, especially when someone has tried to do the right thing.

People have said to me in the past when discussing similar topics.."but they are really busy people" or "they dont have time to reply to random emails", thats bullshit, we are all busy. If they are a big company, a secretary/PA would get the email, it doesnt take 10 seconds for her to reply or check with her boss and then repy. If she really is that busy, then she can skip the next coffee break and reply instead or reply at the end of her lunch beak. The whole "I dont have time" to be polite or professional is bullshit and whats wrong with society these days.

If someone has registered a domain relating to your company (whether right or wrong, it doesnt matter) and then emails you asking if you want it for free and doing the right thing, then you damn well take 30 seconds out of your day and do the right thing and reply and say thanks or no thanks.

I get random emails from people asking to buy a domains from, sometimes offering me $50 on a 10k name, I will at least give them the courtesy of a reply, they may not be lowballing, they may just not understand the value of a domain. I know I didnt 30 years ago. Another thing that annoys me off is when you apply for a job and dont get a reply at all. Why should I spend 30 min, an hour, 2 hrs out of my day putting in an application when you wont even reply. I know you may have 500 applications, but give the applicant the courtesy they deserve to reply and let them know they at least have not made the shortlist or the position has been filled, you dont need to go into different reasoning with 500 applications, but send them something so they know, they took the time out of their day to put in the application. Sending out 1 generic, mass email to the 499 people that didnt get the role is fine, at least its a reply acknowledging their application. Years ago in my contracting days, I would call or email a company and ask about my application or whether the role has been filled and mention that I hadnt received their email yet? :xf.wink:

Well done @TheBaldOne on trying to do the right thing. Personally, I would email them again and just ask them to confirm they got your last email and would they like the domain name. I try and make people accountable when it something like this happens or it annoys me a bit, but thats me being stubborn. :xf.smile: Keep doing the right thing

Anyway, I know a lot of people may not agree with my opinion on this, but thats fine with me.
 
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It's not about the right thing but you should help the poor and not the rich.
You can search for good names register and give them to Namepros members instead of to a Company.

You are doing the right thing, just the wrong target.
 
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Seriously, don't be a shrinking violet....setting aside the legal issues why should you care if they reply or not? Especially on a "freebie"....even if money was involved, it happens.....

I get this on a daily basis, even after speaking to people, sometimes I can never get hold of them again, no replies to emails or on LinkedIn etc etc

I'm contacting senior execs in Australia and Singapore overnight and it's happening, will continue to do so when I move onto the next countries and the next...Sh** happens, move on......its not a big deal

You have lost nothing except a little time, a little money and your ego/sensitivity took a minor knock back....Big deal

Never should of regged it in the first place.....
 
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if you really wanted them to take the domain. and they are not interested. I'd tell them that you won't renew the domain and THEN tell them the lifecycle of a domain name once it expires.

That it goes to expired list where the next guy might have the brilliant idea of backordering it or dropcatching it or handregging it once it drops.

The fact that it has been registered means now it's on every domainer's radar.

Tell them this domain if it goes to expired auction might very well go to a high price.

What price is paid. will now make the domain a "keeper" to the domainer.

If a domainer spends $100 or $500 or $1000 on the domain will want to keep it or it's a loss. to break even the domainer will want to get $1000 for it or more for profit.

If I remember correctly, many "comedic" websites with url's containing TM's are allowed to exist. case in point? "TrumpSucks.com" forwards to JoeBiden.com.

Show them that and tell them. There are no guarantees BiontechVaccines.com would not end up as "making fun" of Johnson and Johnson vaccine website.

Tell them also that Lawyers can end up buying the domain from you for big money because there is a big possibility that people will be injured by this vaccine. Lawyers will figure out how to sue Biotech.

A general counsel would know this.

give it some time. these vaccines will in the future have vaccine injuries. It's too early to tell right now.

If you "must" invest in such domains I'd go with one I just got. VectorVaccine.com
url shortener for ViralVectorVaccine.com (not mine)

Johnson and Johnson and AstraZeneca are both Viral Vector Vaccines.
 
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There's a good chance your email never got to their inbox. I might forward the name to a blog post or page where you clearly state that your intention is to do a good turn. If you don't hear from anyone in a year's time, let it drop.
I am prone to do this kind of thing myself. I've been able to help a few non-profits I care about, for example.
 
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You registered a domain. They were not interested, it seems.
I would not lose any sleep over it.

I agree with Elliott. It would probably make more sense to just message them and let them know the domain is available to register. If they wanted it, they could have then registered it.

Brad
 
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Im with you on this one, its totally unprofessional and rude to not even reply to someone, even more so when trying to do the right thing.

A quick "no thank you" would have been fine but not replying at all is bullshit. I guess I am old school so I expect a reply. I dont really give a crap about how big or small a company is, just be professional, especially when someone has tried to do the right thing.

People have said to me in the past when discussing similar topics.."but they are really busy people" or "they dont have time to reply to random emails", thats bullshit, we are all busy. If they are a big company, a secretary/PA would get the email, it doesnt take 10 seconds for her to reply or check with her boss and then repy. If she really is that busy, then she can skip the next coffee break and reply instead or reply at the end of her lunch beak. The whole "I dont have time" to be polite or professional is bullshit and whats wrong with society these days.

If someone has registered a domain relating to your company (whether right or wrong, it doesnt matter) and then emails you asking if you want it for free and doing the right thing, then you damn well take 30 seconds out of your day and do the right thing and reply and say thanks or no thanks.

I get random emails from people asking to buy a domains from, sometimes offering me $50 on a 10k name, I will at least give them the courtesy of a reply, they may not be lowballing, they may just not understand the value of a domain. I know I didnt 30 years ago. Another thing that annoys me off is when you apply for a job and dont get a reply at all. Why should I spend 30 min, an hour, 2 hrs out of my day putting in an application when you wont even reply. I know you may have 500 applications, but give the applicant the courtesy they deserve to reply and let them know they at least have not made the shortlist or the position has been filled, you dont need to go into different reasoning with 500 applications, but send them something so they know, they took the time out of their day to put in the application. Sending out 1 generic, mass email to the 499 people that didnt get the role is fine, at least its a reply acknowledging their application. Years ago in my contracting days, I would call or email a company and ask about my application or whether the role has been filled and mention that I hadnt received their email yet? :xf.wink:

Well done @TheBaldOne on trying to do the right thing. Personally, I would email them again and just ask them to confirm they got your last email and would they like the domain name. I try and make people accountable when it something like this happens or it annoys me a bit, but thats me being stubborn. :xf.smile: Keep doing the right thing

Anyway, I know a lot of people may not agree with my opinion on this, but thats fine with me.

I'll be honest, sometimes I am hard to get a hold of.

The more value proposition and less of a hassle, the more likely I am to respond.

I get contacted a lot via email, LinkedIn, and other venues. I respond when it makes sense, but time is limited. There are several pitches, lowball offers, etc. that I just ignore, especially when it seems like it is going to turn into a pain.

I am far more likely to respond when people need help or are asking for advice than when they are pitching something.

Brad
 
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I'll be honest, sometimes I am hard to get a hold of.

The more value proposition and less of a hassle, the more likely I am to respond.

I get contacted a lot via email, LinkedIn, and other venues. I respond when it makes sense, but time is limited. There are several pitches, lowball offers, etc. that I just ignore, especially when it seems like it is going to turn into a pain.

I am far more likely to respond when people need help or are asking for advice than when they are pitching something.

Brad

Yeah I understand Brad. If I am really busy, I will leave that email in my inbox, especially the ones that you know wont develop into anything. I will reply to them when I have a bit more time. If I have a $5000 offer on a decent name and a $50 offer on a LLL.com, then I will obviously prioritize the inquiries, but even the lowballer will get an email from me.

I guess my job applications example is more infuriating to me as the applicant has put the effort into the applying for the role, the least you can do is bother replying to them. It makes it our like you're doing the the applicant this huge favour so they cant wait or not get a reply at all. It works both way, I am doing you a favour and your company would be lucky to have me :xf.smile:

We all have different ways of handling these situations I guess :xf.wink:
 
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