- Impact
- 1,678
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
).
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.
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
).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.
