Abandoned, auto-renewing domains

[casey1]

I'm hoping someone here can help me out.

• I want to register a particular domain name.
• This name is taken, but hasn't been used in years.
• It is auto-renewing and redirecting to another domain, which expired and I already bought.
• The main domain I want is registered with domainsbyproxy.
• I bought a domaintools account so I can see the WHOIS history and it's been private from the beginning.
• I found the old website from this domain at archive.org and tried contacting everyone I found on the cached site, but no responses.
• The original webmaster's email is webmaster@[this domain] so I think they might have registered with domainsbyproxy with this address.

I tried asking domainsbyproxy and godaddy to simply check to see if the registered email is valid... I don't want the email or any other info, but they won't do it. I get canned answers at every turn. All ICANN sees is the proxy email in the WHOIS so they think it's valid.

That's the background and the question is: Am I screwed? I really want this name and would be willing to pay good money, but it seems it's impossible at this point. Does anyone have any tricks or any ideas I can try?

Thanks in advance!

 

[bmugford]

Well, if the domain is owned by someone else and they are paying for it there is not much you can do. It is their domain and they can do what they choose with it.

Brad

 

[DavidH]

If it is already redirecting to the name you have bought, why worry? The original user is paying for the registration and you are getting the traffic - sounds good to me

 

[casey1]

Well, if the domain is owned by someone else and they are paying for it there is not much you can do. It is their domain and they can do what they choose with it.

Brad

I forgot to mention I'm 99% sure they don't even know they still have the domain. I think it's going unnoticed on their credit card each year it renews. It's very frustrating.

 

[RevolutionaryDomains]

I tend to agree with DavidH. You already have their traffic filtered to the name you registered, so develop it if you haven't already, and reap the rewards.

However, one avenue you may try, if not already done, is contacting the registrar again, only this time tell them you wish to make a formal offer with the intent to purchase the name. They should be able to contact the owner on your behalf. Additionally, even with Private Reg on a name, it is my understanding you should still be able to email the addy showing in the whois details and it typically will be routed to the actual email of the owner. Good luck.


-Regards

 

[Corey]

they do forward the email onto the owner

Cheers
Corey

 

[DubDubDubDot]

If all else fails there is GoDaddy's Domain Buy Service. They obviously have his billing info, so they should be able to contact him: http://www.godaddy.com/domains/domain-broker.aspx

If they are unable to contact the owner, then you could make the argument that the domain should be suspended in accordance with ICANN regulations. I'm guessing the auto-renew wouldn't work at that stage. But then you'd have to deal with possible competition at TDNAM.

 

[lapssone]

I'm hoping someone here can help me out.

* I want to register a particular domain name.
* This name is taken, but hasn't been used in years.
* It is auto-renewing and redirecting to another domain, which expired and I already bought.
* The main domain I want is registered with domainsbyproxy.
* I bought a domaintools account so I can see the WHOIS history and it's been private from the beginning.
* I found the old website from this domain at archive.org and tried contacting everyone I found on the cached site, but no responses.
* The original webmaster's email is webmaster@[this domain] so I think they might have registered with domainsbyproxy with this address.


I tried asking domainsbyproxy and godaddy to simply check to see if the registered email is valid... I don't want the email or any other info, but they won't do it. I get canned answers at every turn. All ICANN sees is the proxy email in the WHOIS so they think it's valid.

That's the background and the question is: Am I screwed? I really want this name and would be willing to pay good money, but it seems it's impossible at this point. Does anyone have any tricks or any ideas I can try?

Thanks in advance!

---------- Post added at 11:47 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:46 PM ----------

I think there is no shortcut to take, how much money you spend is useless