legal Air.com: Stolen domain has been recovered!

[Acroplex]

The super premium domain Air.com (reg: 1994) was stolen a couple of years ago; meanwhile, the original and only lawful registrant passed away.

Fortunately, the domain was recovered recently thanks to the US courts & legal representation of the late owner's estate by the Wiley Rein law firm. More details here.

 

[pb]

I would be curious to know how much it cost to recover it and if there is any chance to recover these costs from the perpetrator (and whether they were even identified). For sure it was worth it for this domain, but I can imagine cases where recovering a stolen name wouldn't be worth the legal fees, unless they could be passed on the thief.

 

[Acroplex]

I would be curious to know how much it cost to recover it and if there is any chance to recover these costs from the perpetrator (and whether they were even identified). For sure it was worth it for this domain, but I can imagine cases where recovering a stolen name wouldn't be worth the legal fees, unless they could be passed on the thief.

I would say the legal fees can be substantial; the odds of recovering legal costs from a domain thief might be very low, depending on their locale and the acts involved.

In blatant cases of domain theft, when the normal process via the Registrars involved isn't producing any results, the court system is the main method.

Wiley Law has a solid reputation in such cases and they also provide pro bono work.

 

[domain_g]

This info is good. Far too many times there is a sense no fallback for registry - registrar failures or bad actors stealing domains. A precedent will put domains - at least worthy ones in category of assets.

 

[alcy]

wow
what an Insanly uninformative article... zero info on how stolen.. or if how theft related to death

 

[Acroplex]

wow
what an Insanly uninformative article... zero info on how stolen.. or if how theft related to death

The widow is happy, that's all that matters. The law firm is happy (for many reasons.) And I'm happy to see crime getting reversed.

Not here to play detective so feel free to research it further, on your own time.

 

[alop]

RiP king you left with no air !!

 

[alcy]

The widow is happy, that's all that matters. The law firm is happy (for many reasons.) And I'm happy to see crime getting reversed.

Not here to play detective so feel free to research it further, on your own time.

I wasn't blaming u.
sorry but I actually didnt know u wrote it

I thought u just posting link

that be said the most interesting and also helpful part of any dn theft is how was stolen.

 hahaha

 

[Acroplex]

I've covered domain thefts and recoveries extensively on DG. There is actually an entire segment for "Domain Crime."

In this particular case, the domain wasn't first reported as stolen among the domainer community but those with an interest in recovering the stolen asset followed an educated path (lawsuit.) The outcome is of reporting value because it reinforces the importance of the court process.

If I were to speculate on the way it was stolen, I'd say that a hotmail address belonging to the owner was compromised.

 

[jberryhill]

a hotmail address belonging to the owner was compromised

 

[monotheist]

Moral of the story! Don't hold domains after you hit 60s. Any life after 60 is bonus. Domains will not accompany the domainers in the grave.

 

[domain_g]

So how is this stolen ?

 

[jberryhill]

So how is this stolen ?

The case documents are linked in the article noted in the OP.

Since they are accessible via a subscription service, I have uploaded them to Courtlistener from PACER:

https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.vaed.576649/gov.uscourts.vaed.576649.12.0.pdf

 

[JB Lions]

"Brannans.com has been retained as the estate’s exclusive advisor to determine the domain’s next long-term home."

Seen here:

https://air.com/

AIR.com — Restored to Its Rightful Owner​

Following a ruling by the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, AIR.com has been returned to the estate of its original registrant. Brannans.com has been retained as the estate’s exclusive advisor to determine the domain’s next long-term home.

 

[domain_g]

It looks like inside job by someone at registrar - not email hack. They got the message that guy is dead and tried to move it using credentials. Network solutions should investigate internally - I am sure the guy with access to userid password did this, nothing fancy happened - just used the credentials.

 

[domain_g]

The fundamental question is whoever transferred that guys info is public with the registrar he used. So why they didn't subpeona the registrar to get this guy ? It's a open and shut case. May be he used China or Swiss registrar, even then icann should give out the guy details and if you follow the money - payment you can get the guy.

 

[Daniel Owens]

Glad the estate got back a domain like that worth millions.