As a Domainer, Will You Put a NameBlock Block on Your Names?

[bhartzer]

NameBlock is launching soon (expected in the next month or so). NameBlock will allow you to pay to place a block on a series of characters (such as your product name, brand, company name, etc.).

You'll be able to place that block so no one can register a domain that contains those characters, and a ton of common variations. For example, if PayPal would put a block on PayPal, then domains like PayPa1.com, PayPa1.net, etc. couldn't be registered. They'll show up as being not available to register.

You don't have to have a trademark to put a NameBlock on. But you'll pay annually for the block.

As a domainer, are you planning on putting block on your more valuable names?

 

[Bob Hawkes]

AbuseShield uses NameBlock’s abuse variants algorithm to generate an Abuse Variant List consisting of variants of a Block Label, based on e.g. abuse suffixes, homoglyphs, common misspellings etc, and subsequently blocks a maximum of 500 Domain Names within the same participating TLD as the Block Label.

I realize NameBlock has 2 (or more?) aspects, but this one seems to be blocking only names within the same TLD. I don't see that as necessarily bad. For example, if I register Hawkesy.services, I could see it as reasonable and good for security that a bad actor can't use Hawksy, Hawkesly, etc. services. Perhaps.

But to extend it beyond similar names in the same TLD is rife for abuse in my opinion.

-Bob

 

[ksusha64]

Epik was selling "forever" domains, that's different than "for life". If I pass away in 30 years, then I would lose the domain if it's "for life". But if it's "forever", then my heirs will get the domain passed to them.

What does Epik forever registration have to do with NameBlock?

How much was forever renewal?

 

[dirk]

most registries have already signed on. There are probably going to be registries and ccTLDs that haven't or won't have signed on.

Cctlds won't play along trust me. They have their own TM process. Works likes a charm.

 

[bhartzer]

Sure we can.




Maybe they just block it if you try to register it a Nameblock? Are they even a registrar?

For ICANN/verisign the math doesn't add up. 500 variations is about 5K revenue lost on a $100 service

Registrars will upsell the service.
Some resellers will resell the service that are not registrars.

Verisign isn't going to lose 500 variations of the domain... and their typos.

 

[bhartzer]

How much was forever renewal?

I think it was like $249 or $349 'forever'.

 

[Bob Hawkes]

How is it possible ICANN, supposedly a multi-stakeholder organization, signed off on this without wide public consultation?

-Bob

 

[bhartzer]

Cctlds won't play along trust me. They have their own TM process. Works likes a charm.

I heard that ccTLDs are already signed up.. .some of them. If a domain is blocked, then they don't have to deal with the TM process. It's already blocked.

 

[bhartzer]

How is it possible ICANN, supposedly a multi-stakeholder organization, signed off on this without wide public consultation?

-Bob

I don't know, but they've signed off on it. At least that's my understanding. You'd have to talk to NameBlock if you want more info.

It's launching soon--so might be worth actually investigating and learning more about it. That's one reason I posted about it.

 

[bmugford]

How is it possible ICANN, supposedly a multi-stakeholder organization, signed off on this without wide public consultation?

-Bob

That's a good question.

Between that, not knowing what is blocked, and overall lack of details, that is why I am leaning more towards marketing fluff.

I highly doubt this works in a way where anyone can just block generic terms for $100 (or close).

Brad

 

[dirk]

I heard that ccTLDs are already signed up.. .some of them. If a domain is blocked, then they don't have to deal with the TM process. It's already blocked.

Have you gone through their site thoroughly?

It looks like one big scam. I'm not buying it.

 

[Bob Hawkes]

Do we know who are the people behind NameBlock?

Is there a link to their presentation to ICANN?

Do we know what registries have already signed up?

OpenCorporates shows NameBlock AS was registered in 2007 in Norway, but does not give the directors. Is that the same company?

On his LinkedIn Pinkard Alan (Pinky) Brand lists himself as Senior Vice-President at NameBlock. PS I just noticed his LI says that he is Vice-President under contract to NameBlock. So sounds more like a consultancy as I read it again.

 

[bhartzer]

That's a good question.

Between that, not knowing what is blocked, and overall lack of details, that is why I am leaning more towards marketing fluff.

I highly doubt this works in a way where anyone can just block generic terms for $100 (or close).

Brad

Yeah, that's my understanding--it works that way, where ANYONE can place a block.
I believe there are certain keywords/terms that cannot have a block placed, which would make sense.

 

[bhartzer]

Have you gone through their site thoroughly?

It looks like one big scam. I'm not buying it.

I have gone through the site and their webinar(s).

It's not a scam. It's happening and something all domainers should be aware of.

 

[bhartzer]

Do we know who are the people behind NameBlock?

Is there a link to their presentation to ICANN?

Do we know what registries have already signed up?

OpenCorporates shows NameBlock AS was registered in 2007 in Norway, but does not give the directors. Is that the same company?

On his LinkedIn Pinkard Alan (Pinky) Brand lists himself as Senior Vice-President at NameBlock.

I know Pinky as well as Kevin Kopas are heavily involved. I'm not sure who owns it.

I don't think they've release a list of registries that have signed on, but my understanding is that it's a lot of them.

 

[Bob Hawkes]

NameBlock are on LinkedIn

https://www.linkedin.com/company/nameblock/about/

They say they have 4-10 employees and were registered in 2022. So a different company from the one in Norway? But with similar business? And only one is on OpenCorporates?

 

[dirk]

https://domainnamewire.com/2022/08/31/nameblock-launches-to-make-domain-blocking-easier/

https://www.newswire.com/news/nameb...ketplace-for-domain-name-blocking-to-21810816

 

[bhartzer]

NameBlock are on LinkedIn

https://www.linkedin.com/company/nameblock/about/

They say they have 4-10 employees and were registered in 2022. So a different company from the one in Norway? But with similar business? And only one is on OpenCorporates?

My understanding is that they're in Norway.

 

[dirk]

NameBlock are on LinkedIn

https://www.linkedin.com/company/nameblock/about/

They say they have 4-10 employees and were registered in 2022. So a different company from the one in Norway? But with similar business? And only one is on OpenCorporates?

They bought the domain '22

 

[bhartzer]

https://domainnamewire.com/2022/08/31/nameblock-launches-to-make-domain-blocking-easier/

https://www.newswire.com/news/nameb...ketplace-for-domain-name-blocking-to-21810816

It's been around and launched in the past year, but it's not "launched" officially, as in no one can place a block yet or purchase the service yet.

 

[dirk]

I have gone through the site and their webinar(s).

It's not a scam. It's happening and something all domainers should be aware of.

I'm sure they are providing some service... Not sure registries and registrars are going to buy it.