Copyright a domain name?

[spadez8]

Hey guys,

Im new to the forum, so please go easy if my question is a dumb one

I am trying to aquire a domain, and it seems the seller is doing everything in their power to stop me having it, just for the sake of not letting me have it. I have contacted them, and from the reply it seems like it is a child who owns it. They are just using it for one of those advert sites for parking, and i really dont think they intend to do anything with it. However, he keep renewing it, and doesnt reply to my emails anymore, despite me offering a substantial price.

I would do anything to get my hands on it, so one thing i was thinking of doing was to get a copyright on the name. My friend told me that if the name in the domain is copyrighted, then i can take the domain from him for using a copyrighted name. He is right? If he is, is it a simple task of going to the site that sold the domain to him and basically saying hand it over, or would i then have to pay for legal fees for a lawyer to do all the work.

If anyone can help me out it would be much appreciated, and again, sorry if im misinformed!

James

 

[shockie]

mulligan makes a good point because your first post does make you sound like you're basically trying to steal something that does not belong to you, and that you somehow have the birthright to this domain.

also, watch your language.

 

[scoops22]

Shame on you spadez8.Thats all I have to say about that.

 

[goodkarmaco]

You are not going to understand because you assume domain names are only for creating websites, lol.

A domain name is nothing until the person who out of thin air thinks it up. Or has the foresight to register it after they notice it to be available. To think a name has to become a website shows you do not know what a domain is.

A domain name is just that, a name

Some names will make more money developed, some will make more money by simply parking them. If you want to develope it go for it, many do here. Why develop it though if you can make more money by just parking it?.


What is grossly wrong though is your thinking that names have to be developed or they somehow should be taken over by a person like yourself that knows how to make a website.

Save it. We do not buy it. Maybe your web friends will listen to such nonsense.

Webmasters or parking pros have the same clout around here.

Yes, the parasites are trying get in on the domain business. You are not the first to try to get what others have earned. The domain industry is pulling together now to fight off such parasitic actions by those who want to take control of domains owned by hard working domain people.

You said to go easy on you if you asked a stupid question.

Many have given you an answer to your question. Do you understand why we say these things?. We think your wanting to take someone elses domain simply because you know how to develope it ( whoop de do) is an attack on our names too. If you get away with it your kind will come in droves.

Pretty sure my english is not why you do not understand the concept of ownership rights.

Maybe you should reflect on your comments here as to what ignorance is.

 

[mbuna]

If the domain is a great as you say it is, it could be making hundreds of dollars a day in parking revenue.

What is the domain and we can tell you what we think it's worth.

Or perhaps the owner simply got annoyed by your frequent emails and has blacklisted you. Whois should have a valid phone number, try calling him to talk to him about selling it.

 

[spadez8]

You are not going to understand because you assume domain names are only for creating websites, lol.

Well, they are (a lol back to you), do you not understand that. Even a page full of adverts, or a parked site, is a website. Im just saying by creating something that will drive people to your site combined with adsense etc will almost definatly give you more income, compared with a website that a small number of people accidently visit.

I agree reverse hijacking is the wrong way to go about getting a domain, and i didnt mean to come off as a spoilt brat (even though, i admit i am ), but at the same time it is annoying when there are people out there who are trying to develop websites that would directly benefit consumers, and instead they are having to use a terrible domain name because some 4 year old has brought it and has it set to auto renew, which is basically what has happened with my domain.

You are not the first to try to get what others have earned. The domain industry is pulling together now to fight off such parasitic actions by those who want to take control of domains owned by hard working domain people.

To be quite honest, if the web industry should be doing anything, it should be disallowing these advert sites, that you defend so strongly. They are a giganitic waste of space, and a terrible source of income, for lazy people who want easy money whilst doing no work. When people browse the web, the last thing they want to see is an advert site, they accidently go on it, realise they have made a mistake, and find a website that actually has some content, so do you actually find your job furfilling.

Domains should be reserved for people who are actually going to put something useful on their site, not for people who want to shove a load of adverts in to make a quick buck. Hardworking? I dont think so. Hardwork is working 10 hour days in a factory, hard work is not sitting at a computer for 5 mins a day, sticking on a prescripped peice of crap called an advert site, that nobody in the world wants to see.

 

[Domagon]

Firstly, as others have pointed out, a domain can't be copyrighted, but can certainly be trademarked...

However, that's likely NOT going to help you in this situation - if anything, you could possibly find yourself being sued by the current owner for "reverse hijacking".

How much have you offered? $100, $1000, $10000, ???

In the current domain market, for a very unmotivated seller, such as the person you're dealing with ... it's likely going to take about $5K or so to get their attention and get the deal done.

Without knowing the exact name, it's difficult to peg a fair price ... but if you're offering only a few hundred dollars, it wouldn't be surprising to get the cold shoulder by the current owner.

With all that said, there is a shortcut you could try to acquire the domain quickly and potently for much less...

Here's how, assuming the whois information appears obviously bogus, such as a fake phone number, bad postal address, etc...

1. Visit http://www.internic.net/ and file a Whois Data Problem Report ...

2. Contact the current registrar and see if you can negotiate a deal to buy it, if the current owner doesn't respond to the WDPR.

Assuming it's filed in good faith (ie. obviously fake whois info), WDPR is a totally legit way to obtain domains quickly and often for less, especially if one can convince the registrar to sell direct, which some will.

For the record, I've never filed a WDPR, but mention the method because I personally detest fake whois info, and secondly to spread the word to other domainers about the WDPR security loophole that allows one to bypass "locks", drops, etc to obtain other people's domains quickly, and often totally legally.

Ron

 

[spadez8]

Hi Domagon,

Thank you for the help. It is a 5 letter .com domain, which isnt actually a word (in the dictonary anyway), and i started by offering $600, then went up to $1200, and since then havent been able to get in contact. I think the WHOIS data is wrong, because its a South Africa address with a Canadian phone number. I will try contacting godaddy to see if i can get more info. Thanks again for your help.

 

[neroux]

I think the WHOIS data is wrong, because its a South Africa address with a Canadian phone number. I will try contacting godaddy to see if i can get more info. Thanks again for your help.

Apart that this doesnt necessarily mean the information is wrong, do you honestly think this is ethical?

 

[spadez8]

I didnt say i was going to file a report, i just said i was going to talk to godaddy and see if i can get some correct contact information.

 

[neroux]

I didnt say i was going to file a report, i just said i was going to talk to godaddy and see if i can get some correct contact information.

Sure, but I think they wont have more than there is already in the whois, but its worth a try.

Anyhow, did you already try to call the mentioned number or send a letter to the given address?

 

[vrwrys]

Hey guys,

Im new to the forum, so please go easy if my question is a dumb one

I am trying to aquire a domain, and it seems the seller is doing everything in their power to stop me having it, just for the sake of not letting me have it. I have contacted them, and from the reply it seems like it is a child who owns it. They are just using it for one of those advert sites for parking, and i really dont think they intend to do anything with it. However, he keep renewing it, and doesnt reply to my emails anymore, despite me offering a substantial price.

I would do anything to get my hands on it, so one thing i was thinking of doing was to get a copyright on the name. My friend told me that if the name in the domain is copyrighted, then i can take the domain from him for using a copyrighted name. He is right? If he is, is it a simple task of going to the site that sold the domain to him and basically saying hand it over, or would i then have to pay for legal fees for a lawyer to do all the work.

If anyone can help me out it would be much appreciated, and again, sorry if im misinformed!

James

I'm not one to join a lynch mob,but your suggesting for everyone who owns land build a house and if they fail to do so,confiscate it.Some may use land for animals to graze.

 

[spadez8]

I did try to call the number, i says its a wrong number, but from the code ive been told its in Canada. The address is in south africa so i havent sent a letter there (i guess i could do, but id rather get in contact by other means). Ive tried emailing them and there is no reply on that either. :s

 

[nameboi]

$1,200 is not going to cut it for a good URL from non-motivated seller nowadays. Someone already gave you a good suggestion - show up with a suitcase full of cash. That's your best bet.

 

[shockie]

Domains should be reserved for people who are actually going to put something useful on their site, not for people who want to shove a load of adverts in to make a quick buck. Hardworking? I dont think so. Hardwork is working 10 hour days in a factory, hard work is not sitting at a computer for 5 mins a day, sticking on a prescripped peice of crap called an advert site, that nobody in the world wants to see.

have you even tried domaining? do you really find it that easy to be successful? are you aware of all the research involved? etc etc?

 

[gemstar]

Well, they are (a lol back to you), do you not understand that. Even a page full of adverts, or a parked site, is a website. Im just saying by creating something that will drive people to your site combined with adsense etc will almost definatly give you more income, compared with a website that a small number of people accidently visit.

I agree reverse hijacking is the wrong way to go about getting a domain, and i didnt mean to come off as a spoilt brat (even though, i admit i am ), but at the same time it is annoying when there are people out there who are trying to develop websites that would directly benefit consumers, and instead they are having to use a terrible domain name because some 4 year old has brought it and has it set to auto renew, which is basically what has happened with my domain.



To be quite honest, if the web industry should be doing anything, it should be disallowing these advert sites, that you defend so strongly. They are a giganitic waste of space, and a terrible source of income, for lazy people who want easy money whilst doing no work. When people browse the web, the last thing they want to see is an advert site, they accidently go on it, realise they have made a mistake, and find a website that actually has some content, so do you actually find your job furfilling.

Domains should be reserved for people who are actually going to put something useful on their site, not for people who want to shove a load of adverts in to make a quick buck. Hardworking? I dont think so. Hardwork is working 10 hour days in a factory, hard work is not sitting at a computer for 5 mins a day, sticking on a prescripped peice of crap called an advert site, that nobody in the world wants to see.

Tell that to

The man who owns the Internet
Kevin Ham :sold:

 

[Bill]

Great idea... ask people for help and advice and then treat them like CRAP.

Warning en-route, change your attitude or take a nice vacation. The choice is yours.

Thread closed,

-Bill