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The practice of domain auction front running occurs when someone attempts to solicit offers from potential buyers for the purchase of a domain name which the front runner does not own, either in advance of the domain being auctioned, or while a domain auction is taking place. The front runner hopes to profit without risk by securing buyer interest in a domain they have no title to, before the auction ends.
Domain auction front running is widely frowned upon by the vast majority of domain investors and has been described by one of the top domain bloggers as, "a black mark on the domain industry".
Some problems with domain auction front running include ...
This forum thread is intended to call out domain auction front runners among their industry peers and to provide a public record of such activity, in an effort to help deter those who might otherwise consider engaging in this unethical practice from so doing in the future.
All NamePros members are welcome to post to this thread to publicly name and shame known domain auction front runners.
IMPORTANT: You must have undeniable proof of the activity, and provide evidence in the form of screenshots to document any case of front running. This is not the place for speculation nor to make loose accusations. Any unsubstantiated claims will be requested to be removed by forum moderators.
Additionally, it is requested that members also refrain from leaving derogatory comments, engaging in gossip, or excessive small talk which might clutter the thread and diminish it's value.
It is essential that as a community we seek to hold ourselves and our peers to the highest standards, and it is with that purpose in mind that this thread has been started.
Being named in this thread as a domain auction front runner, which will then be indexed by search engines, where potential buyers or other business contacts might find you, could lead to a loss of reputation and business. Therefore anyone currently engaging in domain auction front running is strongly encouraged to abandon the practice now. It really is not worth trying to take the 'easy way', and it will be better for you in the long run if your success is well earned.
Domain auction front running is widely frowned upon by the vast majority of domain investors and has been described by one of the top domain bloggers as, "a black mark on the domain industry".
Some problems with domain auction front running include ...
- It is unethical, since the front runner falsely represents themselves as the owner of a domain, or as having rights to the sale of a domain which they do not in fact own nor have any rights to
- It may pose serious legal risk to the actual owner or future owner of the domain, e.g. when the front runner solicits companies with competing IP or Trademark interests in the name, which could trigger such companies into dragging the domain into a UDRP. (c.f. this real world example)
- It can have a negative impact on the value or resale potential of the domain in question
This forum thread is intended to call out domain auction front runners among their industry peers and to provide a public record of such activity, in an effort to help deter those who might otherwise consider engaging in this unethical practice from so doing in the future.
All NamePros members are welcome to post to this thread to publicly name and shame known domain auction front runners.
IMPORTANT: You must have undeniable proof of the activity, and provide evidence in the form of screenshots to document any case of front running. This is not the place for speculation nor to make loose accusations. Any unsubstantiated claims will be requested to be removed by forum moderators.
Additionally, it is requested that members also refrain from leaving derogatory comments, engaging in gossip, or excessive small talk which might clutter the thread and diminish it's value.
It is essential that as a community we seek to hold ourselves and our peers to the highest standards, and it is with that purpose in mind that this thread has been started.
Being named in this thread as a domain auction front runner, which will then be indexed by search engines, where potential buyers or other business contacts might find you, could lead to a loss of reputation and business. Therefore anyone currently engaging in domain auction front running is strongly encouraged to abandon the practice now. It really is not worth trying to take the 'easy way', and it will be better for you in the long run if your success is well earned.