Go Daddy Confiscating Domain Names For "Spamming"

[doimanPlayboy]

I've read on numerous forums and webpages about Go Daddy's practice of confiscating domain names for "spamming" and holding them hostage unless the domain name owner pays a huge fee to transfer the domain name out of Go Daddy (can be hundreds of dollars).

Yes, if you promote your website by emailing webmasters and asking them to link to you (suggested on this forum alone many times) or by posting on Usenet, or blogs, you can have your domain name confiscated by Go Daddy even if you don't host with Go Daddy.

I don't think other registrars have this policy--and they shouldn't. Because what someone does--or what someone else does--should have no bearing at all on a domain name registration. If you host with Go Daddy and use their web server to send out spam, then I can understand them terminating your hosting account. But they shouldn't be allowed to confiscate your domain name!

Anyone can spam Usenet or email addresses with a link to a competitor's domain name if they have it registered with Go Daddy and if someone complains to Go Daddy, they confiscate the domain name.

I feel Go Daddy has severely overstepped their role as a registrar. Bob Parsons can kiss my butt!

http://www.internetnews.com/xSP/article.php/3391741

Q: Is spam a registrar's issue or an ISP/e-mailer issue?

Bob Parsons (Go Daddy Owner): "Everything starts with the domain name. We are probably the most proactive registrar when it comes to suppressing spam. If someone reports to us a domain that's spamming, we look into it and, if it's true, boom, that thing is redirected and done. You'd better get a new domain name."

http://www.auctionswatchers.com/auctionblog/index.php

You can read the "Go Daddy Spam Policy" for more.

This is all so ironic because Go Daddy is one of the biggest spammers out there! I have a domain name with them and it seems like every week they send me spam about some announcement or special sale or something that I have no interest in.

More about this:

http://www.threadwatch.org/node/3785

"So we sent a request for a link trade to the wrong guy and he reported it as spam. Now Godaddy suspended 24 domains and is asking $199 each to get them back, a total of $4776 USD."

"(Go Daddy) lie and say they have sent you multiple requests
they suspend the domain. they act after complaint from one person,they provide no evidence it was a competitor."

There are many, many more examples of this underhanded, dirty Go Daddy behavior. Maybe some of you already know about it, maybe you don't.

I am sick of GoDaddy Bullying us all around. I think this is INSANE!!

 

[bobbie]

I've heard a lot of other nightmare Godaddy stories where people lost their domains because of Godaddy's policies. Really sucks. I've stopped buying domains through Godaddy. Use namecheap now.

 

[ApeXX]

I used GoDaddy for most of my domains and have never had a problem with them. Maybe I'm just lucky...

 

[biohammer]

Thats concerning information.... I think a good attorney would eat them ...even with proof of spam ... they should'nt be able to steal your Intellectual property. You own the Domain bought and paid for and they seem to think they are actually your daddy. Well Bob Parsons you ugly bastard your not my daddy and I have 8 attorneys in my family so..... maybe its time to start a class action if this keeps up. The problem is that Go daddy is by far the biggest registrar some , 18 million domains so Bob is getting the big google head .... check the stats at http://www.webhosting.info/registrars/

 

[dnz32kfresh]

I've never had a problem with them. I guess it depends on how promote your sites... If its too agressive, its going to get noticed in a bad way

 

[Kate]

I've never had a problem with them. I guess it depends on how promote your sites... If its too agressive, its going to get noticed in a bad way

Of course as long they don't pay attention to you you as you are fine.
Now consider this, if somebody files a complaint or UDRP against your domain - right or wrong - they charge you $30 per domain for the 'inconvenience'. Guilty until proven innocent.
They have other sneaky policies of their own so I refuse to consider them a serious registrar :imho:

 

[novelty]

I decided to look into Namecheap.com antispam policy and all I actually found is

SERVICE PROVIDER'S SUSPENSION OR TERMINATION OF SERVICE AND DISCLOSURE OF YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION

In the event of any of the following: If you breach any provision of this Agreement or an anti-Spam policy of either Service Provider.

 

[Jeffrey]

Namecheap probably base that on Enom's policy since they also take down a domain involved in spamming. I tried submitting to Enom directly about a spamming domain years ago. And a few days later, the domain is gone.

Two weeks ago, i went to DomainDiscover to report a spamming .INFO domain. The DD support rep told me to go to the webhost.

 

[Aggro]

Of course as long they don't pay attention to you you as you are fine.
Now consider this, if somebody files a complaint or UDRP against your domain - right or wrong - they charge you $30 per domain for the 'inconvenience'. Guilty until proven innocent.
They have other sneaky policies of their own so I refuse to consider them a serious registrar :imho:

Not that this mitigates GD in any way for the practice of "shoot first..."- but if you win the UDRP the $30 is refunded

Personally, if there is even the slightest domain/website "risk", I would never use any US-based registrar or webhost with servers located in USA....

 

[FagEnd]

I only have a godaddy account for receiving pushed domains to me. As soon as I can I transfer them out to my preferred registrar Moniker.

 

[Dave_Z]

I think a good attorney would eat them ...even with proof of spam ... they should'nt be able to steal your Intellectual property. You own the Domain bought and paid for and they seem to think they are actually your daddy.

Three words: read your contract.

Registrars, like virtually all online service providers, have one-sided contracts.
Adhere to them as much as possible, and you should be fine.

 

[donkelusan]

godaddy is abusing its powers

 

[Damion]

It wouldn't surprise me but if it's true... blackhat SEO's will be having a field day with this!
Godaddy users beware!

Better start moving your business elsewhere, like a reputable company such as Moniker.

 

[ennui]

It wouldn't surprise me but if it's true... blackhat SEO's will be having a field day with this!
Godaddy users beware!

Better start moving your business elsewhere, like a reputable company such as Moniker.

Agree, Namecheap.com is the way to go, too.

 

[Moses]

if this is true, then my domain names are in a very wrong place.
what if someone spams your domain? You have to prove it is not you. Should not it be that they have to prove you are quilty?