Got a Call from Old Owner

[DNBro]

Hi

I have got a domain through Godaddy Closeout Domains recently (its generic word not a madeup word, there are places here India, same word used by few companies for their websites too in different area). Two days back I got a call from old owner asking about this domain and saying he owned domain in the past and it related to his company and want the same back without paying my asking price (domain listed for sale with fixed price). Buyer only want to know how much I paid to get this domain through godaddy that means he only ready to pay some where what I paid for that.

I explained him about my position selling domain below listing price/negotiate price. Now he saying he is going for legal option to get the domain back that he not renewed on time and want same later.

There are thousands of such domains dropping/expiring daily and changing hands and godaddy and many other registrar running it as a part of there business.

So there is any reason to worry here?

Thanks

 

[twomoon]

Don't think you should worry about it. As I understand it's not a TM case.
He didn't renew the domain, the reason why he didn't do it it's only his problem.
You purchased this domain totally legally and it's your domain now - and it's up to you what you would do with it and for how much you would like to sell it.
This would be my position if I would be you.

But I'm not a big specialist in such cases, so maybe other members, who are more experienced will give you some tips.

 

[bmugford]

Hi

I have got a domain through Godaddy Closeout Domains recently (its generic word not a madeup word, there are places here India, same word used by few companies for their websites too in different area). Two days back I got a call from old owner asking about this domain and saying he owned domain in the past and it related to his company and want the same back without paying my asking price (domain listed for sale with fixed price). Buyer only want to know how much I paid to get this domain through godaddy that means he only ready to pay some where what I paid for that.

I explained him about my position selling domain below listing price/negotiate price. Now he saying he is going for legal option to get the domain back that he not renewed on time and want same later.

There are thousands of such domains dropping/expiring daily and changing hands and godaddy and many other registrar running it as a part of there business.

So there is any reason to worry here?

Thanks

I have dealt with this situation multiple times in the past.

If the term is generic the owner does not have much legal recourse.

It is the registrant's responsibility to renew the domain name. The owner let it expire.

If the former owner is not willing to pay to acquire the domain, do you really think he is going to waste thousands of dollars for legal expenses?

Brad

 

[Keral_Patel]

Which country he is from?

 

[DNBro]

Which country he is from?

Old owner is from India

 

[Keral_Patel]

Forget him.

He won't be even willing to pay up for a domain dispute.

Tell him honestly that he has no right to this domain name now.

If he wants to talk then talk money. Or else You are going to press that BLOCK button on your email.

 

[DNBro]

I have dealt with this situation multiple times in the past.

If the term is generic the owner does not have much legal recourse.

It is the registrant's responsibility to renew the domain name. The owner let it expire.

If the former owner is not willing to pay to acquire the domain, do you really think he is going to waste thousands of dollars for legal expenses?

Brad

I haven’t taken his legal threat not much seriously, he maybe using it as a tactics to pressurise me to handover domain without paying premium price. I think he is representing a kind of company running offline business that really doesn’t need a domain and allowed domain to drop to save renewal fee and later found this domain name is for sale and now he is trying to claim ownership.

thanks

 

[gmd]

How could this moron file legal case if he let his name be droped? That s just a dirty tactics. Hold on yourname and Iif I were you increase its buh it now price at godaddy and gor sure he will buy it with not much choice. He tried to save a couple of hundreds in rupees and spend thousands in court hearing?

 

[Dave_Z]

How could this moron file legal case if he let his name be droped?

He he, you'd be surprised how many people sue over arguably trivial matters, only to either settle, withdraw, or lose.

Just keep that person's communications, OP, and be ready for anything.

 

[SpareDomains]

If he let it expire and it's not trademarked you should be clear. I tend to avoid any business discussions on the phone. Email leads to a printable record of terms/sales agreements that can be referenced later should he take action on it.

 

[4pm]

both sides are in/from India, right? ... that's rendering the case unpredictable

..i'd push the name to a US entity/person (friend, relative etc)


*

 

[alien51]

As far as i know, you can only be sued if there was an EXISTING LAW that you violated.

So for trivial matters, i don't think people can sue you because you have an ugly face, or because you are lazy. And stuffs like that.

One thing he might do is accuse you of something like EXTORTION, because your asking price is too much.

It doesn't make sense. But a lot of lawsuits are based on accusations that are laughable and don't make sense. The nuisance is that you still need to pay a lawyer to defend you in court.

I just hope there was a way to let the losing party pay your legal fees for hurling baseless accusations and wasting your time.