advice If a domain marketplace sells a stolen domain, who's responsible?

[bhartzer]

If a domain marketplace sells a stolen domain name, should the buyer of that domain be reimbursed by the marketplace?

In this particular case, a stolen domain name was sold by a domain marketplace. The buyer of that stolen domain name wants his money back (rightfully so). Should the domain marketplace reimburse the buyer, as they sold a stolen domain?

The domain buyer won't turn over the domain back to the rightful owner unless they get paid for the domain. The buyer (current registrant who holds the stolen domain) has been provided evidence that the domain is stolen.

 

[cooljub]

The other issue here, though, is the fact that the domain owner renewed the domain name until 2025. There was SOME reason why a domain, renewed until 2025, suddenly drops. Should the drop catching service have checked the domain expiration and domain history (fairly easy to do), and not sold a domain that potentially had issues with it? The ownership history of a domain is out there for anyone to see.

The registrar took the renewal until 2025 but allowed it to be deleted with no questions asked.

I agree, it ought to have raised a few eyebrows along the way.