Need some help guys. Any advice appreciated...

[ukguy]

OK Guys here is my predicament. I need to determine the best way to monetize a domain.

1.
The domain is the direct name (the exact name) of a very popular console game.

2.
This domain was picked up in a Domain auction sale (for $900).
The previous owner is unknown as he/she proxied their identity. This domain may not even have been originally purchased for the game as the game has been out less than 6 months. Domain was never used and always parked.

3.
The Games owner has a similar domain name but with characters added onto the end of the games name. So their name requires a search.

4.
According to stats the domain (currently parked) has 10,000+ hits a month, all directly typed as it isn't indexed in any search engines. Obviously people are typing in the game name and .COM an hoping for a hit.

5.
Game has 0.5M+ downloads in 6 months. And potentially may get bigger.


Now I'm not really interested in games but I am interested in making money. I could start a vBulletin on the site - however the official site has a forum (kinda hidden away) that still has hundreds of thousands of posts in 6 months.

Won't the game owners be kinda pissed I'm doing this? The game is NOT a trademark so I think I'm safe on the rights front.

I'm not about to park a porn site (or anything remotely bad) on the domain... coz I have ethics. But any other way of making money greatly appreciated.

I currently lease a dedicated server (P4/512/80) and can host it no problem.

 

[Badger]

Namedrive have some good PPC templates on games related domains if you need an easy solution.

If the game is a made up name, then a filed TM by the legit org will not matter if they get pissed at you. They still have rights.

A fans based forum is a great idea, it affords you some protection and could be a great way to monetise the domain and build a decent site.

 

[ukguy]

Namedrive have some good PPC templates on games related domains if you need an easy solution.

If the game is a made up name, then a filed TM by the legit org will not matter if they get pissed at you. They still have rights.

A fans based forum is a great idea, it affords you some protection and could be a great way to monetise the domain and build a decent site.

thanks...

1)
problem is the official site already has a forum with hundreds of thousand posts!

2)
The name is not made up, there is a dictionary definition of the name, but its so rare that most people wouldn't even think it was a real name !!! Thats why I suspect the original owner let it expire... he wasn't even aware that their was a game gonna come out 6 months later with the same name!!! And probably still isn't aware (obviously as I got the domain).


Can the owner of the game get the domain off me?? If so how long would it take them??? I'm sure once they see I have the site and start making money off it they might get pissed.

I'm pulling my hair out here. Thanks for namedrive pointer. I will look there.

Actually looking at some domain name disputes it seems the complainant rarely wins.... the defendent seems to have far more rights )))

 

[Badger]

Can the owner of the game get the domain off me?? If so how long would it take them??? I'm sure once they see I have the site and start making money off it they might get pissed.

I'm pulling my hair out here. Thanks for namedrive pointer. I will look there.

Actually looking at some domain name disputes it seems the complainant rarely wins.... the defendent seems to have far more rights )))

Well, if its a dictionary name then that also counts in your favour. However, the moment you place ads pertaining to the same product then this will show bad faith on your behalf. The whole TM/abusive registration process is however complicated and not a subject you should ask general advice about where you dont know the givers expertise, so I wont go down that road simply to say "seek expert advice" - Users DNQuest, John Berryhill are a good place to start here.

I assume you meant the complainent has more rights.... For it certainly isnt the defendant.

 

[RogueWriter]

Is there any other topic the domain might pertain to? Perhaps an angle might be found that would also appeal to that segment of society?

One thing, I am glad you are not posting the domain name here, within the discussion.

 

[ukguy]

thanks guys.

Well the name is so obscure that when I first saw the site name on the auction I thought it was a made up name. The dictionary however listed it, and it is so obscure it would have no value without being connected with the game.

The obscurity of the name means I can't pitch anything connected to it on the site.. it would just be too difficult. Contextual Ads would be impossible.

Once I launch the site (in the next week I hope) suddenly 10K+ hits a month are gonna come that way thinking they are hitting the games site. The games manufacturers are gonna know INSTANTLY that somebody is monetizing the domain.

If they have any sense they are gonna make a grab for the domain... which they have left for the last 6 months (its just been parked).

As the game is only 6m old, and the domain expired recently, and the owner was proxied (now no normal owner proxies their identity) I'm just real curious as to the previous owner. Why didn't he monetize it, or if he thought it risky, just sell it off???? Instead he let it expire.. makes me strongly think he simply has forgotten about it or is away from his computer the last few months.

At the minimum I wanna get my $900 bucks back, and hope to get a lot more.