domain Please Appraise My New Domain

[WebProgrammer]

I have recently purchased VinnyRottino.com and am looking for an appraisal. Vinny Rottino is an up and coming major league baseball player for the Brewers. You can find his major league stats here. As of right now there aren't many visitors coming to the site, but if he gets called up this year then I am sure it could be quite big. Any appraisals would be gladly appreciated.

Thanks.

 

[Gene]

but if he gets called up this year then I am sure it could be quite big.

And as soon as he gets "quite big", his manager will sic his lawyers on you to turn over the name (whether or not they have legal rights to the name). Is it feasible to fight this kind of battle? At what cost? On its own merit, it's a great domain to have. But I'm afraid it has little resale value due to the legal issues.

 

[WebProgrammer]

I had no clue about this. I am new to the biz. Anyways you see other sites owned out there and they are professionals names and they become fan sites. I don't really think they would go sue over the name if it was bringing popularity to the player and the team. Also, the team would not have rights to sue.

 

[Alan Glennon]

Anyways you see other sites owned out there and they are professionals names and they become fan sites. I don't really think they would go sue over the name if it was bringing popularity to the player and the team. Also, the team would not have rights to sue.

It's a gamble, and as such, the name will be hard to resell. That greatly diminishes its value. This reminds me of the "I own you" ads by Godaddy. They certainly did not properly characterize the fact that some people, particularly people who use their name as their mark, actually have rights to their names.

 

[advaita]

Change your name to VinnyRottino ?

There was a famous case with a guy called A R Mani - check out - theregister.co.uk/2001/08/06/judge_lambasts_armani_in_domain/

There was also a case with Ringo Starr - dailydomainer.com/200767-ringo-starr-wins-ringostarrmobi-in-domain-dispute.html

I am assuming you registered the domain in good faith as a fan. But whatever you do, don't offer the domain to Mr Rottino in exchange for payment, that would be seen as 'bad faith' and would not be appreciated at all - as I understand it you need to develop the website to prove that you acted in good faith, but others on here are better qualified than me to offer advice. Also be very wary of what you put in writing, even on forums such as this one, as stuff on the Internet never disappears and it may one day come back to bite you.

 

[Gene]

I don't really think they would go sue over the name if it was bringing popularity to the player and the team.

It happens all the time. The more famous the name, the more likely the domain will be taken away from you. Some famous people don't mind people having "fan sites" containing their name. But many do. It's a gamble most potential buyers will avoid like the plague.

 

[copper]

Even if you use it as fansite, don't even think about placing ads on it.
If you don't generate ANY $ from the site and strictly fansite, they can not take it from you.
But, why would you want to make a site if you can not generate revenue?
If you are really fan, then, it's different story

 

[WebProgrammer]

I wouldn't offer it to him for money. I doubt he is concerned with the domain, however if he eventually wanted it I wouldn't protest. I guess I just bought a bad investment. You learn with the best I guess.

 

[copper]

If you would just give it him, then, why don't you
send him email and offer it now.
In return, ask for signed baseball and card?
Say, you ARE big fan of his
As you said, if he gets big...