Quick Legal Question About Domain Purchasing

[poot]

Hi, this seems like an amazing site and I thought that the well-established community might be able to help me regarding a legal inquiry.

If I am buying a domain name from someone, is it in any way illegal to lie when trying to buy the name? As in, can I claim that I am a friend of someone looking to purchase the domain, when in fact I intend to purchase it for my own purposes?

Any help would be appreciated!

 

[dnb8]

I don't think that this is illegal, many companies are using "poor student" method when they are purchasing domains from people.

 

[Kate]

If I am buying a domain name from someone, is it in any way illegal to lie when trying to buy the name? As in, can I claim that I am a friend of someone looking to purchase the domain, when in fact I intend to purchase it for my own purposes?

Well, probably not illegal but not ethical either. I guess that depends how far you go. You can also pretend to be somebody else, but if you go too far that might amount to identity theft, who knows.

Anyway, this can be a double-edged sword.
The seller might think you are in fact a broker and that you'll be levying a commission from your client. As a result he might want to jack up the price on the assumption that the end user is loaded and wants to remain anonymous for that reason :talk:

The bottom line is that domain acquisition can involve different approaches and strategies. Seasoned domainers are used to inquiries from so-called non-profit organizations and poor students. So you'd better be creative.

 

[Name Trader]

I agree with sdsinc. Why would you pretend to be purchasing for somebody else? It doesn't make any sense. Somebody wants the domain, it doesn't matter who that is. At least 99.99% of the time.

 

[barefoottech]

In a LOT of countries IT IS ILLEGAL to misrepresent. I would not be doing it anyway. .

 

[bmugford]

Hi, this seems like an amazing site and I thought that the well-established community might be able to help me regarding a legal inquiry.

If I am buying a domain name from someone, is it in any way illegal to lie when trying to buy the name? As in, can I claim that I am a friend of someone looking to purchase the domain, when in fact I intend to purchase it for my own purposes?

Any help would be appreciated!

It depends how far you take it.

It is one thing to keep your actual identity shielded. It is another thing to directly lie about who you are and your intentions.

In many countries and jurisdictions it can be illegal to enter into a contract based on false information.

This is the kind of thing that can backfire quickly.

Brad