new gtlds The .feedback Scam

[mr-x]

TL;DR : .feedback registry is creating domains using major company names to collect feedback, then charging for access to customer request or $600 to take the website down.



http://everythingsysadmin.com/2017/06/the-feedback-scam.html

Do you have feedback you'd like to give to Google, Facebook, StackOverflow, Inc., or Gandi? Now there's a website that will collect that feedback. Or... not.

There is a new TLD called ".feedback". It is a scam and ICANN should be ashamed of approving it.

The people that run .feedback have pre-registered "for free" 5,000 major companies. As a result you can go to sites like http://www.google.feedback/ and http://www.gandi.feedback/ and http://www.stackoverflow.feedback/ and more.

These websites enables people to send feedback about your company and products.

Will the company ever receive the feedback? Unlikely.

The company probably doesn't know the site exists.

If they do discover it, they are given a choice: Pay $20/month to receive the feedback, or pay $600/year to take the web site down. Of course, there is a free option: Just let the site remain and suffer as people send their feedback and feel ignored.

 

[shopman]

I looked up .feedback registration stats and they only have 3122 names in the root https://namestat.org/feedback. No wonder they are getting desperate to boost revenues-at any cost- and recoup their investment. But this is very unethical and they are basically engaging in extortion.

 

[shopman]

They also own .observer with only 347 total domain names registered https://namestat.org/observer . This is a drowning registry and they are willing to clutch on a straw!

 

[Ategy]

I'm no lawyer .. but I'm thinking that using these domains in relation to the relative companies is one step even beyond trademark violation and into fraud territory.

These domains will likely go through a series of UDRP's .. or even stronger court action if they are giving the impression that the feedback/data is collected directly by/for the companies.

On the other hand .. if they made generics based websites that could be something that works for them. For example:

Hamburgers.feedback
Cola.feedback
TShirts.feedback
Hosting.feedback
etc

 

[anantj]

I hope they get hit with a swathe of UDRP action and/or takedown notices. This is blatant TM infringement

 

[nomen]

They also own .observer with only 347 total domain names registered https://namestat.org/observer . This is a drowning registry and they are willing to clutch on a straw!

.OBSERVER is probably the worst extension in existence. There are 21 Namebio sales with "observer" at the end position.

 

[Kate]

.sucks is a similar scam. Extortion and defensive regs is the business model.

 

[dordomai]

.sucks is a similar scam. Extortion and defensive regs is the business model.

the new extensions were introduced to reduce squatting according to ICANN...

 

[DNWon]

The .feedback registry has been in the doghouse since day one, as some older threads here also point out!

https://www.namepros.com/threads/br...d-seek-investigation-against-registry.980328/

 

[Fancy.domains]

Sad. IMO, these guys should face some consequences...

I am making money from selling new gTLDs, but honestly, this became pretty messed up.

- FAR too many extensions
- Too many persons trying to make a fast buck
- Not enough regulations regarding price increases etc
- Crazy "premium" prices which make some investments (or even ownership) risky

 

[Arca]

.OBSERVER is probably the worst extension in existence. There are 21 Namebio sales with "observer" at the end position.

There are lots of worse extensions.

 

[shopman]

There are lots of worse extensions.

Some of the worst I have seen are .horse, .garden, .ooo, .fishing, .country. And there are probably worse. Some of these new gTLDs will definitely collapse. They are just too impractical. What were they thinking?? Also surprised that no one thought of a practical gTLD like .EXPO in a regime where ANYTHING was acceptable as a gTLD.

 

[anantj]

Some of the worst I have seen are .horse, .garden, .ooo, .fishing, .country. And there are probably worse. Some of these new gTLDs will definitely collapse. They are just too impractical. What were they thinking?? Also surprised that no one thought of a practical gTLD like .EXPO in a regime where ANYTHING was acceptable as a gTLD.

Went through a few on that list and one that stuck out to me as ridiculous was .HAIR. Really? I have a domain from my bad hair?

 

[shopman]

Went through a few on that list and one that stuck out to me as ridiculous was .HAIR. Really? I have a domain from my bad hair?

Hehe. Just ridiculous!