This industry - Squatting - Changes

[timmaay]

kinda discouraged after looking for a domain yesterday.

My friend called me up with an idea for a website and it really got me pumped. It's a unique idea within a huge niche and properly implemented could be a nice "easy" success.

So I go to godaddy and start looking for a generic name 2 word domain ... all reg'd pointing to crap, it doesn't help that the names i was looking for had a popular keyword as one of the words. Reg'd a few brandable names, but I really wanted a few of the generics as well.

To be fair, I am a hypocrite and own my fair share of "go nowhere" names, but yesterday really got my blood boiling and thinking about this industry and sadly today I am not happy with my involvement.

Anyone forsee any changes to this industry?
Anyone forsee a specific extension being created and gaining popularity in say 2-3 yrs which disallow squatting and has "niche" type standards (like mobi, edu, gov).
Anyone else kinda discouraged by this whole "domaining" business

Sorry for my rant.
Tim

 

[nmr86]

Not anymore.. i had the same thoughts as you did.. but now.. not anymore.. domaining is great

 

[Ronald Regging]

You use the term squatting far too broadly. Squatting only applies to trying to profit off a TM domain. Registering generic keyword domains for PPC or whatever is not squatting, because they aren't infringing on anyones rights.

You may find a domain you want and see it's not being developed and get angry. I've done it before as well. But if you want it, offer to buy it or find an alternative, because that person has every right to do what they want with it.

 

[gazzip]

Anyone else kinda discouraged by this whole "domaining" business
Tim

I must admit as I see an increase in very large well backed companies snapping up all the best ones (and many inbetween) it does'nt look too good for the internet as a whole - I do fear a extremely large portion of the internet is destined to become one big parking lot full of PPC ads !

It would'nt be so bad if these large investors actually developed them into proper sites or offered them for sale but very few seem to.

Yes - I agree I am a part of the problem but I don't spend hundreds of thousands of dollars every month buying them them all up.

Some of these companies must have 500,000 +

Everything has a Limited IMO


.

 

[ekal]

I would like to buy some of the prime real estate in the center of my town. Currently it sitting there derelict or used as a parking lot until someone comes along with the right offer. However, thats life....

 

[smashfactory]

tim- what were you looking for- maybe i can help? i find that even though all the "premium" names are taken, and alot of other good ones- there are always still good names to be had- just gotta mess with it a bit. want help?

 

[domaincollector]

I would like to buy some of the prime real estate in the center of my town. Currently it sitting there derelict or used as a parking lot until someone comes along with the right offer. However, thats life....

I get this a lot (questions about me parking my names).

I work at an ISP and there are lots of Internet 'purists' here that whine and moan about parked domains.

The ONLY argument that ever explains my 'domaining' etc. is like the one you have made.

Its like realestate.....it really is. These names I have are likely to cost a TON later on (hopefully).

Just getting in on the ground floor

Jeff
domaincollector

 

[Mike]

Jeff hit the nail on its head, and i don't think that anyone on this board is "free of guilt" of holding on to domains for pure speculative reasons.

Which, as you already indicated timmaay

To be fair, I am a hypocrite and own my fair share of "go nowhere" names,

you're one of us and sit practically in the same domainer boat. Just in this case, our own tactics have come around full circle and bit you in the arse.
ALTHOUGH! this being said, there is one particular registrant that i know of, that drop catches ALL domains based on their traffic and TRULY squats on them, no matter whether the name infringes on TMs. This is the part that stretches the limits of acceptance, in my book anyways.

Relating back to real estate; the more land you own, the better it is, usually. But at least let the acquisition of said real estate be fair. inside trading/buying (registrant squatting on domains) should be as illegal with domains as it is with the stockmarket. and before i start ranting,...i better grab a coffee...

 

[Mark]

I agree , I think EVERYONE should back out of this industry before it goes belly up again ....

I'll even help a few people out and am willing to pay 500$ per 3 letter .com (Only because I want to assist everyone in a clean break from this industry).

 

[Spade]

Ha - Nice Mark - You can have mine.......... (long pause)............ NOT! (thanks borat!)

Anyway - its the nature of the western world to try to capitalize on whatever we can. Bottom line is because domains are proving to be promising investments - people will continue to speculate. The problem is, because the Internet is growing substancially - its only validating investors to buy up domains. Its easy, cheap, and the ROI can be fantastic if your good.

Is it sad? Yes - but thats just the way it goes.

 

[HBK216]

I actually am annoyed at the industry as a whole. I'm sick of seeing site after site just parked. I can understand not having enough time to develop. It happens to the best of us.

However lately it seems domaining has become nothing but sites with freaking ads. The other ridiculous direction is these so called "developed" sites which are no more that 2-4 pages of fluff work just to throw up ads.

The industry has suffered because it has too many kids in it thinking it is a get rich quick scheme. The same people also jumping through fire to jump on a fad while ignoring names that make sense.

It is pretty much the same watered down crap everyday. The only good thing I see in the future is .tv which is probably the only non .com I believe in. The extension is shaping up to be more about development compared to a bunch of youngsters speculating.

 

[Ronald Regging]

The only difference between real estate and domaining is that I don't know of any domain investors who have managed to get subsidized government funding for development purposes Real estate always seems to hold such an air of legitimacy when it's far more corrupt than domaining...

Domaining is basically in a state of anarchy, because ICANN refuses to regulate anything (like kiting), they just want to create a million new extensions and sit back and collect money. We'd be better off letting politicians run it, because at least they occassionally cave in to public outcry, well, around election time anyway.

 

[Dave_Z]

We'd be better off letting politicians run it, because at least they occassionally cave in to public outcry, well, around election time anyway.

Which unfortunately isn't always "for the common good", especially when they
themselves have little understanding how this goes.

The first-come-first-served "policy" is as "fair" as fair can be. I don't see any
other "standard" which comes close.

Let me put it this way: the day someone in authority decides to impose how a
domain name will be "used", be prepared to see your options limited. Severely.

I guess some of you have no problem with that. But I do.

 

[Ronald Regging]

Which unfortunately isn't always "for the common good", especially when they
themselves have little understanding how this goes.

The first-come-first-served "policy" is as "fair" as fair can be. I don't see any
other "standard" which comes close.

Let me put it this way: the day someone in authority decides to impose how a
domain name will be "used", be prepared to see your options limited. Severely.

I guess some of you have no problem with that. But I do.

I wasn't talking about use of the domain, I was referring to the complete lack of regulations with regards to registrars, resellers, kiting, etc... Obviously they have "rules" in place, but there is no enforcement. There needs to be industry regulations to curtail some of the problems associated with shady practices by registrars, completely shady resellers, and large-scale kiters. It just seems to be a bit out of control and ICANN doesn't seem to care at all.

 

[IAmAllanShore]

I agree , I think EVERYONE should back out of this industry before it goes belly up again ....

I'll even help a few people out and am willing to pay 500$ per 3 letter .com (Only because I want to assist everyone in a clean break from this industry).

:bingo:

-Allan :gl: