4 {{ upvoteCount | shortNum }}
4 {{ upvoteCount | shortNum }}

Domain Flip - A Model's name

by Rtrboy
4 replies
Hello. I'm a newbie to domain flipping. Been doing some research and I would like to get some thoughts on a site I found as a possible flip.

I found a website that has expired. It's a .com that is the first and last name of a model (some nudes). Her name gets about 10k Google searches per month. She has about 60k followers on instagram.

She goes by a couple different names and they both get about 10k searches each. It doesn't appear she has a dedicated webpage that she runs.

I can get the site for $10. Looks like the previous person that owned it, had it for a couple years. Any reason not to buy it? If you think I should get it, how should I go about selling?

Appreciate your help!!
#domain #flip #model
  • Profile picture of the author JohnMcCabe
    Originally Posted by Rtrboy View Post

    I can get the site for $10. Looks like the previous person that owned it, had it for a couple years. Any reason not to buy it? If you think I should get it, how should I go about selling?

    Appreciate your help!!
    Yes, there is a reason not to buy it. You could get sued.

    As a professional model, the woman in question has what is called the "right of publicity." That means she has the right to control how her name and image are used, and I doubt she'd approve of a site offering her nude photos.

    I'm guessing that the reason you can get it for only $10 is that the current owner got a cease and desist letter, and is trying to recover their "investment" in the domain.

    Fair warning...

    There are several members here with a penchant for telling people to "screw the lawyers, full speed ahead", often with an apocryphal anecdote about how they ignored a C&D with no consequences. Before you take their advice, ask them to sign an agreement indemnifying you for any consequences of taking their advice. (Legal jargon meaning they'll pick up your legal expenses and any penalties if you get sued.)
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10643016].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author BradVert2013
    I agree with what John said. Stay away from this because the potential legal consequences can turn into a nightmare.

    Also, because nudity is involved, it opens up another can of worms. If you create a site to flip that has nude pictures of this model, do you have her model release? If you're in the US, can you comply with 2257 record keeping requirements? Does she even own the rights to those nude photos (the model doesn't always own the rights, sometimes the production company or modeling agency does)?

    My opinion is to stay away from this. Too many unknowns and the chance of earning a some money on flipping the domain isn't worth the risks.

    Just my two cents.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10643079].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author Rtrboy
      Thank you both for the responses. Glad I asked!
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10643087].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author houdini71
    just because you aquire the domain and use it? i dont see the problem as long as you dont use the site and just use the legally aquired domain with your own content. if ebay didnt maintain their domain and let it go, damn straight im going to use the domain if legally aquired with my own unique content.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10643362].message }}

Trending Topics