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Evil website question!

by MoaddinFM
5 replies
1 question: IS this legal?

There is an enterprise that makes tons of money. They own a website and the name of this website isn´t copywrited. So, would it be legal to buy the domain and offer it them vs big cas$ ?

Again, it´s not like microsoft(tm).com or google(tm).com . It´s a company "A" that runs a site named "B.com" without the expression "B" being copywrited.

If yes, what would be the best method to register the domain immediatley after expiration of domain?

Martin
#evil #question #website
  • Profile picture of the author Jared Alberghini
    Be careful of this, since there are new laws since the good old days...

    Just because they don't have a copyright, doesn't mean they don't have a TradeMark, or for that matter, better lawyers than you.

    All in all, if you think it might be illegal, well, it probably is illegal.

    - Jared
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  • Profile picture of the author SunTzu82
    If their domain expires then hell yes, grab that asap. Here's a free tool you can use eNom Domain Grabber free download. eNom Domain Grabber does automated registration submissions to the registrar eNom. The user simply has to put what domain names they want to try and ...
    Once you successfully get it and register, contact the company to offer them an opportunity to buy it back from you (nothing illegal about that). If they don't want to buy it back from you, you can always list it on the DP or SP forums.
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    • Profile picture of the author Dan C. Rinnert
      I wouldn't. The U.S. passed anti-cybersquatting laws in 1999. I'm not a lawyer, but if I recall correctly, registering a domain name and then offering to sell it to a company would constitute cybersquatting, especially if they have trademarked the name or term.

      And, considering you've announced your intentions in a public forum, you just made it easier for them to demonstrate you registered the name in bad faith.

      Of course, if you're in Germany and the company you plan to extort is in the U.S., things may be different. But, I think ICANN may have some regulations on that, especially in the "bad faith" department, which would allow the company to grab the domain from you and you'd be out whatever money you spent registering it.
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      • Profile picture of the author HarveyJ
        Banned
        [DELETED]
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        • Profile picture of the author bendiggs
          New cyber-squatting laws make this a risky idea any more. If the site you are buying out is the name of a product or a unique service and you squat on it then if it goes to court, you might not only lose the website but you might end up paying for the lost business and legal fees. Now if the domain name is really generic and just a common word then the company would have no recourse but to pay your price.
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