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HeEeeLP! Somebody stole a HUGE domain name from me..

by vtotheyouknow
6 replies
Hi Warriors,

A client of mine just bought a resort in Oregon from the bank.

He hired brand new staff but one of the OLD staff members had access to the website, which happens to be the .com name of the resort in question!

The guy changed the login/pass and set WHOIS to private.

My client's DBA is "Name of Resort" and the website is "www.nameofresort.com" so I think my client has legal recourse but I'd rather resolve this amicably and somehow get the website back without going down that road.

I'm waiting to hear back from GoDaddy's legal department about this but I was hoping one of you kind Warriors had some thoughts on this.

What are my options?

Happy new year to all!!

Vic
#domain #heeeelp #huge #stole
  • Profile picture of the author John Romaine
    I find your thread title quite misleading.

    Get the user credentials and regain access. The domain, and website should be part of the business handover. Yes???
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  • Profile picture of the author RySpencer
    I would say that this would be a clear case of cyber squatting... and / or theft/fraud.

    I know you would like to hear from Warriors...but I would take GoDaddy's advice as well as a lawyer who specializes in these cases.

    Good luck!
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  • Profile picture of the author sbucciarel
    Banned
    I'd sue the pants off of him. If the intellectual property (domain and website) are listed in the sale, what he is attempting to do is theft.
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  • Profile picture of the author davezan
    Originally Posted by vtotheyouknow View Post

    What are my options?
    Unfortunately your client will have to deal with that employee. In my ex-registrar
    days, that's one of the most common complaints we'd get.

    Also unfortunately, Go Daddy will not intervene. That's virtually a civil dispute, or
    a he said-she said thing registrars aren't "equipped" (especially by law) to handle.

    Civil disputes happen every other day. That's what courts and lawyers are for.

    Good luck to your client.
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    David

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  • Profile picture of the author rosetrees
    I have a similar situation with a client who runs a pub. The previous owners have control of the old website, despite it forming a specific part of the sale.

    We've just set up the .co.uk version and have to work to beat them in the search results. My clients weren't interested in going down the legal route with all the time/money/effort that would involve.
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    • Profile picture of the author John Taylor
      Originally Posted by rosetrees View Post

      I have a similar situation with a client who runs a pub. The previous owners have control of the old website, despite it forming a specific part of the sale.

      We've just set up the .co.uk version and have to work to beat them in the search results. My clients weren't interested in going down the legal route with all the time/money/effort that would involve.
      If it formed a specific part of the sale, then the solicitor
      who handled the sale should be pressed to complete the
      transfer of the domain with all other assets.

      John
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