Redirect or live site on dodgy expired domain?

3 replies
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Ok I managed to get a half decent (in my opinion) expired domain via a drop catching service. The issue I have is a bit of a moral one. The domain in question was the former domain of a current British politician and member of the european parliament, excuse my French. The mep in question now has a different domain, but the one I got is in the format of his full name plus a few additional letters following it.

So I'm wondering, actually I'm pretty sure it might be better just to redirect it to one of my sites rather than install wordpress on it and make it into a site relevant to the site it would link to.

The concern I have is that although the niche isn't dodgy as such, like porn or anything, I don't think the guy would want the domain with his name in it associated with something that he has nothing to do with. It's just that I'd rather have it as a live site rather than just redirect it, which I think is a waste and would probably just sell it.

So I'm kind of stuck in a moral dilemma and even though I usually don't do something I'm not comfortable with I might just do it until I get my collar felt which is probably inevitable, but I'd like to hear any relevant opinions if possible.
#dodgy #domain #expired #live #redirect #site
  • Profile picture of the author ThatAblaze
    If you redirect it to one of your sites your site will start becoming a relevant site for searches related to this politician.

    I redirected a site that used to be ran by someone who hired himself out as a clown for local parties and weddings. After a month I found that my site had been geolocated to this clown's area and came up (on page 2 or 3) for searches such as "party planning." If you redirect this politician's website (who you seem to not particularly like) then your site will probably come up in searches for the guy.

    The thing I usually do now is just make a joke site. Turn those random letters at the end into an acronym of some sort. Maybe create a fictional comic book character that looks nothing like the guy but happens to have the same name.
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  • Profile picture of the author markowe
    Funnily enough I am looking at the dropped domain of a politician. Yes, you know it's a politician because of the context of the existing backlinks, but heck, it's not exactly a very distinctive name in this case - I mean, it's not as if there is a copyright on personal names, surely. OK, so if it's georgewbush.com I can sort of see the problem, but..!
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    • Profile picture of the author alistair
      Originally Posted by markowe View Post

      Funnily enough I am looking at the dropped domain of a politician. Yes, you know it's a politician because of the context of the existing backlinks, but heck, it's not exactly a very distinctive name in this case - I mean, it's not as if there is a copyright on personal names, surely. OK, so if it's georgewbush.com I can sort of see the problem, but..!
      This chaps name is quite distinctive but he's not really a well known politician.

      I'm sure there isn't a copyright on personal names but I wouldn't fancy a domain name with my name in it being used for a gay porn site for example, whoever I was.
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