Domain "issues"

[modric]

There can be some troubles with domains.

DOMAIN TASTING:
As already mentioned, domain registar can "steal" your domain, if you have search for it from their search field and you haven't registered it at the time. They register a domain for free, make a quick site, put Google ads on it and monitor how much revenue they can make. If they can expect profit, they register it officialy, if not, they made it available again without paying a dime. This is called domain tasting.
A little more explanation.

DOMAIN TYPOS:
You've developed an successfull, very known site on a great.com domain and then you find out that there are graet.com greet.com , great.net also registered by someone else which takes away some visitors from your site. You should think on it on a beginning and register all main domain extensions and common typos.
Yaho.com, Yahooo.com , Jahoo.com, Yahoo.net ...

TRADE MARKS in A DOMAIN:
If you "accidently" use a trade mark of some big firm in your domain, you can expect your domain will be deleted. They will probably not bother you with this but they will request a domain removal from your registrar. I mean - it's possible and they have a legal background to do this. Mark alert is a paid option on a Domaintools.com

EDU and GOV DOMAINS:
So you want to register .edu or .gov (.GOV Registration - doesn't open) domain? Fine, but first check on their homepages if you fulfill conditions as a educational institution or a government organisation.

It was said many times that -edu/gov backlinks have a great value in SEO. May be - but this is because of their relevancy/quality and not for the extension itself.

[M Nabil]

Thanks modric, very informative read.

[giovanni]

Thankyou modric a really good post, I learnt a lot. Hope you can come up with more of these so we can all learn even more

[Dave Zan]

I'd like to clarify a few things mentioned there, Modric.

Originally Posted by modric

DOMAIN TASTING:
As already mentioned, domain registar can "steal" your domain, if you have search for it from their search field and you haven't registered it at the time. They register a domain for free, make a quick site, put Google ads on it and monitor how much revenue they can make. If they can expect profit, they register it officialy, if not, they made it available again without paying a dime. This is called domain tasting.
A little more explanation.

Domain tasting has been defined as the practice of registering a domain name and request cancellation and refund within 120 hours after its registration. It does not involve a registrar supposedly "stealing" what you're searching for.

They can't steal what one never owned to begin with. A domain name is only considered "owned" if it's registered to someone and paid for.

On the side, read the posts of Dr. Berryhill in that CircleID article you linked in here. Speaking of which, he's one attorney I can highly recommend for any of your domain name - trademark disputes.

Which brings me to the next point:

Originally Posted by modric

TRADE MARKS in A DOMAIN:
If you "accidently" use a trade mark of some big firm in your domain, you can expect your domain will be deleted. They will probably not bother you with this but they will request a domain removal from your registrar. I mean - it's possible and they have a legal background to do this. Mark alert is a paid option on a Domaintools.com

Trademark infringement is an inherent risk when one registers a domain name. Given the complexity of trademarks and how they're defined in various places around the world, it's sometimes easy and/or hard to determine if you indeed are infringing one.

And if any of you object to this, you might want to read your registrar's legal agreement regarding trademark and other legal disputes. Not to mention you agree to all their terms the moment you checked that box beside "I have read the registration agreement and agree to its terms."

Still, modric, it's good of you to mention this. Be aware, folks, and be smart.

[modric]

Domain tasting isn't really stealing, I put it in the qoutes. But it is annoying.

Trade marks, logos, names of articles can be patented on appropriate offices (e.g. in the Patent and Trademark Office in Washington)
The Internet Law Page: Trademarks and Internet Domain Names Bob Dylan has sued Apple for using "Dylan" as a name of one programming language.

[Jerlene]

It's really your fault for them registering your domains. Why would you go and start registering a domain then all of a sudden, stop?

[modric]

Originally Posted by Jerlene

It's really your fault for them registering your domains. Why would you go and start registering a domain then all of a sudden, stop?

Can't disagree. Sticking with a reputable registrar is the best solution for me anyway.

[Taylor Hewitt]

Originally Posted by Jerlene

It's really your fault for them registering your domains. Why would you go and start registering a domain then all of a sudden, stop?

Yeah I guess you really are a complete idiot for changing your mind. Anybody that changes their mind is a complete looooser!

[Dave Zan]

Originally Posted by Taylor Hewitt

Yeah I guess you really are a complete idiot for changing your mind. Anybody that changes their mind is a complete looooser!

Then I guess I'm a complete loser for having moved my domain name from Go Daddy to DomainSite to eNom to currently Moniker. But at least I can sleep better knowing it's safe.

[Taylor Hewitt]

I was being sarcastic.

[! ! Zockloros ! !]

Yeah, thanks for the information. Hopefully GoDaddy and Namecheap don't "taste" domains.