How do you Know When You’re Dealing with a Domain Name Shark?
📅 - You need a great domain name, but when you start searching, you find out it's already taken. Even though you have the trademark and own the rights to your business names, it's too late; someone else has registered your domain name.
While this could be an honest mistake, it could also be cybersquatting. Cybersquatting is when someone buys a domain name they know matches a trademarked name or even a person's name. This used to be very common, but it's not as common today because most brands already own the best domain name for them. However, this does happen sometimes.
How to Know if You're Dealing with a Domain Shark
A domain shark is someone looking to profit from the domain name they bought knowing it fits your business or brand. They have no motivation to build an actual website on the domain, but they know you do, so they snatch it up looking to resell the domain to you for a higher price. Here are a few common ways to tell if you're dealing with a domain shark.
Your Company/Brand isn't a Common Phrase
If you have a company name that's a common phrase used to search on Google or just in life, in general, you shouldn't be surprised if your domain is taken. However, if the name of your business is very unique and the domain is taken, it's probably a domain shark.
For example, if your business name is Cheap Car Insurance (not that this would be available) it shouldn't be a surprise that cheapcarinsurance.com is taken. This is a very common phrase. However, if your business name is Jerry's Auto & Home Insurance, it won't be as likely that the domain jerrysautohomeinsurance.com is taken.
Your Brand Has been Established for Many Years
When you first start a business, you don't have any brand recognition. However, when you've been in business for a decade or longer, it's an established brand and the domain name is taken, it's probably a domain shark. Even if you're a new company, but have received quite a bit of publicity, if you don't register your domain quickly, it may end up in the hands of a domain shark.
For example, contestants on shows, such as America's Got Talent, may not be widely known, but as they get closer to the finals, if they don't snatch up their domain names, someone else might. This is a domain shark's dream. They can buy the domain of the top 10 contestants and when the time comes, sell them off for a huge profit.
Your Choice in Domain Leads to a Site Selling the Domain or Similar Products as Yours
If the domain you want leads to a page trying to sell the domain or to a site selling knock off products similar to yours, it's likely a domain shark you are dealing with. This is not always the case as it could be legitimate competition, but it's very likely cybersquatting. This is especially true if you have a very popular product that can easily be knocked off.
The Domain Owner Contacts You Regularly Offering to Sell the Domain to You
If the owner of the domain you want offers to sell it to you regularly without you contacting them, it's probably a domain shark. They know you want it because it's your business or product name. They are looking to profit from you and usually want to charge you a large sum of money for the domain.
What Can you Do about Cybersquatting?
It will cost money to fight a domain shark, but in most cases, brands/companies win. You have two options, which include suing under ACPA or Anticybersquatting Consumer Protection Act. If you are rather sure someone is cybersquatting, hire a lawyer and sue.
The other option is to go through arbitrage with ICANN. This is more affordable, but you won't be able to get any financial damages. However, you may be able to get the domain transferred to you, if you win.
If you happen to find another company with a similar name as yours, you may just have to accept that they got it first. However, if you're dealing with a domain shark, you can fight and often win.
While this could be an honest mistake, it could also be cybersquatting. Cybersquatting is when someone buys a domain name they know matches a trademarked name or even a person's name. This used to be very common, but it's not as common today because most brands already own the best domain name for them. However, this does happen sometimes.
How to Know if You're Dealing with a Domain Shark
A domain shark is someone looking to profit from the domain name they bought knowing it fits your business or brand. They have no motivation to build an actual website on the domain, but they know you do, so they snatch it up looking to resell the domain to you for a higher price. Here are a few common ways to tell if you're dealing with a domain shark.
Your Company/Brand isn't a Common Phrase
If you have a company name that's a common phrase used to search on Google or just in life, in general, you shouldn't be surprised if your domain is taken. However, if the name of your business is very unique and the domain is taken, it's probably a domain shark.
For example, if your business name is Cheap Car Insurance (not that this would be available) it shouldn't be a surprise that cheapcarinsurance.com is taken. This is a very common phrase. However, if your business name is Jerry's Auto & Home Insurance, it won't be as likely that the domain jerrysautohomeinsurance.com is taken.
Your Brand Has been Established for Many Years
When you first start a business, you don't have any brand recognition. However, when you've been in business for a decade or longer, it's an established brand and the domain name is taken, it's probably a domain shark. Even if you're a new company, but have received quite a bit of publicity, if you don't register your domain quickly, it may end up in the hands of a domain shark.
For example, contestants on shows, such as America's Got Talent, may not be widely known, but as they get closer to the finals, if they don't snatch up their domain names, someone else might. This is a domain shark's dream. They can buy the domain of the top 10 contestants and when the time comes, sell them off for a huge profit.
Your Choice in Domain Leads to a Site Selling the Domain or Similar Products as Yours
If the domain you want leads to a page trying to sell the domain or to a site selling knock off products similar to yours, it's likely a domain shark you are dealing with. This is not always the case as it could be legitimate competition, but it's very likely cybersquatting. This is especially true if you have a very popular product that can easily be knocked off.
The Domain Owner Contacts You Regularly Offering to Sell the Domain to You
If the owner of the domain you want offers to sell it to you regularly without you contacting them, it's probably a domain shark. They know you want it because it's your business or product name. They are looking to profit from you and usually want to charge you a large sum of money for the domain.
What Can you Do about Cybersquatting?
It will cost money to fight a domain shark, but in most cases, brands/companies win. You have two options, which include suing under ACPA or Anticybersquatting Consumer Protection Act. If you are rather sure someone is cybersquatting, hire a lawyer and sue.
The other option is to go through arbitrage with ICANN. This is more affordable, but you won't be able to get any financial damages. However, you may be able to get the domain transferred to you, if you win.
If you happen to find another company with a similar name as yours, you may just have to accept that they got it first. However, if you're dealing with a domain shark, you can fight and often win.
Reads: 1035 | Category: General | Source: TheHN : The Hosting News
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