Domain Name Information

Domain Squatting Explained


The one thing that annoys me most about the topic of domain names is when trying to find a domain name for a new site only to find most of the names I come up with are already taken. Even more annoying is that these names are not being used for a site that relates to the domain name.

Domain squatting or cyber squatting is the term used for someone who registers a domain with no intention of using it, that would otherwise be used for a site relating to the domain name.

Let me give you an example, recently I came up with an idea for a site and there was a couple of domains that were ideal, keyword1keyword2.com and the plural version, so I checked to see if they were available. I found that both the names I thought would be perfect were taken. Both domain names were directed to a generic search page whose sole purpose is to make money off of direct type ins.

Now I haven't given the names as I don't want to give away my idea and I don't want to give the sites any free advertising. This is not a one off incidence but something that happens quite often, especially with domain names with good or popular keywords. This activity is not illegal unless you use a trademark name, but it is against the ethics of what the internet is about.

There is a difference between domain squatting and domain parking and that difference is intent. If you register the domain with the intent of using it in the future for a purpose relating to the domain name then you have just parked the domain. If you register a domain with the sole intention of making money from reselling it or getting revenue from people typing in the domain name then that is domain squatting.

As I have explained it is not illegal it is just unethical, it is a free market economy and people are motivated by profit. I do not agree with domain squatting as it forces webmasters like myself to use domain names that are far from perfect, take this site on domain names, this name was far from my first choice. It also misleads internet users as the expect a site to be related to the keywords in the domain name making the internet less user friendly.

Find out more about domain names and get some advice before registering your next domain.


MORE RESOURCES:

Opposing Views

Did You Sell Any Go Daddy Premium Domain Names During the Super Bowl?
Elliot's Blog (blog)
Since domain names listed on both Afternic DLS and Sedo MLS are shown on Godaddy searches, I was wondering if anyone saw an uptick in premium domain purchases on Sunday night and/or yesterday. I don't have a large enough list of domain names that ...
2012 Super Bowl Commercials: GoDaddy, Danica Patrick Sell Domain NamesOpposing Views
GoDaddy and .Co take center stage with Super Bowl CommercialsDomain Name Wire
Godaddy Set Sales Record For Super Bowl SundayTheDomains.com
Business Insider
all 54 news articles »


U. buys .xxx domain names in preventative move
The Brown Daily Herald
By Meia Geddes The University bought two domain names to avoid association with adult content, but brownuniversity.xxx had already been purchased. Students surfing the Internet for adult content will not find it on brownu.xxx or brownuniv.xxx — the ...

and more »


USA TODAY

Letters: Internet domain names can confuse consumers
USA TODAY
I agree with USA TODAY's editorial on the problems with the expansion of the Internet domain name suffixes by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers ("Editorial: ICANN expanding websites to 1000 dot-anythings").



Christian Science Monitor

Domain Names Flood the Market
PC Magazine
This should flood the market with potential domain names and have a number of interesting effects on the grey market for domain names. Applicants must pay $185000 to be evaluated for a specific gTLD. An obvious one would be, for example, ...
Domain names: Internet takes big step toward end of .com eraChristian Science Monitor
Domain Names: The End Of The Dot-Com Era?Huffington Post
ICANN to start accepting applications for new web domain namesInternetRetailer.com
Generation NT (US) -WBUR -Global Gold Internet Services
all 739 news articles »


6 questions about DOMAINfest answered
Domain Name Wire
Register your domain names with Searchen Networks Inc., Check domain name availability. Search for domain names. Domain Name Wire is the Domain Name Industry's News Source. A look back at last week's DOMAINfest conference. Before heading to DOMAINfest ...

and more »


Go Daddy "Secures" Top Spot in Recent SSL Survey
MarketWatch (press release)
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., Feb 07, 2012 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Go Daddy, the world's largest provider of Web hosting, domain names and new SSL Certificates, helped more customers secure online data transactions than any other certificate authority last month, ...

and more »


American University Intellectual Property Brief

Operation Fake Sweep: Protecting the NFL Brand
American University Intellectual Property Brief
Beginning on October 1, 2011, several government agencies commenced “Operation Fake Sweep,” a coordinated effort to seize counterfeit NFL merchandise and the domain names of websites accused of selling counterfeit merchandise or streaming live sports ...
Seized: $5 Million In Fake Super Bowl SouvenirsABC News (blog)

all 46 news articles »


Counterfeit merchandise domain names seized ahead of NFL Super Bowl
SmartCompany.com.au
The United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency have seized 307 domain names for allegedly selling counterfeit merchandise, ahead of the NFL Super Bowl. According to Ars Technica, ICE Agents are using civil forfeiture laws (usually invoked ...



Key-Systems CEO discusses Moniker and SnapNames acquisition
Domain Name Wire
Register your domain names with Searchen Networks Inc., Check domain name availability. Search for domain names. Domain Name Wire is the Domain Name Industry's News Source. No dramatic changes on tap but more ccTLDs and other improvements on the way.



Kinderis Says New Web Domain Names Create Opportunities
Washington Post
12 (Bloomberg) -- Adrian Kinderis, a member of the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers' advisory council and chief executive officer of ARI Registry Services, talks about domain names. Icann, manager of the Web's address system under a ...

and more »

Google News

home | site map
© 2006