Thread: Regged local business domain that they were advertising!

There is a local business in my town, a few days ago I read their business card and it had their domain on it.

I thought it was interesting so when I went home, I entered the domain and I got a server error. Just messing around, I thought "Is this even registered?!" , I sure enough checked Name.com and it was available. I registered this domain and emailed them about buying it.

Careless business practices
Keep us updated.

What great thinking I read on here every now and again people putting up names that they like and which should they buy lol and think to myself, no no no no dont put it up here lol

Originally Posted by i13

Careless business practices
Keep us updated.

Yes I know.... I am so confused as to why they would advertise the domain on business cards before registering the name?

Maybe they let it expire and didnt know it?

Hmm.... doubt it .... lets wait to see if I get an email reply.

Either they thought that they had the domain name or its a typing error. Because no one does that, put up a domain and not actually own the thing.

That is true....they probably THOUGHT they registered it... I also offered website creation services if they need a website or work done to their old one .

Your Brilliant!! seriously are.

Lol thanks.

Umm this is 'far from brilliant' in fact it's the reason cyber squatting laws were passed in the first place.

If anything you might find yourself in legal trouble, all depending on the business and their ability to pursue legal matters.

They are just a small food shop(yet in our town of 1.5k people, a lot of people use it)

Originally Posted by Hurley4540

They are just a small food shop(yet in our town of 1.5k people, a lot of people use it)

Doesn't make it 'right' nor 'legal'

True, but I am not trying to monetize the domain/website so it should not be illegal, there is not a trademark on the name..its a general name for a lot of pizza places...

You are trying to sell them the domain name for profit, you have also posted in this very thread about getting the idea as they had already advertised said domain. Trademark is not always a necessity if they can prove they had a right to the domain, especially in this case..

True, if they can show they have been advertising the domain name.

And that it is their business name, trademark, etc.

You lost it!

Ok but they aren't going to pursue a case.

Strange way to make a buck. Grim basically said what I was gonna say.

Originally Posted by Hurley4540

Ok but they aren't going to pursue a case.

How do you know that? If anything, your going to lose either:

the money on the registration when you legally have to transfer them the domain

or

lose the money on a lawyer when they bring you to court

Hm, ok. We will see what happens.

Why not be a nice guy and look out for your fellow man just this once? Sell it to them at your registration cost.

FWIW, I registered mytownname.com and forwarded it to a neighboring towns chamber of commerce. I may develop the domain in the future by mostly for tourist information and the like but if somebody local wanted it and was going to do something with it, I'd sell to them for the price I paid to register it ($6)

I forgot about all the legalities etc

Lets just say they did forget to renew it, then they go to register it again, it could lead to an interesting case for both parties, they look up whois for the info and see that you live in the same town/city, they may pursue you locally!! But I do think its one of those shall i should'nt i

Keep in mind, the OP is not the brightest log in the shed.

Yeah, you've really set yourself up for a heap of trouble. Even just having it sitting doing absolutely nothing, once you've offered to sell it to them, you've just proven that you're cybersquatting. The best thing that you can do is just let it go or offer to give it to them at cost...

Just my $.02

Deena
__________________________________________________ ___
Any opinions are offered without knowledge of the specific law of your jurisdiction and with only the limited information provided in your post. No advice given here should be reasonably relied upon by you or any third party without consulting an attorney who is aware of all of the facts and law surrounding your situation. Any advice given here is not intended to create an attorney-client relationship in any way.

Originally Posted by easydoms

Lets just say they did forget to renew it, then they go to register it again, it could lead to an interesting case for both parties, they look up whois for the info and see that you live in the same town/city, they may pursue you locally!! But I do think its one of those shall i should'nt i

They are a small town pizza shop. They don't even check their gmail account(yes, gmail, they dont even use @theirdomain) let alone spend $3k to pursue a domain they don't even care about.

Originally Posted by DeenaEsq

Yeah, you've really set yourself up for a heap of trouble. Even just having it sitting doing absolutely nothing, once you've offered to sell it to them, you've just proven that you're cybersquatting. The best thing that you can do is just let it go or offer to give it to them at cost...

Just my $.02

Deena
__________________________________________________ ___
Any opinions are offered without knowledge of the specific law of your jurisdiction and with only the limited information provided in your post. No advice given here should be reasonably relied upon by you or any third party without consulting an attorney who is aware of all of the facts and law surrounding your situation. Any advice given here is not intended to create an attorney-client relationship in any way.

I would bet they wouldn't pursue it...I'll put 10k on it. If they do, I'll hand it over.....which they won't.

If you're willing to take the risk, then have a great time...

Deena

That's like having the attitude of 'the bank wont catch me' it still does not make it right nor legal.

Originally Posted by Hurley4540

They are a small town pizza shop. They don't even check their gmail account(yes, gmail, they dont even use @theirdomain) let alone spend $3k to pursue a domain they don't even care about.

And how would they use @theirdomain when you registered it?

What I do not get is why you don't seem to understand that there is laws against this. If I knew who they were I would personally call them to tell them what they can do.

Originally Posted by Hostlayer

And how would they use @theirdomain when you registered it?

What I do not get is why you don't seem to understand that there is laws against this. If I knew who they were I would personally call them to tell them what they can do.

Amen!

I would do the same.