Cyber Squatter question?

[ScoresSportsbook]

Hello, My name is Steve Scores and I have had the domain http://www.ScoresSportsbook.com for three years with no problem. Today I get this email and I would like to know what you would do?


Hello Steve,

One of our clients known as http://www.ScoreSportsbook.com has made several complaints that a domain under scoressportsbook.com has been cyber squatted, and your name comes up in the whois.

We expect this issue to be resolved swiftly, since this is by law and in all definitions 'cybersquatting' and not a generic term.

Feel free to phone me should you need to discuss this further, and we are willing to reimburse the domain holder of scoressportsbook.com up to $100. We expect this issue to be resolved by Thursday 18th of September at 9am EST.


t. 1.800 525 xxxx
e. xxxxx@xxxxxmarketing.com
u. www.--------marketing.com

[SlyCin56]

First, I'd find out who owned the domain first - you or them? If they did, I'd probably find an attorney to talk to about this. :-? If your last name is really Scores, you might have a fighting chance, even if they had it first.

[universal4]

The term as I have understood it was normally used in an attempt to show that someone bought a domain name for the express purpose of sitting (or squatting) on the domain name to later then sell it to a corporate identity for a profit.

I read through some forums that discussed this a little bit about 6 months ago for a client, so I am sure you can get a good bit of information about this issue.

I know that if the domain name was in fact concieved partially because of your last name, that should give you a boost. Also, if you had actually "developed" the site 3 years ago and it didn't just sat parked in a name server, this also would give you much more right to keep it.

I do not believe whether the site had well optimized pages, or that it actually turned a profit would matter.

Like Cindy said, in addition to the web research, you may very well need to discuss this with an attorney.

Rick
Universal4

[SlyCin56]

Actually, now that I'm reading that letter again (something Universal said triggered this), I think that letter is BS. Universal is right about the definition of cybersquatting, although it gets used erroneously quite a bit.

WHY would a marketing company write you about cybersquatting - on "behalf" of one of their clients? Letters about issues like this usually come from the complaining domain and/or their attorneys. Certainly not any marketing companies that they work with.

And the offer to "compensate" you $100 for your domain?? I think this is an underhanded and cheap trick to try to get you to sell your domain to them. Unbelievable. :shake: Please tell us who this marketing company is - things like this need to be exposed!!

[poker]

Hmm I'm not aware of US laws or anything but I'd only trust complaints about this if a name is provided as a contact at the sportsbook in question.

/Chris

www.onlinepokerlinks.com

[croupier]

The first thing you need to do is enter the correct info into whois for your domain. Currently it's got n/a in most of it, which means you could lose it at any time.

[SlyCin56]

And yet the letter says his "name came up in WhoIs"??? Something's wrong with this pic.

[emg35]

Make them show you the trade mark papers. I had this happen about a year ago. Golden Palace told me they owned the trade mark for gpcasino.com. I won out in the end.

[universal4]

Please keep us all informed of the outcome of any of this...

Rick
Universal4

[ScoresSportsbook]

I called them this morning and worked out a deal, I keep the domain, join there affiliate program, and forward my traffic to them. Sounds like a win/win for the both of us.

[SlyCin56]

Sorry - something still doesn't sound right there.

[universal4]

If you have had the domain for 3 years, you have owned it a year longer than they have owned theirs....

I would only send them traffic based upon the merits of their affiliate program....and only a portion of the traffic from a portal and not just GIVE them all of it....

Just my opinion...they may turn out to pay you well....but after what they tried...well....you need to make a judgement call on that one...

Rick
Universal4

[Ace Fun]

It depends how important the name is to you. I think they show a tendency to deceit so they will probably shave your payments.

I'd tell them to poke their offer and say that you want $1,500 compensation for loss of business if you think that is a reasonable amount. I would also point out that Verisign have now created a precedent by displaying advertising on around 30 million names many of which include trade marks.