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Google recently revealed how much they paid the guy who briefly owned Google.com

1 points by halfimmortal 11y ago

azeirah 11y ago
What would've happened if he decided to keep the domain? Millions?
- robin_reala 11y ago
  Millions spent on a lawsuit.
- smt88 11y ago
  There have been several US court cases where a company was awarded ownership of a domain that used their name. Google would have easily won the lawsuit, and the guy who owned it would have owed Google tens of millions in damages, gone bankrupt, and probably become infamous for screwing up Google services for hundreds of millions of people. There really wasn't much of a decision there. He had to give it back.
  - tristanj 11y ago
    No, there would be no lawsuit since Google was well within their grounds to reject his purchase. From their terms of service: https://domains.google.com/tos https://domains.google.com/tos 3. Domain Name Availability. Google does not guarantee that Registrant will be able to register or renew a desired domain name, even if Google’s systems indicate that the domain name is available or Registrant is able to complete an order with respect to such domain name. Google cannot know with certainty whether or not a third party is simultaneously seeking to register the domain name that Registrant is seeking to register, or whether there are any inaccuracies or errors in the domain name registration or renewal process or related databases, including the various WHOIS or other Registry Operator databases. Google is not responsible for any inaccuracies or errors in the domain name registration or renewal process. 4. Registration Acceptance. Google may accept or reject Registrant’s application for registration or renewal for any reason at its sole discretion, including, rejection due to a prohibited, improper, unavailable, infringing or otherwise questionable domain name. The terms of service give Google plenty of room to reject his purchase. Not to mention it should not have been available anyway since the WHOIS for google.com expires on 14/9/2020. A case like this would be quickly kicked out of court.

1 points by halfimmortal 11y ago

azeirah 11y ago

What would've happened if he decided to keep the domain? Millions?

robin_reala 11y ago
Millions spent on a lawsuit.
smt88 11y ago
There have been several US court cases where a company was awarded ownership of a domain that used their name. Google would have easily won the lawsuit, and the guy who owned it would have owed Google tens of millions in damages, gone bankrupt, and probably become infamous for screwing up Google services for hundreds of millions of people. There really wasn't much of a decision there. He had to give it back.
- tristanj 11y ago
  No, there would be no lawsuit since Google was well within their grounds to reject his purchase. From their terms of service: https://domains.google.com/tos https://domains.google.com/tos 3. Domain Name Availability. Google does not guarantee that Registrant will be able to register or renew a desired domain name, even if Google’s systems indicate that the domain name is available or Registrant is able to complete an order with respect to such domain name. Google cannot know with certainty whether or not a third party is simultaneously seeking to register the domain name that Registrant is seeking to register, or whether there are any inaccuracies or errors in the domain name registration or renewal process or related databases, including the various WHOIS or other Registry Operator databases. Google is not responsible for any inaccuracies or errors in the domain name registration or renewal process. 4. Registration Acceptance. Google may accept or reject Registrant’s application for registration or renewal for any reason at its sole discretion, including, rejection due to a prohibited, improper, unavailable, infringing or otherwise questionable domain name. The terms of service give Google plenty of room to reject his purchase. Not to mention it should not have been available anyway since the WHOIS for google.com expires on 14/9/2020. A case like this would be quickly kicked out of court.