4 ms·
Let's talk about language and why it matters. Domain Squatting (Cybersquatting) is a very specific thing, which you touch on. It's infringing on someone's trade
by ohashi 6y ago
Let's talk about language and why it matters. Domain Squatting (Cybersquatting) is a very specific thing, which you touch on. It's infringing on someone's trademark in bad faith. This is entirely separate from descriptive domains you mention in your next sentence. To use the Jump.com example, that's not being squatted because it's not being used to infringe on someone's TM.
I think it's impossible and unfair to change the rules now. Some of the largest portfolio holders are big corps. Look at P&G who own Clean.com and just redirect it to Tide.com. Going to have a hard time prying that away.
I know a lot of people feel like people who are holding domains are unfairly profitting, but I'm still waiting for a better system to be described that could pragmatically be implemented as well. I know there is a boogeyman of domain investors at ICANN that a lot of people (who seem very connected to registry interests) use as a way to push for their agenda because domain investor interests tend to align better with consumers at large (eg. price increases, registrant rights, etc).
Finally, you have a bajilarillions of options for domain names at this point. Hundreds of TLDs, I think 63 characters. Just using a-z0-9- we're talking 3,763,572,874,813,444,727,106,020,660,762,327,844,147,969,869,582,735,798,064,027,429,183 combinations in one TLD space. If you can't find an available domain name with that, you're not creative enough to be running a business.
- BitwiseFool 6y agoCiting the potential number of free domains isn't fair because random gibberish as a URL is in no way useful. There's a reason why these scalpers aren't buying up GUIDs as domain names - they're buying up permutations and combinations of words because they know those are the 'good' domains people actually want.
- ohashi 6y agoAnd not figuring out a way to make a memorable name in a space that addressable is bullshit. I've been able to find plenty of two word .coms and built companies on them. Or startups have gone with .ly or removed vowels or a number of other creative ways to create brands when there is false scarcity.