9 ms·

Indie artist trying to claim his domain name

38 points by bwooceli 15y ago

hmottestad 15y ago
A guy trying to fight for the right to the domain name equivalent of his artist stage name. It's just simply a call for help since he doesn't seem to know how to figure things out and he doesn't want to pay anyone to help him. And it doesn't seem like he's tried to contact the owners of the domain. Which he can do here: http://rapmusik.net/?tmp=domain_inquiry_form http://rapmusik.net/?tmp=domain_inquiry_form
- stfu 15y ago
  Classic personal-army request. "Hey guys, I don't want to pay money and don't want to learn / invest the time myself to figure it out". But then of cause he has "fans" making this apparently an appropriate form of communication. They might even like the fact that he is asking them for "help".
  - Dav3xor 15y ago
    Mc Frontalot has quite a few fans, he's got the biggest name in his genre -- plays PAX ever year...
  - nevinera 15y ago
    Come on now. He's asking for help on his own forums. If he posted such a request in some general forum you could shower him with derision for treating hn/reddit/4chan/sa as his 'personal army', since apparently you think insulting people who need help is more fun than ignoring them. But it makes no sense in this context.
nhangen 15y ago
I'm still not sure I believe anyone has a right to a domain name, regardless of who's name it uses. However, I put myself in his shoes and I can see how it would be frustrating at best. This is a remnant of the 'time before the Internet' and will eventually be solved when it becomes impossible to have created a name before the Internet existed. How can we best serve these cases without harming smart domain entrepreneurs in the future?
- feralchimp 15y ago
  I'm pretty sure I don't believe in either a) domain name rights as an extension of trademark protection, or b) the protection-worthiness of "domain entrepreneurs." It's a race for which the correct moves (as others here have noted) are either to win (by luck or cash) or not to play (by choice).
rhplus 15y ago
Is this really something worth fighting for at this stage in his music career, especially if he's having to pay lawyers? There would be far more value in him cultivating a social media presence (Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Last.fm, MySpace, Vimeo, etc) than worrying about getting his coveted dot-com. Having the perfect domain name just doesn't really matter that much for brand building any more, especially for "personalities". Musicians engage fans through Twitter, Facebook, whatever, and if you're stuck with mcfrontalotmusic.com or officialmcfrontalot.com or mcfrontalot.tv or mcfrontalot.dj... don't worry about it. Be consistent, build the fan base, link to your official site often and let the search engines figure it out. When he gets the big record deal, let the record company lawyers jump after the perfect domain.
- udp 15y ago
  > if you're stuck with mcfrontalotmusic.com or officialmcfrontalot.com or mcfrontalot.tv or mcfrontalot.dj... don't worry about it. It's not even that bad, he has frontalot.com. I don't really know why he's bothering...
- wizard_2 15y ago
  He does alright on the social media front. He's also got five albums. Plays gigs pretty constantly. Beloved in the gamer community. Has had spots on NPR. Etc. Etc. I've been a fan ever since his 2003 song fight entries and I still typo his domain from time to time.
- ga 15y ago
  I have a similar problem - but what do you do when your social media presence is "incomplete" ie the name is squatted on the 2 biggest of this list : facebook and youtube? The name has been in use in business since 2001. I have the similar domain in .com etc. since 2003. I have a trademark on the term itself since last year. the name on facebook is being held without serving any content, by a minor. On youtube another minor, though at least serving content. I tried both youtube and facebook trademark report process - a mockery a best, requiring time and effort to get a scripted reply. I will save you some time and money and give you their replies (I hope they're not copyrighted :-) Facebook in reply to report an infringing username "While we appreciate your concerns, it appears that the user has a legitimate basis for selecting the username. If you believe this is incorrect, we recommend that you contact the user directly to address this issue." Then you reply to that email, and get the very same reply. A chatbot could do that. Youtube on trademark support : "Thank you for submitting your complaint. As a preliminary matter, please note that YouTube is not in a position to mediate trademark disputes between users and trademark owners. As a courtesy we have considered your claim, but do not find grounds to take action on your claim. If you have continued concerns, we encourage you to resolve the dispute with the uploader." Yes, try that with someone who is not replying. Actually I'm considering paying a lawyer.
blauwbilgorgel 15y ago
204.138.26.200 is a problem IP. Registrations like: fasebook.com dailymtoion.com Show with http://www.yougetsignal.com/tools/web-sites-on-web-server/ http://www.yougetsignal.com/tools/web-sites-on-web-server/ over 300.000 domains according to domaintools.com . When searching for copy on their landing pages: https://www.google.com/search?q=%22Try+Searching+the+Internet+on+These+Relevant+Key+Words%22 https://www.google.com/search?q=%22Try+Searching+the+Interne... About 86.600 results for me. Some pretty nasty spammy stuff in there. For example a result from the Google index that randomly redirects users to another domain, perhaps in violation of the guidelines. saintrosehospital.com/ (original is strosehospital.org/) to medicalinformatoin.biz/ (for me) http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=%22try%20searching%20the%20internet%20on%20these%20relevant%20key%20words%20%22&source=web&cd=54&ved=0CEAQFjADODI&url=http%3A%2F%2Fsaintrosehospital.com%2F&ei=TLART7mGL4fG-Qb65bnXAg&usg=AFQjCNGLa50g530-ID0oy02ag54rNZKCdA&cad=rja http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=%22try%20sear... And various misspellings of schools, universities and "healthcare" websites like these. Registering a trademarked domain name is stupid, but squatting on hospital websites is extremely low.
awolf 15y ago
Does anyone have any experience attempting to claim a domain through arbitration? I've been selling TapTyping on the App Store since the iPad came out almost 2 years ago but have been unable to negotiate with the individual who currently owns TapTyping.com. It was only recently that I applied for a trademark on "TapTyping" so it might still be a year before it is awarded. The current owner has yet to do anything with the domain. It is just Godaddy parked. I've made the argument to him that at this point anything he did with the domain that was typing related would probably infringe on our future trademark but he simply replies that he "is not ready to sell the domain at this time". I assume I am S.O.L. until my trademark goes through, but even once the trademark clears is this an open and shut low risk case as far as arbitration is concerned? Is it likely to be costly to claim domains in this fashion?
- willwagner 15y ago
  Just out of curiosity, if that person owned TapTyping.com before you started your business, is it really possible to create a trademark after the fact that would rule out him using the domain for anything typing relate? Looking at it from the point of view of the domain owner, if I'm developing a website/product with a long development cycle, should I be trying to trademark the name as soon as I get the domain name to avoid someone swooping in after I buy the domain but before my site goes live?
  - dangrossman 15y ago
    Think about it from the view of the consumer, who trademarks and the UDRP are meant to protect. Let's say you registered Xbox.com 15 years ago and only now launch a gaming device there. Should you be allowed to profit from this name Microsoft spent the last decade associating with their product on the open market? Is there a likelihood of people assuming a relationship to Microsoft when they visit this site? Yes, irrelevant of when you started working, it would be in the best interest of consumers to let Microsoft have that domain. You have to think of domains as something like a brand mark, not a single piece of personal property you own. If you disagree with this process you essentially disagree with the principle of trademark protection. Of course, if you registered Xbox.com 15 years ago and today launched a cardboard packaging company there, you'd have no problem and the panel would not give that domain to Microsoft. Nissan Motors lost its dispute for Nissan.com because the site is a computer company, not an auto company.
bwooceli 15y ago
This was interesting to me just because its someone not in a technical field trying to navigate these waters. He is already taking the right steps with a lawyer but obviously didn't realize how hard it was going to be. He's been around for a long time and has finally achieved enough success to feel comfortable enough spending money on the lawyer to take something off his long term wish list.
jmcnevin 15y ago
For those who aren't familiar with MC Frontalot, might I suggest you check out "It is Pitch Dark," his rap about Zork. http://youtu.be/4nigRT2KmCE http://youtu.be/4nigRT2KmCE
zerostar07 15y ago
First why would he want a domain that is now linked to spam/scams ? Second, what is his legal claim, has he trademarked his commercial name?
deleted 15y ago
[deleted]

38 points by bwooceli 15y ago

A guy trying to fight for the right to the domain name equivalent of his artist stage name. It's just simply a call for help since he doesn't seem to know how to figure things out and he doesn't want to pay anyone to help him. And it doesn't seem like he's tried to contact the owners of the domain. Which he can do here: http://rapmusik.net/?tmp=domain_inquiry_form http://rapmusik.net/?tmp=domain_inquiry_form

stfu 15y ago
Classic personal-army request. "Hey guys, I don't want to pay money and don't want to learn / invest the time myself to figure it out". But then of cause he has "fans" making this apparently an appropriate form of communication. They might even like the fact that he is asking them for "help".
- Dav3xor 15y ago
  Mc Frontalot has quite a few fans, he's got the biggest name in his genre -- plays PAX ever year...
- nevinera 15y ago
  Come on now. He's asking for help on his own forums. If he posted such a request in some general forum you could shower him with derision for treating hn/reddit/4chan/sa as his 'personal army', since apparently you think insulting people who need help is more fun than ignoring them. But it makes no sense in this context.

nhangen 15y ago

I'm still not sure I believe anyone has a right to a domain name, regardless of who's name it uses. However, I put myself in his shoes and I can see how it would be frustrating at best. This is a remnant of the 'time before the Internet' and will eventually be solved when it becomes impossible to have created a name before the Internet existed. How can we best serve these cases without harming smart domain entrepreneurs in the future?

feralchimp 15y ago
I'm pretty sure I don't believe in either a) domain name rights as an extension of trademark protection, or b) the protection-worthiness of "domain entrepreneurs." It's a race for which the correct moves (as others here have noted) are either to win (by luck or cash) or not to play (by choice).

rhplus 15y ago

Is this really something worth fighting for at this stage in his music career, especially if he's having to pay lawyers? There would be far more value in him cultivating a social media presence (Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Last.fm, MySpace, Vimeo, etc) than worrying about getting his coveted dot-com. Having the perfect domain name just doesn't really matter that much for brand building any more, especially for "personalities". Musicians engage fans through Twitter, Facebook, whatever, and if you're stuck with mcfrontalotmusic.com or officialmcfrontalot.com or mcfrontalot.tv or mcfrontalot.dj... don't worry about it. Be consistent, build the fan base, link to your official site often and let the search engines figure it out. When he gets the big record deal, let the record company lawyers jump after the perfect domain.

udp 15y ago
> if you're stuck with mcfrontalotmusic.com or officialmcfrontalot.com or mcfrontalot.tv or mcfrontalot.dj... don't worry about it. It's not even that bad, he has frontalot.com. I don't really know why he's bothering...
wizard_2 15y ago
He does alright on the social media front. He's also got five albums. Plays gigs pretty constantly. Beloved in the gamer community. Has had spots on NPR. Etc. Etc. I've been a fan ever since his 2003 song fight entries and I still typo his domain from time to time.
ga 15y ago
I have a similar problem - but what do you do when your social media presence is "incomplete" ie the name is squatted on the 2 biggest of this list : facebook and youtube? The name has been in use in business since 2001. I have the similar domain in .com etc. since 2003. I have a trademark on the term itself since last year. the name on facebook is being held without serving any content, by a minor. On youtube another minor, though at least serving content. I tried both youtube and facebook trademark report process - a mockery a best, requiring time and effort to get a scripted reply. I will save you some time and money and give you their replies (I hope they're not copyrighted :-) Facebook in reply to report an infringing username "While we appreciate your concerns, it appears that the user has a legitimate basis for selecting the username. If you believe this is incorrect, we recommend that you contact the user directly to address this issue." Then you reply to that email, and get the very same reply. A chatbot could do that. Youtube on trademark support : "Thank you for submitting your complaint. As a preliminary matter, please note that YouTube is not in a position to mediate trademark disputes between users and trademark owners. As a courtesy we have considered your claim, but do not find grounds to take action on your claim. If you have continued concerns, we encourage you to resolve the dispute with the uploader." Yes, try that with someone who is not replying. Actually I'm considering paying a lawyer.

blauwbilgorgel 15y ago

204.138.26.200 is a problem IP. Registrations like: fasebook.com dailymtoion.com Show with http://www.yougetsignal.com/tools/web-sites-on-web-server/ http://www.yougetsignal.com/tools/web-sites-on-web-server/ over 300.000 domains according to domaintools.com . When searching for copy on their landing pages: https://www.google.com/search?q=%22Try+Searching+the+Internet+on+These+Relevant+Key+Words%22 https://www.google.com/search?q=%22Try+Searching+the+Interne... About 86.600 results for me. Some pretty nasty spammy stuff in there. For example a result from the Google index that randomly redirects users to another domain, perhaps in violation of the guidelines. saintrosehospital.com/ (original is strosehospital.org/) to medicalinformatoin.biz/ (for me) http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=%22try%20searching%20the%20internet%20on%20these%20relevant%20key%20words%20%22&source=web&cd=54&ved=0CEAQFjADODI&url=http%3A%2F%2Fsaintrosehospital.com%2F&ei=TLART7mGL4fG-Qb65bnXAg&usg=AFQjCNGLa50g530-ID0oy02ag54rNZKCdA&cad=rja http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=%22try%20sear... And various misspellings of schools, universities and "healthcare" websites like these. Registering a trademarked domain name is stupid, but squatting on hospital websites is extremely low.

awolf 15y ago

Does anyone have any experience attempting to claim a domain through arbitration? I've been selling TapTyping on the App Store since the iPad came out almost 2 years ago but have been unable to negotiate with the individual who currently owns TapTyping.com. It was only recently that I applied for a trademark on "TapTyping" so it might still be a year before it is awarded. The current owner has yet to do anything with the domain. It is just Godaddy parked. I've made the argument to him that at this point anything he did with the domain that was typing related would probably infringe on our future trademark but he simply replies that he "is not ready to sell the domain at this time". I assume I am S.O.L. until my trademark goes through, but even once the trademark clears is this an open and shut low risk case as far as arbitration is concerned? Is it likely to be costly to claim domains in this fashion?

willwagner 15y ago
Just out of curiosity, if that person owned TapTyping.com before you started your business, is it really possible to create a trademark after the fact that would rule out him using the domain for anything typing relate? Looking at it from the point of view of the domain owner, if I'm developing a website/product with a long development cycle, should I be trying to trademark the name as soon as I get the domain name to avoid someone swooping in after I buy the domain but before my site goes live?
- dangrossman 15y ago
  Think about it from the view of the consumer, who trademarks and the UDRP are meant to protect. Let's say you registered Xbox.com 15 years ago and only now launch a gaming device there. Should you be allowed to profit from this name Microsoft spent the last decade associating with their product on the open market? Is there a likelihood of people assuming a relationship to Microsoft when they visit this site? Yes, irrelevant of when you started working, it would be in the best interest of consumers to let Microsoft have that domain. You have to think of domains as something like a brand mark, not a single piece of personal property you own. If you disagree with this process you essentially disagree with the principle of trademark protection. Of course, if you registered Xbox.com 15 years ago and today launched a cardboard packaging company there, you'd have no problem and the panel would not give that domain to Microsoft. Nissan Motors lost its dispute for Nissan.com because the site is a computer company, not an auto company.

bwooceli 15y ago

This was interesting to me just because its someone not in a technical field trying to navigate these waters. He is already taking the right steps with a lawyer but obviously didn't realize how hard it was going to be. He's been around for a long time and has finally achieved enough success to feel comfortable enough spending money on the lawyer to take something off his long term wish list.

jmcnevin 15y ago

For those who aren't familiar with MC Frontalot, might I suggest you check out "It is Pitch Dark," his rap about Zork. http://youtu.be/4nigRT2KmCE http://youtu.be/4nigRT2KmCE

zerostar07 15y ago

First why would he want a domain that is now linked to spam/scams ? Second, what is his legal claim, has he trademarked his commercial name?

deleted 15y ago

[deleted]