6 ms·

It's a domain squatter. He's not getting it back without a ton of money, and if we're naive enough to kickstarter, then everyone's domain will get steal-squatt

It's a domain squatter. He's not getting it back without a ton of money, and if we're naive enough to kickstarter, then everyone's domain will get steal-squatted for the rest of time. Sadly, the current nature of domain protection law means either one has to scare the squatter (doesn't work,) find a squatter with a heart of gold (doesn't exist,) or get a new domain. :(

abailin 14y ago
Any idea how much squatters like this charge for the domain back? $1k? $10k? svbtlepatterns.com is always available.
- mtrimpe 14y ago
  Just gave him a call and the opening bid was €2000 "for a fast transfer."
  - JohnHaugeland 14y ago
    Good. Now you have evidence of criminal intent. Someone took something through false manipulation of a system, then attempted to set a price to give you your own things back. And they chose a price that's well into the serious range for just about every country (in the United States that's felony grand larceny.)
citricsquid 14y ago
maybe, just maybe, people should renew their domains if they want to keep them? and if the domain was stolen calling the thief a "squatter" is inaccurate. A squatter is someone that obtains domains legitimately.
- mistercow 14y ago
  Check the whois. The expiration was 4/18, so it doesn't look like they let it expire.
- chc 14y ago
  In general use, a squatter is just somebody who holds a domain they don't intend to use. How they came by it is incidental.
mistercow 14y ago
I don't think that's the case here. If you look at the whois record, the creation and expiration date is 4/18, so this wasn't a matter of the domain expiring and then being snatched up by a squatter. In other words, it appears that this domain was stolen, and the rightful owner does have recourse in that case. Edit: Their twitter seems to confirm that this was not an expiration problem.
astrodust 14y ago
This is why having a trademark can be invaluable. You can petition for a domain name with one, but without you're going to have to build a case that you're "doing business as" where hopefully you have a registered corporation with a name like the domain. Squatters usually don't have trademarks as it's not cost effective, so they're likely to lose on an appeal. There is a cost associated with this option but it can be less than paying a huge ransom fee.

abailin 14y ago

Any idea how much squatters like this charge for the domain back? $1k? $10k? svbtlepatterns.com is always available.

mtrimpe 14y ago
Just gave him a call and the opening bid was €2000 "for a fast transfer."
- JohnHaugeland 14y ago
  Good. Now you have evidence of criminal intent. Someone took something through false manipulation of a system, then attempted to set a price to give you your own things back. And they chose a price that's well into the serious range for just about every country (in the United States that's felony grand larceny.)

citricsquid 14y ago

maybe, just maybe, people should renew their domains if they want to keep them? and if the domain was stolen calling the thief a "squatter" is inaccurate. A squatter is someone that obtains domains legitimately.

mistercow 14y ago
Check the whois. The expiration was 4/18, so it doesn't look like they let it expire.
chc 14y ago
In general use, a squatter is just somebody who holds a domain they don't intend to use. How they came by it is incidental.

mistercow 14y ago

I don't think that's the case here. If you look at the whois record, the creation and expiration date is 4/18, so this wasn't a matter of the domain expiring and then being snatched up by a squatter. In other words, it appears that this domain was stolen, and the rightful owner does have recourse in that case. Edit: Their twitter seems to confirm that this was not an expiration problem.

astrodust 14y ago

This is why having a trademark can be invaluable. You can petition for a domain name with one, but without you're going to have to build a case that you're "doing business as" where hopefully you have a registered corporation with a name like the domain. Squatters usually don't have trademarks as it's not cost effective, so they're likely to lose on an appeal. There is a cost associated with this option but it can be less than paying a huge ransom fee.