[Tfug] Domain names

[George Cohn]

keith smith wrote:
> 
> I think the term domain squatting is defined as having a domain that 
> contains someone's trademark AND are trying to conduct business  in the 
> same market as the trademark is registered in.
> 
> As far as I know anyone can register any domain name and set on it.  I 
> suspect the availability of domains will become increasingly scarce.
> 
> In the last 3 1/2 years I have seen the availability of domain names 
> decline substantially.
> 
>

What I find distressing is that folks have registered many of the common 
surnames and are just sitting on them with no links to any web site. 
Also many variations of a surname and a business.  Typically things like 
JonesCommunications and such.

And many of these registered domains that don't point to a web site are 
marked private so the only way you can contact the registrar is by 
registered mail.  I would like to see a rule that says if you don't have 
it pointing to some sort of web site after a year, it defaults back to 
the public pool.

But I suppose it's like buying a stock.  You hope that someone else will 
want it badly enough to pay an outrageous price for it.

George Cohn