If someone has been sitting on a domain name for 10+ years

Discussion in 'Domain Names' started by hitboy, Aug 13, 2013.

  1. #1
    What can I do if someone has been sitting on a domain name for the past years to maybe acquire it or force them to sell it to me? I am assuming even if I trademark the name they still have a legal right to keep the domain or sit on it. Any attempts to sell it to me however I could do something about it?

    I just want more information on this. Please let me know thanks!
     
    hitboy, Aug 13, 2013 IP
  2. Alin Alex

    Alin Alex Active Member

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    #2
    You either offer them the price they want, OR you go the not moral at all way and plant a keylogger in theyr computer and, you know where this is goin....
     
    Alin Alex, Aug 14, 2013 IP
  3. chandan123

    chandan123 Prominent Member

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    #3
    this is called reverse domain hijacking ;) . he can slap you too in court.
     
    chandan123, Aug 14, 2013 IP
  4. seosavvy

    seosavvy Greenhorn

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    #4
    LOL ...have you tried just asking them if they would be willing to sell it? You can try more dramatic things later, but a good first step might be just to ask. I work with some companies that will purchase hundreds of domains on a whim and then never use them. They just collect dust parked at GoDaddy. If its just sitting idle they might sell it.
     
    seosavvy, Aug 15, 2013 IP
  5. hitboy

    hitboy Well-Known Member

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    #5
    I have tried already offering ridiculous amounts for a domain name that isn't worth the cost to anyone else. However this person just mindlessly wants to keep it..
     
    hitboy, Aug 16, 2013 IP
  6. Alin Alex

    Alin Alex Active Member

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    #6
    Is there no alternative at all to this domain?And yes its true,some people will not sell nomatter whats the price,for diffrent reasons.You made me currios.Would you mind PM me the domain name?Cheers!
     
    Alin Alex, Aug 16, 2013 IP
  7. seosavvy

    seosavvy Greenhorn

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    #7
    Yeah, unfortunately there is not much you can do (legal) if they are not willing to sell. Best advice is move on or find something close :(
     
    seosavvy, Aug 19, 2013 IP
  8. jakerhodes

    jakerhodes Greenhorn

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    #8
    It's their property, they can choose what they want to do with it.

    What might be a ridiculous amount of money to you might not be to them. Have you asked how much they actually want for it?
     
    jakerhodes, Aug 19, 2013 IP
  9. browntwn

    browntwn Illustrious Member

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    #9
    Obviously it is worth it to the owner, since they turned down your offer to and chose to keep the domain. Either offer enough to get them to sell or move on. I have plenty of domains I have refused to sell. The owner of the domain is under no obligation to sell it to you or to provide a reason for desiring to keep the domain. Your assertions that they just want to "mindlessly" keep it seems to show you do not understand this basic concept.
     
    browntwn, Aug 19, 2013 IP
  10. Chris Vergaelen

    Chris Vergaelen Greenhorn

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    #10
    "The owner of the domain is under no obligation to sell it to you" - unless you have some trademarks related to the domain. In that case there is a possibility but if that person has the domain already for 10 years, ....not likely.
     
    Chris Vergaelen, Aug 19, 2013 IP
  11. matt_62

    matt_62 Prominent Member

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    #11
    I have been on both sides of this, trying to get domains that were listed for sale that had no value to anyone except me (and now that I am out of the niche, they aint valuable to anyone) and alternatively our family (my sister to be specific) has had a-holes demanding the domain name that her registered company uses to be handed over (no offer just irate and irrational demands for a domain they have no rights to, to be handed over to them).

    I do hate domain squatters, but if it is valuable to him,then why should he sell it? If he sells it to you, and I decide that I want it, why should you have to sell it to me for?
    There are so many different .tld's available, why cant one of these be used instead?
     
    matt_62, Aug 19, 2013 IP
  12. htmlindex

    htmlindex Prominent Member

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    #12
    How much exactly is this "ridiculous amounts"? Did you offer $1 million or more? Or was it something like $100 only?

    Money talks. Just keep going up until you get to a price they are happy to accept.
     
    htmlindex, Aug 20, 2013 IP
  13. hitboy

    hitboy Well-Known Member

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    #13
    offer was $xx,xxx.xx ..... for a domain name that is literally worth $5 to anyone else
     
    hitboy, Aug 20, 2013 IP
  14. browntwn

    browntwn Illustrious Member

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    #14
    That offer at least shows you were serious. Surprising they did not counter.

    I have been on both sides. I've had a "useless" domain that I did not use for a website but a friend and I did use for email addresses. Someone wanted it and I turned them down - several times. Eventually they came back and offered me too much to refuse so I took it. But it was high because I just did not want to sell the name. On the other side, I wanted a domain name which was my son's name when he was born. I had to pay a bit of money, more than I think it should have been, but I figured if I did not buy it then the price would only go up or it would become permanently unavailable.

    A domain is worth what someone is willing to pay for it - or what they are willing to turn down to keep it. People usually don't turn down a lot of money unless they actually have a reason to keep the domain name.

    Good luck finding another domain name for your project.
     
    browntwn, Aug 20, 2013 IP
  15. matt_62

    matt_62 Prominent Member

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    #15
    wow... very surprising anyone would turn that down for an unused domain!

    I do find that people that have had domains for several years, seem to expect unrealistic amounts for domains. Maybe its because of stories like how much sex (dot) com or business (dot) com were sold for that gives people unrealistic expectations.
     
    matt_62, Aug 20, 2013 IP
  16. makeit easy

    makeit easy Active Member

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    #16
    Buying is an art. Most people don't aware of this fact and focus on only improving their selling talents.
    You may consider hiring a broker to buy that domain. Good luck.
     
    makeit easy, Aug 20, 2013 IP