Hey guys, I currently own the domain myroommatesucks.org A few months ago when I first started creating the site I came across myroommatesucks.com I had contacted the owner and he was requesting outrageous amounts for it (15% of total annual earnings, or $1200) I just looked at it again today and saw that it redirects to a different site, I have contacted them via their online contact form. Anyway I am wondering what the next steps would be in this if I do not hear a response from them, are there legal measures I can take now? or what is the process? Thanks in advance!
I did a simply whois lookup and the domain I want gives a name and the host, however the site it directs to has whois guard on it. So I cannot know for sure, but I would assume so. Edit: Yes they are, the one I want shows the name which is Shane, then the site it directs to has shane as being the admin of it right on the home page. I think that's proof enough
You could file a Uniform Dispute Resolution Policy (UDRP) or file a lawsuit if applicable in your jurisdiction, especially if indeed you established trademark rights to the term. If the registrant is still selling it to you for $1200, though, then that's cheaper than finding some legal means to take something that belongs to someone else. Surely you can make that $1200 back anyway?
So you have had your domain since Jan 2011 and their domain has been registered since Aug 2004 and you want to claim you have legal rights over their domain!?!?!?!?!?! If anyone is going to have a claim it is the other way round. $1200 is not a lot of money for a domain and 15% could be even less if you don't have faith in your project (obviously try and link it to profit rather than revenue and look to place a cap in terms of length of time or maximum the 15% could represent - either on a monthly basis or total)