How to buy a domain name from someone who's registered it?

I really really like a domain name, it's not being used at all - so perhaps I have a good chance in buying it from the person that owns it.

How do I go about it and how do I contact them?

The steps are that if I buy it, how will they transfer it to me and what's the safest way of paying and receiving it (someone should design a site for this!).

Also, as for ownership - who exactly "owns" the domain?

thanks

 

Run a Whois, all the information should be there, make a offer, if he accepts the offer, use www.escrow.com to transfer the money and domain.

 

I hate it when that happens!

People should only be allowed to buy a domain if they are going to put a legitimate site on.

1 thing they could do is ban someone from renewing a domain after 2 years unless they have displayed a legitimate site. It's impossible to monitor I know but there must be some way of resolving situations like this?

 

Then all you would have to do is create a landing page and those are already common.

 

Well perhaps one solution is to not sell domain names seperately, but to to web hosts - so you only get a name if you are having a site.

How do I find out a person's email? The WhoIS doesn't show this info - can I just do a and it will be automatically forwarded to the owner?

How do I get the domain transfered to me?

 

You can do a transfer request with the current registrar. They'll contact the person who registered it. If he fails to answer in 5 days and the domain isn't locked, it's yours.

 

Never heard that before TOPS, I don't think it is that easy.

 

Wow can I do that?

Do you mean if the domain ownership has expired, but it's still in the possession of the owner?

The domain name that I like still has 1 year to go...damn

 

Tops is right, this is that notice I just pulled from GoDaddy.

Lock your domains like Top said. That is a bullshit rule.

******************************************
Important Notice Regarding your Domain(s)
******************************************

Dear Valued Go Daddy Customer,

On November 12, 2004, ICANN, the Internet Corporation for Assigned
Names and Numbers, put in place its new transfer policy for all accredited
domain name service providers.

The previous ICANN policy allowed us to deny requests to transfer your
domain names to another registrar unless you explicitly confirmed to us
your intent to transfer. The new ICANN policy removes that protection.
When we receive a request to transfer your domain name to a new
registrar, we will still attempt to contact you to confirm that you authorized
the request. However, if you do not respond, or are not able to respond
within 5 days, your domain name WILL be transferred.

Rest assured, IT IS UNLIKELY that this will happen. Your domains have
NOT been transferred.

Nonetheless, with this change in mind, we are recommending that all Go
Daddy domain customers visit GoDaddy.com and "lock" their domain
name(s). Locking your domain(s) is free and prevents unauthorized changes to
contacts and name servers. Most importantly, it prevents the domain
name from being transferred to another registrar without your knowledge.
You may lock or unlock your domain at any time by revisiting your
account. It takes only a minute, and it WILL protect your domains.

To login and lock your domains, click here:
http://www.godaddy.com/lock/?isc=gdficgdin

If you have multiple domains, we've made it easy: Just click the blue,
"Lock All Domains" button, and the click "OK" to confirm.

After your changes have been submitted, there will be a short duration
while your request is pending update. During this period, details of
the domain(s) will be temporarily unavailable.

If you have any questions please email us at support@supportwebsite.com
or call our customer support line at (480) 505-8899.

Again, this email is simply a notification of a change in ICANN policy.
Your domains have NOT been transferred, and IT IS UNLIKELY that they
will be. Locking your domains will assure that they won't.

To review the new ICANN transfer policy, please visit:
http://www.icann.org/transfers/policy-12jul04.htm

Thank you for your attention.

Sincerely,
GoDaddy.com Domain Support

 

I know. It's quite an industry stirr-up that rule. It's all over the web. See:

http://www.internetnews.com/xSP/article.php/3434741 - http://www.webmasterworld.com/forum25/2206.htm - http://icann.org/transfers/index.html and many other sources for more details.

 

I'm with 123reg and they've locked everyones domains automatically hehe.

You can login and unlock it if you want. It's a pointless rule but I suppose it will free up a significant number of domains from people who have bought thousands of domains just in case someone might buy 1.

 

The biggest game in domains is buying expired domains, now the domain name brokers will steal names also.

This just generates more money for domain name brokers.

Everyone must simply lock their names.

 

So how do I go about it? Is there a place I can go to on the Icann Site?

It's a bit cheeky isn't it? If someone goes on holiday for a while or an email sent to your web host who registers the name doesn't respond - then you lose the domain.

Does the domain automatically go in then public domain or go to the first person who registers their interest in the name?

Isn't it more paper work? Surely if I did this to each top level domain - cnn.com, bbc.co.uk etc., I'd get lucky with one of them?

 

You could also get in trouble for trademark violations if you try.

You have to be sure that it is a generic name if you try this scam.

 

Yes but if someone loses the name they lose the DNS also, most serious websites will have to lock their names with this silly rule.

Who is running this organization? They must be a bunch of fools.

 

Regardless of whether it's your fault or theft or whatever... It will bring major headaches. If someone nicks your domain and aims it at a different site, you loose all traffic, all revenue, all business. Could be lethal for many businesses.
Yes yuo can sue them after you find out, but often it's too late I'd imagine.

 

Sounds like you got the hang of sueing/being sued Is it that enjoyable? I'd rather prevent it (locked all domains and made sure all e-mail addresses were correct).