Domain Name Information

Domain Squatting Explained


The one thing that annoys me most about the topic of domain names is when trying to find a domain name for a new site only to find most of the names I come up with are already taken. Even more annoying is that these names are not being used for a site that relates to the domain name.

Domain squatting or cyber squatting is the term used for someone who registers a domain with no intention of using it, that would otherwise be used for a site relating to the domain name.

Let me give you an example, recently I came up with an idea for a site and there was a couple of domains that were ideal, keyword1keyword2.com and the plural version, so I checked to see if they were available. I found that both the names I thought would be perfect were taken. Both domain names were directed to a generic search page whose sole purpose is to make money off of direct type ins.

Now I haven't given the names as I don't want to give away my idea and I don't want to give the sites any free advertising. This is not a one off incidence but something that happens quite often, especially with domain names with good or popular keywords. This activity is not illegal unless you use a trademark name, but it is against the ethics of what the internet is about.

There is a difference between domain squatting and domain parking and that difference is intent. If you register the domain with the intent of using it in the future for a purpose relating to the domain name then you have just parked the domain. If you register a domain with the sole intention of making money from reselling it or getting revenue from people typing in the domain name then that is domain squatting.

As I have explained it is not illegal it is just unethical, it is a free market economy and people are motivated by profit. I do not agree with domain squatting as it forces webmasters like myself to use domain names that are far from perfect, take this site on domain names, this name was far from my first choice. It also misleads internet users as the expect a site to be related to the keywords in the domain name making the internet less user friendly.

Find out more about domain names and get some advice before registering your next domain.


MORE RESOURCES:

Nominet registers over 7 million .uk domain names
Telecom Paper (subscription), Netherlands - 11 hours ago
UK domain name registry Nominet has announced that there are now over 7 million .uk domain names, with one million .uk domain names added since July 2007. ...


Renew Domain Names Before October Price Increases
Domain Name Wire, TX - 23 hours ago
It’s that time of year again — time for VeriSign (NASDAQ: VRSN) and other registries to increase their wholesale price of domain names. ...
GoDaddy Hikes Price of .Net and .Org Domain Names to $13.19 Domain Name Wire
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Social Site - Social Network. Social Domain Names at 200Best.com
Emediawire (press release), WA - Aug 28, 2008
These Social Domain Names are high quality rare dot com. David Anderson from 200Best.com explains "The popularity of social sites is soaring. ...


Domain Name Wire

Moniker Offers $7.49 .Mobi Domain Names
Domain Name Wire, TX - Aug 27, 2008
If you want to get your hands on any unregistered .mobi domain names, now may be a good time. Moniker just announced $7.49 per year pricing on new .mobi ...


OFFLINE: your_domain-bulgaria.com
Sofia Echo, Bulgaria - 13 hours ago
Over the years, a constant source of fun and teasing for me has been the type of domain names that Bulgarian companies and organisations have a tendency to ...


JIPO moves to block sale by US-based company of athletes' domain names
Jamaica Observer, Jamaica - Aug 24, 2008
Domain names of Jamaican gold medal Olympians are being pedalled on the Internet and the Jamaica Intellectual Property Office JIPO - the government ...


Creative Thinking: Replycycle for Parked Domain Names
Domain Name Wire, TX - Aug 26, 2008
If you think your parked domain names don’t receive e-mails, think again. Some of my domain names that aren’t parked but don’t have content receive multiple ...


Where to Find Free Domain Names
3x24 - Your Newspaper and News Magazine, Germany - Aug 25, 2008
There are some facts you should know about what is involved and what should be looked for in considering the offers of free domain names. ...


Boosting numbers in .ke domain names
Business Daily Africa, Kenya - Aug 19, 2008
August 20, 2008: Internet domain names have increasingly become part of our daily lives, but the uptake of the .ke (dot ke) is still lagging behind. ...


Unlimited-Space to give away 1000 internet domain names this Thursday
Seeking Media (press release), Australia - Aug 24, 2008
Australian website hosting company and domain provider Unlimited-Space.com is set to take the internet world by storm by giving away 1000 domain names and ...

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