WIPO Whip

Domain Name Dispute Cases and Domain Harassment

I was just contacted by someone that as had not one, but two domain name complaints filed against them, and for the same domain by the same company. Each time this happened, the domainer was charged a $29 fee by Godaddy and his domain name was locked for an extended period of time. While this fee is reported to be mentioned in their Godaddy TOS, I had never heard of it or of anyone being charged it. Being charged twice for the same thing seems excessive and harassment.

What is to stop a company from filing complaint after complaint and using Godaddy to put the pressure on the domain holder? I do not know yet what the domain name is or the company that is filing the complaint, but too often companies either do not know or do not care what the rules are and cause problems for domain holders without contacting them first to see if something can be worked out.

Most domain name owners are not evil and not wealthy. They are just trying to make a buck from registering a domain name and either parking it, developing it, or holding it as an investment and if someone has a real problem with a domain they own they should be willing to talk about it. Just calling in the lawyers and filing complaints only serves to stir up anger and unite the domain industry against the companies.

There are cases where a company has to be tough and protect itself, but I think they will find more advantages in getting to know the person behind the source of their concern or they may discover that it's not just one domainer but an entire industry.

Check out what some of the current disputes are about. Domainers mostly know already, but it will be interesting to note the type of domain names that are attracting complaints.
http://www.wipo.int/amc/en/domains/cases/2007/d1600-1799.html

(hris