It is happening to me. I used to think stuff like this was unthinkable. I have a domain name which has to do with Classified service in a particular country. Recently I started getting some unusual traffic from this domain. Nothing spectacular but more than usual. At this same time I received a $5 offer for the domain, I replied and told the guy to get serious. I did a research on this domain and realized that somebody (same $5 guy) has built a website that has http:/www.xxxxx/GoodDomainClassifieds.com as its url but the website is called and bannered with GoodDomainClassifieds.com (GoodDomainClassifieds.com used here as a placeholder to protect the identities of domains and people involved)
A couple of days ago the same guy contacted me again and I told him to make a serious offer. Once again I looked the domains up and behold this guy now has a fully fledged, google ranged GooDomainClassifieds.com (Notice I dropped one D). A typo of my name! As if that is not bad enough, when you type GoodDomainClassifieds.com, Google asks you if you mean GooDomainClassifieds.com. Wow the power of content.
So what would you do if you were me. Do you go to war. Develop the site or do you hold out and wait till he becomes big enough to afford your domain?
Here is my dilemma about going to war. While I have unused licenses to one of the best classifieds programs ever known and my adversary is using a freebie reacting, time is not exactly on my side as I have a lot on my plate now. I also hate being in reaction. I cause effects, I hate to effects caused by someone else.
What are your thoughts, War or not? If war how do you proceed and if not what do you do?
P/S
Sorry I could not list the exact domains involved because I am still considering expanding my holdings to other countries. Good in the illustration above is a place holder for a Country.
My opinion is that you should develop it only if you want to develop it. If you have a full plate, and are making money off of that full plate now and are not too interested in developing this particular domain then don’t worry about it. Your domain is only going to grow more valuable over time.
For the life of me I can’t understand why someone would put the effort into developing a typo for local classifieds.=)
Shouldn’t you be using a sky for the background of your site and not space? You are sky domains right, or are you spaced out?
LOL. I alternate. Sometimes I use the clouds and sometime I love the look of space. If you tell me when you visit I may be able to arrange sky or create a mirror site with the sky background just for you.
Frankie,
Just let it be.
You have a domain you aren’t really doing anything with yet.
The domain is NOT a registered trademark and you couldn’t even claim a “usage” trademark since you’re not really using the domain and you are not exclusively known by that domain.
You can’t stop someone from copying your idea since it’s not trademarked or patented.
The guy is not stealing your content, right?
I’d just leave it alone.
However realize he’s an arrogant jerk to offer you only
$5 for your domain.
$5 is in all likelihood less than your initial registration cost.
I suspect he was being a wise guy by making such a ridiculous offer.
When you are ready make a website that is superior to
his and steal back his traffic.
i’d counter offer eleven dollars and take seven if he showed me the cash… but i wouldn’t let him pay in pennies.
I would rather develop the domain with good content and compete to rank better than the typo site. Or else if you get a decent offer and if you are not interested in developing the domain, you can sell it out. – Mike