Cyber Squatters - Part 2
I wrote two weeks ago that a cyber squatter registered my domain thomasfreudenberg.com. I’ve contacted her, and I want to share the exchanged mails with you:
Dear Sir or Madam,
I'm writing to you because you have registered the domain name thomasfreudenberg.com.
I'm the former registrant of this domain, but my registrar failed to renew it for me, so it expired at the end of last October. I now wanted another registrar to register my domain, but they told me that someone else already registered it.
Therefore I want to ask you for your intention of registering that domain. As far as I can see you have no relation to this name, and visiting http://thomasfreudenberg.com showed me that you use this domain only to transfer the visitor to another site (gogogo.com). Because I don't see your interest in the particular domain name thomasfreudenberg.com I kindly ask you to transfer the domain back to me.
Best regards,
Thomas Freudenberg
I'm writing to you because you have registered the domain name thomasfreudenberg.com.
I'm the former registrant of this domain, but my registrar failed to renew it for me, so it expired at the end of last October. I now wanted another registrar to register my domain, but they told me that someone else already registered it.
Therefore I want to ask you for your intention of registering that domain. As far as I can see you have no relation to this name, and visiting http://thomasfreudenberg.com showed me that you use this domain only to transfer the visitor to another site (gogogo.com). Because I don't see your interest in the particular domain name thomasfreudenberg.com I kindly ask you to transfer the domain back to me.
Best regards,
Thomas Freudenberg
Please visit the FAQ page regarding domain names http://www.mainstreamemail.com/faq.html .
Thank you,
Shelly
Thank you,
Shelly
Dear Shelly,
thanks for your quick reply, even if it was rather short. Do I understand your FAQ correctly that you demand at least $1000 for the domain name thomasfreudenberg.com?!?
Regards,
Thomas Freudenberg
thanks for your quick reply, even if it was rather short. Do I understand your FAQ correctly that you demand at least $1000 for the domain name thomasfreudenberg.com?!?
Regards,
Thomas Freudenberg
The mimium offer that we will consider is $1000.00.
Hi Shelly,
in this case I'm not interested, and I doubt anyone else is.
However, do you know the Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy (UDRP)? In paragraph 4(b)(i) it says:
Regards,
Thomas Freudenberg
in this case I'm not interested, and I doubt anyone else is.
However, do you know the Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy (UDRP)? In paragraph 4(b)(i) it says:
[... the following circumstances ... shall be evidence of the registration and use of a domain name in bad faith] circumstances indicating that you have registered or you have acquired the domain name primarily for the purpose of selling, renting, or otherwise transferring the domain name registration to the complainant who is the owner of the trademark or service mark or to a competitor of that complainant, for valuable consideration in excess of your documented out-of-pocket costs directly related to the domain name.Since you're demanding $1000 for the domain name this evidence is produced, so I'm considering filing a case at WIPO.
Regards,
Thomas Freudenberg
Hi Thomas,
We would like to recoup the $60.00 US Dollars that was spent acquiring the domain. We accept money orders or a certified check. Please let me know if you are interested.
Thank you,
Shelly
We would like to recoup the $60.00 US Dollars that was spent acquiring the domain. We accept money orders or a certified check. Please let me know if you are interested.
Thank you,
Shelly
This conversation happened about two weeks ago. Since a couple of hours I’m the owner of thomasfreudenberg.com again. (Jayson already noticed 
)
One final question remains: which of the two domains thomasfreudenberg.com and thomas-freudenberg.com should I keep up with? 
Comments
Thomas Freudenberg
Yes, I think I’ll stay with the non-hyphenated version and return a 301 (moved permanently) when accessing the hyphenated domain. I’ve seen an appropriate solution at http://jaysonknight.com/blo… ;-)
jayson knight
Man oh man oh man…where to begin! Good job for doing your homework first off, though I’m assuming you ended having to pay the $60…that’s better than 1000, but still ridiculous IMO.
While I prefer the non-hyphenated version, you now own them both, so set up some redirects from the - one, or see if you can get your money back :-).
At the very least, you should feel honored that your name is worth cyber-squatting…you’re worth a thousand bucks!
Dave Burke
I always knew you were a sharp guy. This is another example. Good work, Thomas!
Dewayne Mikkelson
That is crazy. I just wish that people who do this kind of stuff could put all this evil negative energy to use in a positive good way. Congratulations on winning the battle that you never should have had to fight.
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