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Ask HN: How to prevent a company from taking my domain name?

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Ask HN: How to prevent a company from taking my domain name?

#1
I have bought a 5 letter COM domain name that I'll call lname.com, which matches my last name. It has no meaning in English. I'm from a poor country and I spent like a year or so to save up for it, which cost roughly 6 months of average net salaries in my country about 7 years ago.

I was in my early 20s and one could argue, that it was not the wisest decion of a young adult, but I don't regret it honestly. It always felt like I have a small piece of the web realestate which has my name labeled on it and I absolutely love my fname@lname.com email address. I created an address for my wife, father, mother, brother and his wife in the same way which they are using daily and are proud of.

I was very stressed for any domain or registrar errors that might cause that I lose the domain name and I still am very afraid of it. I have however read quite a few "horror stories" in the past years, regarding bigger companies which were able to obtain people's personal or business domain names, just because they are huge companies with extensive finances and good lawyers. I already know of two companies in different countries which have the very same name as I occasionally receive emails written to them on my catch-all email address.

For now the domain is used to host our personal sites, but I recently started working as a web developer and may do freelance work or even create a startup or company in the future. I don't know what this domain will be used for, but I can't say that it will always be for personal use. Maybe it will be the same industry as other companies with the same name. Maybe not. I know a domain name can't be patented. Trademarking is possible, but there are a lot of requirements. What do experts propose?

TLDR: What can I do to secure my domain name, no matter what happens?

Re: Ask HN: How to prevent a company from taking my domain name?

#6
idk / imho ...

in case: be open selling your domain? just as one possibility to avoid lengthy legal disputes / costly interactions with lawyers!?

you mentioned above, you are "from a poor country" ... several k or even some 2 digit k of us$ / euro - depending on the actual name - might be a decent pain-compensation for "loosing" your domain and carry you further in your country than a stupid personal domain with nice email-addresses attached to it ;))

Re: Ask HN: How to prevent a company from taking my domain name?

#7
post #6

idk / imho ... in case: be open selling your domain? just as one possibility to avoid lengthy legal disputes / costly interactions with lawyers!? you mentioned above, you are "from a poor country" ... several k or even some 2 digit k of us$ / euro - depending on the actual name - might be a decent pain-compensation for "loosing" your domain and carry you further in your country than a stupid personal domain with nice…

Your advice in how to protect their domain name is be willing to sell it and don’t bother putting up a fight…?

Re: Ask HN: How to prevent a company from taking my domain name?

#8
post #2

To prevent domain hijacking: Tip 1: Pick an enterprise-class domain name registry. Tip 2: Set up 2FA that isn't phone-based. Tip 3: Request DNSSEC from your registrar.

And secure the email addresses used for your registrar account with 2FA, and disable weak recovery methods.

Re: Ask HN: How to prevent a company from taking my domain name?

#9
post #6

idk / imho ... in case: be open selling your domain? just as one possibility to avoid lengthy legal disputes / costly interactions with lawyers!? you mentioned above, you are "from a poor country" ... several k or even some 2 digit k of us$ / euro - depending on the actual name - might be a decent pain-compensation for "loosing" your domain and carry you further in your country than a stupid personal domain with nice…

Do not do what this poster advises.

Offering to sell the domain will probably count as evidence that you've registered it in bad faith rather, and make it easier for a trademark owner to win a dispute.

Re: Ask HN: How to prevent a company from taking my domain name?

#10
> I already know of two companies in different countries which have the very same name as I occasionally receive emails written to them on my catch-all email address

If they ever decide to do business in your country, expect them to want their name. They will probably take you and your registrar to court, but in the end, they will have to pay you for the name.

Domains don't cost a lot, but I would just take what they offer you, don't try to fleece them because you got there first.

I would look at another domain name as a fallback should any of this happen, but just keep in mind that it's a possibility.

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