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

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

#61
post #55

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Regarding tip number 1, how can one find an enterprise-class domain name registry? Any advice?

Most enterprise class registrars (registry =/= registrar) are brand protection and brand monitoring services. Quite expensive for individuals and probably not in the price range of OP, according to the description of his circumstances. I've used name.com, namecheap.com, sav.com and porkbun.com as registrars without difficulty, although one will always find anecdotal reports of problems other users have had with any s…

How about Cloudflare Registrar?

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

#62
post #22

You have a legitimate use case and are using it in good faith. I can't imagine any scenario where someone would have any success in taking it away from you against your will unless you made a mistake in letting the registration lapse or something. Make sure you've got auto renewal set up, with a reputable registrar.

Thank you! Yes, auto-renewal is on. It's not an option, that it will expire.

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

#63

The stories I hear are when the domain name owners ask how much, and then reject the amount. Do not enterain any offers. If they reach out, it is best to completly ignore and do not respond. Failing that, tell them it is your name, and your name is not for sale at any price. If they ever try to take you to court, point the judge to nissan.com which is owned by someone with the name Nissan, and even the large car manu…

Thank you! No, I wouldn't be considering an offer at all.

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

#64

Look into the trademarks for the same name. (for example here: https://branddb.wipo.int/en/quicksearch ) You can't use the domain name for the same activity (the same Nice class https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_(Nice)_Classific... ) as the company with the same name that has a trademark for the same activity class. If you follow this rule no company will be able to contest your domain name.

There are a couple with that name. Then what can I do? Register a company for what I might be doing in the future?

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

#65
post #19

I would like to ask the inverse of this question; a company is squatting the domain that is the same as mylastname.com. They just redirect to their main site when you visit this address. How can I get a hold of this domain?

Buy it from them or wait until expiry, no other option unless you have a trademark from before the domain was registered.

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

#67
post #49

Domain investor here. Some, but not all of the advice here is absolutely dreadful and is an example of why you should not take advice from random strangers on the internet. Some basic rules if you wish to keep the domain: * Don't offer to sell the domain. If you are contacted by a prospective buyer, just decline, saying that the domain is not for sale. Don't counter-offer or enter into discussions or negotiations. *…

Tell me more about Godaddy, please. Why shouldn’t we use them?

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

#68
post #29

The domain is yours for now and that cannot be changed easily. By far the most likely outcome is that a company that is interested in your domain will offer to buy it from you for a nice sum. You are free to reject their offer. They may decide to sue you but you have a good standing because it is your last name. Relax.

This. Look into the backstory and history on nissan.com

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

#69
post #67
post #49

Domain investor here. Some, but not all of the advice here is absolutely dreadful and is an example of why you should not take advice from random strangers on the internet. Some basic rules if you wish to keep the domain: * Don't offer to sell the domain. If you are contacted by a prospective buyer, just decline, saying that the domain is not for sale. Don't counter-offer or enter into discussions or negotiations. *…

Tell me more about Godaddy, please. Why shouldn’t we use them?

Because they are shady. I wouldn't put it past them to somehow claim they didn't receive renewal payment for the domain then take over ownership of the domain and then charge/sell it for an absurd amount of money.
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