11–20 of 54 posts
As an Australian all I want to say is... just use the .com address. Call the company 'groupon.com' Advertise the .com. It will work!
For example, when you go to www.apple.com.au it redirects you to www.apple.com/au and no one thinks anything of it.
So this is either silly, or it is about more than the domain name, and more about the trademark in use locally.
As an Australian all I want to say is... just use the .com address. Call the company 'groupon.com' Advertise the .com. It will work!
Note to self: If I ever start a company that secures significant VC funding, immediately buy domains related to my company in all major markets and begin securing trademarks as well.
It's not always as simple as registering a domain name on GoDaddy or a local registrar though. To register a .com.au domain name, you're required to have an Australian Business Number (i.e. incorporate locally). It's easy to get one, but how many other international domain names do you want to register that require extra work?
Note to self: If I ever start a company that secures significant VC funding, immediately buy domains related to my company in all major markets and begin securing trademarks as well.
It's not always as simple as registering a domain name on GoDaddy or a local registrar though. To register a .com.au domain name, you're required to have an Australian Business Number (i.e. incorporate locally). It's easy to get one, but how many other international domain names do you want to register that require extra work?
I wonder why they think a local domain is necessary for their business (and is it really). For example, Facebook doesn't use local domains - it uses .com for everything.
As an Australian all I want to say is... just use the .com address. Call the company 'groupon.com' Advertise the .com. It will work!
You can even have groupon.com/australia/... For example, when you go to www.apple.com.au it redirects you to www.apple.com/au and no one thinks anything of it. So this is either silly, or it is about more than the domain name, and more about the trademark in use locally.
Another competitor, and one I've been even more impressed by, is ourdeal.com.au. You've definitely got some competition here. Good luck!
Note to self: If I ever start a company that secures significant VC funding, immediately buy domains related to my company in all major markets and begin securing trademarks as well.
It's not always as simple as registering a domain name on GoDaddy or a local registrar though. To register a .com.au domain name, you're required to have an Australian Business Number (i.e. incorporate locally). It's easy to get one, but how many other international domain names do you want to register that require extra work?
Honestly, if you've just raised millions in VC it is a giant waste of your time to navigate the ins and outs of regional corporate law. Pay a law firm, and get back to building your product.
Domain squatters may not be OK, but identical business models are just another legitimate challenge (business models can't be patented). They need boots on the ground and it may not be possible for Groupon to physically get there before the competition. Either way, it's good for the end user, who will go from zero to several choices practically over night. It also prevents Groupon from becoming a monopoly.
Scoopons behaviour is pretty low IMHO. Registering not only the domain name groupon.com.au but also the company name and the trademark?