selling domain names

[leeschill]

What is the name of your state? FL

Just curious as to the procedure one goes through when selling domain names. I find it odd that mikerowesoft.com was offered x amount but when he said no i want this much, that it resulted in a lawsuit or some would say "domain name squatting".

I have several domains for sales and would like to make money off of them obviously but do not need a lawsuit saying I'm "squatting"...any advice on how to sell the name correctly??

 

[divgradcurl]

"I find it odd that mikerowesoft.com was offered x amount but when he said no i want this much, that it resulted in a lawsuit or some would say "domain name squatting"."

When somebody uses another's trademark (or something "confusingly similar" to another's trademark) to make money, that is trademark infringement. In this case, because the "sound" of "MikeRoweSoft" was the same as another's trademark, when he offered the website for sale he was intending to make money BASED ON the similarity to the registered trademark. The stupid thing with the ICANN rules, however, is that in this case, MS initiated the sale discussion, yet was STILL able to proceed with a cybersquatting actio in ICANN. When MS initiated the talks, they should have lost the opportunity to sue for cybersquatting -- unfortunately, the rules aren't written that way!

"I have several domains for sales and would like to make money off of them obviously but do not need a lawsuit saying I'm "squatting"...any advice on how to sell the name correctly??"

Make sure that your domains are not the same as or "confusingly similar" to any registered trademarks. That won't protect you from people with unregistered trademarks, but it's a start. Basically, if one of your domain names is the same as or confusingly similar to a registered trademark and you are offering the site for sale, ICANN will side with the trademark holder, and you'll lose.

If you were using the domain names for a bonafide business and not attempting to use the domain name in a way that is otherwise prohibited by trademark regulations, then you would be okay. But when you are selling the domain name itself, that opens you up considerably.