People are squatting on misspellings of my website

What can I do to get them to give up the domains and transfer them to me?

[matimer]

What options do i have to get these domains back, they both are just pop up pages. <snip>

<edit>My domain would be Example.com. They have registered Examp*e.com and Examp#e.com.</edit>

Is there a generic letter out there that looks like it's coming from a lawyer threating to sue if they don't transfer over the domains? or do i have to take them through the ICANN process (if so roughly how much does that cost).

At this stage of my site I'd like to have them under my possession before my site gets any bigger.

Thanks,

Matimer

[edited by: Webwork at 1:10 am (utc) on Aug. 26, 2005]
[edit reason] Per Charter please avoid refering to specific domain names. Use Example.com [/edit]

[Webwork]

Try the following:

1. Ask them how much money they are making from the typo traffic of your website's URL. This may knock them off balance a bit: "Is he asking because he plans to sue us or is he asking because he wants to know what they're worth to us? Hmmmmm." (You needn't answer upfront. Just tell them that you represent the real site and you would like to know. They might tell you to "go to heck", but then again, they might not. You already know that they're leeches so my expectations would be low. That said, they're in it for the money so they would like accept a multiple of whatever they're earning. Tell them you are prepared to pay a small multiple of their proven earnings. Just like someone would demand - and pay - the the "traffic domains" were offered for sale.)

2. You could file a WIPO complaint. Just a bit expensive, ya know?

3. Get a real lawyer. No fakes. It makes you look bad and might motivate them further to harden their position - thinking they've got you over the barrel since you can't afford a lawyer to even write your letters.

4. Just ignore the traffic leeches. They will suck a little blood but that's life in the jungle. They will only keep the domains if the PPC revenue is enough to cover the registration fees + a little profit.

[Import Export]

Learn from the experience and make sure you better protect your future ventures before they grow :o)

[Import Export]

Maybe above sounded harsh, sry..

- A similar situation once happened to me. I purchased every variation of my main domain name to prevent anyone else from buying misspellings and 1-off's. Well, apparently there was that one I looked passed that I should have protected. As soon as the company/website/product-names started showing up on kw tracking for decent search volume, that name popped up.

Bottom line, you live and you learn..

ps: If you think you can get it, by all means..

[Chris_R]

"I purchased every variation of my main domain name"

That would be impressive. You can't possibly buy EVERY variation - unless you have a very short domain name :)

While it is common to buy several variations of your domain for protection - it is impossible to take care of every possibility.

[Import Export]

I *thought* I had purchased every variation. -And, actually I had, as the squatter purchased a 2-off. The name was a new name, a brand that was a new creation. aka, we created the term. Therefor, we were able to purchase the variations. So, yes, it is entirely possible to purchase every variation of a domain when you create a new word or brand name that has nothing to do with anything. :o)