Hoping to acquire new domain names

I'd like your thoughts

[kaled]

I hope to shortly acquire the domain name hotwidget.org (not literally). It has already expired and is in the redemption period for a couple more weeks.

The domain names hotwidget.com and hotwidget.net are registered (with different companies) but are unused.

If I succeed in acquiring hotwidget.org and immediately release a computer program called hotwidget, what is the likelihood of my being able to acquire the .net and .com domains by requesting them from ICANN?

Kaled.

[stajer]

Zero. just because you release a product whose name matches a domain name does NOT give you ANY rights to a domain you do not own.

You must acquire a trademark in the name either by use or registration and even then you can only take a domain from another person if they are using their domain in bad faith (capitalizing off your trademark). Difficult to prove considering they owned the domains before you even created your product.

[kaled]

That's pretty much what I thought! The actual domain name is such that it would take a considerable period of time to acquire a defacto trademark - a straightforward registration of the name would probably be refused since it is not suffiently unique. I have a graphic trademark already designed but that's not really any use for this purpose.

Next Question
I've enquired about purchasing both domains (but only got one reply). The .com domain was offered to me for $2,500. If I succeed in registering the .org domain is that likely to push the price up or down?

Kaled.

[stajer]

Interesting q - probably has more to do with the psychology of the domain owner than anything.

Personally, I routinely get people contacting me who have registered "www.variationofmydomainname.com" and say "how can you run your business without this domain" and contain vague threats they will open a website at that domain and take business from me. I ignore them all.

Someone who sees you are hot for that domain may raise the price on you. I would say use a domain registration privacy service so he doesn't try to jack up the rates.

[jtara]

I've enquired about purchasing both domains (but only got one reply). The .com domain was offered to me for $2,500. If I succeed in registering the .org domain is that likely to push the price up or down?

Just buy the .com before they change their mind and be done with it.

[topr8]

ditto jtara thoughts,

quite frankly, the dot com is what matters here, just negotiate down a little if you can and pay for it, end of story.

if you can then get the org and net then that's a bonus, but not essential.

[sandyeggo]

$2500 is peanuts compared to what you will spend in legal fees. Buy it if its that important to you.

[melaniewiehe]

You must apply to buy any or all of these domain names individually.

[TinkyWinky]

ofered for $2500

Sonds good - you can bet they wil probably take about $1500 - $1750.

If you're serious go for it... the longer you wait the more you will spend on .com's.

[wmuser]

$2500 is reasonable price,try to get it for $1500 as no chance to tardemard .org and then get .com and .net thru ICANN

[Tiebreaker]

>>> Sounds good - you can bet they wil probably take about $1500 - $1750.

I just approached someone who had a domain advertised at a minimum price of $1500 - I bought it for $400 - but I would happily have paid the full price if necessary :-)

[Lobo]

I've just worked out what 'tardemard' means :-)