Big company wants domain

[dwalls32]

So I bought a domain name about 2 months ago. I was going to try to build some traffic for adsense etc. I actually bought about 20.

I was recently contacted by a large corporation who wants to buy my website. Apparently there is 1 letter difference between mine and a new one they want to roll out.

It's not a trademark term. Let's call it Example.tld They own Examples.tld

The initial offers (there have been 2) have all been under $500. Should I sell? Should I hold out?

My initial thoughts are when they've rolled out I could benefit from the mistaken traffic, or sell to a competitor for more money.

Thanks in advance

[edited by: Webwork at 10:30 pm (utc) on Jan. 22, 2009]
[edit reason] Example.com is our favorite example, except sometimes it's Example.tld ;) [/edit]

[Webwork]

Hi dwalls. Sorry for the edit removing your example domain. We try to stick to Example.com since it can never be owned by anyone. Pretty bright idea. ;)

You may run into trouble when you make an effort to "benefit from the mistaken traffic", especially if you do anything to pretend "you is them or them's friend". :p (See "trading off", etc.) I can't say it will be a clear cut issue but . . .

Selling it to a competitor for more money? Eh . . . might not work as the competitor might find itself being challenged in court. Again, these issues tend to be very fact sensitive - which is why we largely avoid trademark issues. (See Charter)

Be careful that you are not setting yourself up for trouble down the road by what you write in your emails or what you say on the phone. There's that saying "anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law".

So, unfortunately, without getting into specifics - which we won't - it's hard to advise. My "wild guess" is that IF this is a bona fide "big company" that you are dealing with (not some pretender) you will likely get a better offer if for no other reason than expediency (buy vs. not control all the "close calls" vs. litigate later IFF . . . )

I would not bank on your "other strategies", especially if you have already said or written "too much".

Oh, yeah, and let's not forget that advice in the Charter that the timing of posts like this can sometimes provide trademark lawyers with clues . . that lead to stuff that can be used against you. (READ THE CHARTER. Link at upper left of Domain Forum.)