Options for obtaining .com domain name?

[rutteger]

Hopefully someone can advise on my best course of action. Looking to obtain a .com domain name and am undecided how best to proceed.

A little history might help inform and advice. Setup a site (say xyz123.co.uk) around '05 which has grown from a hobby into something more. The xyz123.com domain was registered when I setup and I had no particular plans for the site anyhow. Did try and contact the .com owner about 18 months later but without luck and the name subsequently dropped. I was in the auction but got outbid by a Far Eastern company.
Fast forward to late '09. Would like to obtain the .com name which is currently 'parked' by the owner. Assume people here have been in similar situations, how best to proceed?

-Contact owner directly.
-Go through a domain name broker.
-Attempt to obtain the name through legal means.

[bwnbwn]

Usually when it is parked you can find a buy this domain link on the page and use it to inquire on the domain name.

if not contacting the owner is your best bet.

I highly doubt trying to force a buy through legal means will get you very far and more than likely be a big expense for naught.

[rutteger]

Have submitted an offer through the 'buy domain name' link. Let's see how it goes.

The domain broker behind the link site seems to be owned by what would appear to be a fairly well known company. Here's hoping...