DCMA Takedown on expired Domain

[UpdatePains]

Does anyone know how DCMA takedowns will affect an expired domain? It seems the previous owner was plagiarising copyrighted work which led to the originator filing a DCMA takedown request.

I want to build a site on this domain but am worried that this will affect any efforts to rank with this site

[JorgeV]

Hello-

Developing a new site (or keeping up an existing one), is already hard and difficult nowaday, you might not want to add to this, the problematic history a the domain name. Just a thought.

[tangor]

Taking on a "tainted" domain name is a challenge, but time and perseverance can change things ... but will probably take a LOT LONGER than one hopes.

Search engines have notoriously long memories ... and if PENALIZED in the past might take quite some time to revive.

Good luck!

(Hint, start small!)

[Mark_A]

@UpdatePains there are so many things that have to be right in order for a new website / business to prosper, starting with an obvious disadvantage of unknown duration and strength just seems to me to be adding unnecessary risk to the enterprise.

[UpdatePains]

Thank you for your answers. I should probably also mention that not all of the URL's were served takedowns (only 4) and so it doesn't seem to be a sitewide removal. Indeed some URL's still still appear in the SERPS.

[Webwork]

If the domain is "exceptional for the purpose(s) intended" I'd worry less about the gyrations and machinations of search engine love and worry more about

a) the assumption that it's exceptional (the best, the top choice, the one) and, therefore, worth any added effort / cost / delay that may be required to polish off the previous tarnishing of the domain; and,

b) all the other stuff that goes with building any digital entity that will prove profitable ~worth the time, effort and money invested.

Some domains do a bit of the heavy-lifting all by themselves, in the clarity and memorability of the domain. That is, some domains message so well that you can save time and effort in branding. There are other benefits of securing particular domains. So, measure the trade-offs.

I've been operating in this world since Google's infancy. Search engine love is fickle and often fleeting. I've seen wave after wave of online businesses being decimated by changes in the SERPs. I've watched the SERPs slowly shrink the space allotted to organic results. AFAIC, "thinking outside the SERPs" remains critical to survival and success in the online business world, especially for the smaller players.