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What can you do if your domain is transferred without your permission?

Unlocked domain transferred away without knowledge

         

stinky

8:27 am on Aug 18, 2005 (gmt 0)

10+ Year Member



What can you do if your unlocked domain is transferred without your knowledge or express approval?

Is not locking a domain the same as granting the world permission to take it?

If locking is a good idea why isn't it automatic?

Anyone know of reports of legal action taken to get domains that were transferred without the owners intending the transfer? Was it lawsuits, letters threatening action or phone calls by lawyers? What worked? How did it work?

What can I do to get my domain back?

[edited by: Webwork at 11:34 am (utc) on Aug. 18, 2005]
[edit reason] Forum Charter limits seeking or giving specific legal advice [/edit]

goodroi

1:51 pm on Aug 18, 2005 (gmt 0)

WebmasterWorld Administrator 10+ Year Member Top Contributors Of The Month



Try transferring it back and contact the new registrar. Probably the person who stole the domain is smart and not worried about legal problems. Very few people are able to recover their domains.

You should lock all domains. The better registrars make this automatic.

Webwork

2:07 pm on Aug 18, 2005 (gmt 0)

WebmasterWorld Administrator 10+ Year Member Top Contributors Of The Month



Very few people are able to recover their domains.

Whilst I appreciate your input I'm a bit surprised by this statement as that's not my impression. What's the basis of the statement? Is there a link you can provide a link to an article, industry report or study that backing up the statement? Even other domain forums (heaven forbid!) consistently report happy endings to heists of significant domains.

Most of the domain heists I'm aware of resulted in the return of the domain, though some effort, time and money (legal fees, international phone calls, etc.) were often the price of justice.

goodroi

11:29 pm on Aug 18, 2005 (gmt 0)

WebmasterWorld Administrator 10+ Year Member Top Contributors Of The Month



happy endings to heists of significant domains
Yes, but most domains that are hijacked are not highly visible.

I've seen some large hijacking rings operate. When a domain is hijacked there is a group of domain owners that have no idea how to get it back so they don't even fight. Then there others that try to fight but give up when they don't want to pay the legal fees and spend the time to get it back. You don't hear about this because no one brags about getting a domain taken and not being able to get it back. If you are hanging out at a domain forum you are more likely to hear the success stories because those forums are filled with people who understand the value of a domain and are willing to spend the resources to get them back.

davezan

2:26 am on Aug 19, 2005 (gmt 0)

10+ Year Member



What can you do if your unlocked domain is transferred without your knowledge or express approval?

If the name's that dear to you, contact the last registrar and bug them to somehow
get it back for you. They'll at least try.

Is not locking a domain the same as granting the world permission to take it?

There are some people out there who don't even know the word "please".

If locking is a good idea why isn't it automatic?

Some registrars do automatically lock domains after registering or transferring a name
to them. And there are ongoing discussions to make this mandatory for everyone.

Anyone know of reports of legal action taken to get domains that were transferred without the owners intending the transfer? Was it lawsuits, letters threatening action or phone calls by lawyers? What worked? How did it work?

One simple word: persistence.

What can I do to get my domain back?

2 words: take action!