Is it a compliment?

When someone takes your .net/.org/.info

[fischermx]

A recently launched a website in a new domain.
Even though, I have registered .net or .org versions of good known domain names, I didn't think anybody would want to take the other versions of this particular domain.
To my surprise, I see these domains were taken some weeks ago.
My site was just launched like 3 months ago, but is getting good traffic.
Since I care a damn, should I take it as a compliment?

[davezan]

The 1st question is how those other extensions are being used.

The next question is how you feel towards how they're being used. ;)

[fischermx]

Well, since they are not using for nothing bad but merely parking them to get some PPC pennies, I don't feel bad about it.
When I realized that I laughed, now I don't, but still I feel strange, as I told, sort of compliment, but it does not completely like it, either.

[edited by: fischermx at 10:37 pm (utc) on Oct. 6, 2005]

[stapel]

fischermx said:

Is it a compliment when someone takes your .net/.org/.info

It should be noted that they aren't "your" names until you've actually paid for them. But I know what you mean.

Without knowing the specifics, it's hard to say if the choice is a "compliment" or merely a coincidence. For instance, I was helping a client get a domain name for the client's homeowners' association. Turns out, there's another association in another state with the same name. We didn't "steal" "their" hoaname.org domain; it's just that they'd already taken hoaname.com, so the *.org was the closest they could get to what they wanted.

As long as you're the one getting the traffic, and since you've got the *.com, you should be fine. But don't be shy about checking into the other domains from time to time, to make sure they aren't pirating your content or anything. (No harm in being vigilant.)

Hope that helps a bit.

Eliz.