Website Ghosting and Legality Issues

Website Content Theft and Misinformation

[BlackStoneMountain]

I have recently taken over the development of a website for a not-for-profit organization. It has come to my attention that a previous member of this group that had hosted a website for them under a .org url. The group authorized him to purchase the url under their name abd had provide monetary reimbursment for his expenses. Recently they informed him that he was no longer authorized by them to manage any website for the distribution of information relating to their organization. After they had informed him to discontinue to website, he maintained the website and posted false information about their organization. He still is maintaining the url, but has removed all content except for the odd bit a information that I post to a new url. Can anyone provide any legal knowledge or thought on how to remove this thorn from my side.

[paybacksa]

I was in this spot just a few months ago (non profit, domain in personal name of ex-employee, unfriendly separation, etc). It involved about 10 domain names.

I very strongly advise the group to make an offer THROUGH A FRIENDLY LETTER FROM AN ATTORNEY (minimal cost, really) to pay hir $500 to transfer the domain to them properly, promptly, and completely, with the full burden of acomplishment on hir. Open an account on Moniker or whatever, prepay for some credits, give hir the password, and agree that s/he will deliver it by x/x/2004 free and clear. Let the registrar know what you are doing and they will work with hir, and then with you to re-secure the domain.

Through any number of means (from intentional by hir to accidental by your staff or your lawyer's staff) the costs of pursuing this will add up very very quickly, and $500 should be sufficient carrot to get hir to do what s/he knows s/he does well (and probably feels your group doesn't do well - after all, look at the spot you're in).

S/he already knows s/he will have to fight eventually and will eventually have to give it back; s/he knows s/he is costing you aggravation and money during this transition period; s/he probably likes money; s/he will probably enjoy the fact that your group had to ask hir nicely to do it for them (and pay hir).

There are other reasons why this is a good idea as well, that may come ito play if s/he declines, but which are probably best not displayed here. Note that IANAL.