Domain Hijacked

Posted By: underdogseo ()
Posted On: 2005-Mar-17 09:23

Greetings.

Anyone know the proper procedure for having a domain name repo'd?

Our domain is underdog-seo.com

Look who has registered underdogseo.com to try and destroy our business.

Is this how a professional SEO company should act?




Posted By: Sinoed ()
Posted On: 2005-Mar-17 15:22

Unless you have the name trademarked or there is a strong possibility that visitors might confuse your company with the other one you can have a tough time trying to 'get' a domain. Since this is an obvious attempt to defame your products and services you probably have a good case to have the content removed on those grounds. Not only is your original site copywritten but the content, graphics & design are too. You can't just arbitrarily copy someone else's stuff without consequences. My advice would be to download the entire site and make a few copies. If you just want it 'taken down' send them a polite but firm cease and desist stating copyright infringement. If they fail to respond or remove the content take your case & your proof (the copies you've made of the offending site) to a lawyer who will be happy to help. If you want to 'get' the domain name they've registered you're going to have a far more difficult time. My initial thoughts are that unless the name itself is trademarked I don't think you'll have much to go on. However, I don't know that much about domain name disputes - I would find a qualified specialist in this area to help.


Posted By: bhartzer (Staff)
Posted On: 2005-Mar-17 17:15

I would send out a cease and desist letter right away to him demanding that he remove the content and turn the domain name over to you--that other person is probably trying to hurt your business deliberately. I'm sure the lawyers would have a field day with it.

I would also file a DMCA complaint--that might get the web host to remove the offending material off of their servers. Your site is obviously copyighted by you and the web host where the other site is located would have to comply with the DMCA complaint/request to remove it.


Posted By: underdogseo ()
Posted On: 2005-Mar-17 20:22

He has pulled the site. Not transferred the domain to us, but at least the slander is gone.