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Advice on websites that were rebuilt by someone else after being dropped

Discussion in 'General Board' started by martin-s, Oct 7, 2016.

  1. martin-s United Kingdom

    martin-s Well-Known Member

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    We recently elected to drop a domain and have just realised that Steven Rice (a member on here, anyone know?) picked it up.

    Steven has rebuilt the website with our copyrighted design and content, including references to our limited company name in the footer.

    Because the site continues to mention our company name, and operates in our industry, we have sent an abuse request to the host and registrar (eNom), asking that they take the site down.

    Unfortunately Steven is using a protected whois, and we aren't able to contact him directly.

    Does anyone have any recommendations for additional actions we should be taking?

    Thanks
     
  2. Domain Forum

    Acorn Domains Elite Member

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    IWA Meetup
     
  3. ian

    ian Well-Known Member

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    Quite common when domains are picked up for seo value with existing traffic. Not something I do.

    I guess you could contact Nominet, but they'll send you down the DRS route.

    Sadly always worth holding on to domains that have prior links to existing businesses. :(

    Hope you get it sorted.
     
  4. aZooZa

    aZooZa Well-Known Member

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  5. gimpydog United Kingdom

    gimpydog Active Member

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  6. keys United Kingdom

    keys Well-Known Member

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    This issue arose because you (unwisely) elected to drop a domain. There is a good chance that retrevial of the domain will resolve the matter. On that basis DRS looks like the best route.

    From your explanation, you should have a clear and strong case for a DRS complaint. The process is intended to offer a straightforward alternative to litigation, with much lower and defined costs.

    After carefully reading DRS policy you may feel confident to prepare a complaint yourself. Alternatively, you could instruct your lawyer.

    In your best outcome the Respondent would not reply, and a summary decision would return the domain to you for a payment of £200 +VAT.
     
  7. woopwoop United States

    woopwoop Well-Known Member

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    He can drop the name if he wants and can expect the name to be reused without his old content being reused. He shouldn't expect people will steal his content.

    He also shouldn't have to DRS or pay for legal advice.

    Usually if you get in touch with people who do this they remove it, but I'd also think if they are really harming you? Just because of the hassle it may take to get it removed if they don't do as you ask.

    If you are using the same content now on another site and they're stealing the G juice then it's potentially harming you.

    Good luck and you can PM them here if you know their username, you could reach out to Nominet, their registrar and host, and maybe even Google if they are running adsense. Anything to rock the boat until you get a response.
     
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  8. keys United Kingdom

    keys Well-Known Member

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    Perhaps the stolen content, hidden identity and motive for registering the domain have an innocent explanation - it seems unlikely.

    Apart from time and effort to prepare the claim, DRS could provide a free resolution, if the new registrant will cooperate.
     
  9. martin-s United Kingdom

    martin-s Well-Known Member

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    Thanks for the suggesting, but I think it's unlikely. I suspect it's a Brit we're looking for - and we may have found him thanks to someone else on here. We'll see what happens.

    To be honest, the domain is total rubbish (why we dropped it), leaving only the SEO value which is minimal - just 18 referring domains. And from what I can tell, even that meagre value isn't being used.

    There's no content to speak of either, just a few hundred words of dross. I don't care if they keep the content and the links to be honest - I just want our company name removed!
     
  10. aZooZa

    aZooZa Well-Known Member

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    'Passing off' as I suggested previously. I'd be livid.
     
  11. martin-s United Kingdom

    martin-s Well-Known Member

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    Quick update: the web hosting company have suspended the website :)