Feds want my domain

F

flaw3d

Doing PPC
Feb 25, 2011
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So I picked up a sweet expired domain name that included the name of a government program. This was back in July and I slapped some pages on there and had it ranking in no time.

Now on friday, I got a email from the feds "Department of Treasury" stating that I am doing copyright infringement + cybersquatting. I admit I am doing the first and not the second.

My question - is there anyway to have them "proof" up to make sure this really is a legit email? They told me to transfer it over but I have yet to comply.
 


The federales have to go through the same UDRP the rest of us do. If their claim is valid your registrar basically kicks it back to them after they win.
 
If it's not a court order and isn't written by a lawyer I wouldn't give a fuck. They're just playing off the "we're the government and we're big and scary" angle.

I would set about making sure there was legitimate content on there(non-monetized if necessary) to help get rid of the squatting complaint. If you really need the revenue, drop a retargetting pixel and hit them later.
 
craigmc said:
Pardon my ignorance but what is a retargeting pixel?
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It's a 1x1 pixel image that you put on a page. It drops a cookie that identifies the user. What's really important is the service behind the pixel. Places like SiteScout will let you generate the pixel/put it on your page, then bid on those users.

An example: If you order a pizza from Papa John's online, it will drop a retargetting pixel. Before the banner ad companies decide on which ad to show you, they check to see if they have anyone bidding on that user for retargetting. If there is someone(like Papa Johns) it will let them bid for you specifically. So in the end, you end up seeing nothing but Papa John's ads(or close to it) no matter where you go. Good retargetting will work with multiple media buy networks/ad networks for good coverage.

It's a good way to monetize traffic after the fact once you know something about them. I'm not sure what your expected return is per user, but if it's high enough it could be worthwhile. If it's not...oh well.
 
xmcp123 relax, and just wait if you get UDRP. and EVEN if you do, still you can win.
i dont want to speak here much but sometimes even 1 letter thats before the brand makes a difference in whole UDRP. i had some ;))))
mainly fuck it and just wait if u get UDRP or not. and unlikely somebody sys to transer anythign without lawyer company singatures scans and shit.

and mainly.. do not reply them till u get UDRP.
 
I would deny both allegations, and come to a monetary settlement. Why not sell the url to them and provide them with services. Make more money. A government deal can be a fat payday if you play your cards right. Good luck.
 
Thanks JCash and xmcp123 for the help. I admit I was laughed when I first saw it but it does seem legit. I will hold on to my domain intill URDP takes it from me.

Anyway to know how long URDP is exactly?
 
Sell that bastard to some indian or something who doesn't know! :)
 
flaw3d said:
Anyway to know how long URDP is exactly?
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Less than 3 months. The executive branch probably gets to file directly with WIPO as they're officially members, so probably much faster if they have a legit claim and it wasn't just somebody in the administration registering nochildleftbehind.com or something and 301'ing it to a page on whitehouse.gov.
 
flaw3d said:
My question - is there anyway to have them "proof" up to make sure this really is a legit email?
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Sure: ask them. If they're indeed legitimate, their email should provide name and
contact details to get in touch with.

AustinP said:
Go through the URDP. You got nothing to loose.
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Except the domain name and original registration fee, of course. If someone then
files another UDRP for one of your other domain names, finds a decision against
you, and you don't respond, then you have a chance of losing that other UDRP
and so on and so forth.

There are no monetary damages in UDRP, though.
 
I'd make sure I wasn't being bluffed by someone trying to look like the feds, but if it's really them, that's not a fight I'd be willing to partake in. I've been threatened for domains before and laughed it off, but not from the feds.
 
Sounds like you can pretty much disregard any messages and just wait for the registrar to get involved, eh?
 
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