Friday August
20th, 2004
Amazon.com buys Joyo.com for $72 million
Amazon.com has bought Joyo.com for $72 million. Joyo is China's largest online retailer of books, music and videos.
This will be Amazon's seventh addition to their worldwide network. Amazon anticipates serving more than 80 million consumers in China through Joyo.
Joyo is barely four years old and only went online in 2000. Amazon was trying to buy their competitor "DangDang.com" over the past six months, but DangDang rejected offers up to $1 Billion.
Associated Press coverage
Reuters coverage
(since this sale includes Joyo's assets, it does not go onto the highest domain sales list)
This will be Amazon's seventh addition to their worldwide network. Amazon anticipates serving more than 80 million consumers in China through Joyo.
Joyo is barely four years old and only went online in 2000. Amazon was trying to buy their competitor "DangDang.com" over the past six months, but DangDang rejected offers up to $1 Billion.
Associated Press coverage
Reuters coverage
(since this sale includes Joyo's assets, it does not go onto the highest domain sales list)
comments?
Thursday August
19th, 2004
(In)famous names in the domain business
If you reprint this article elsewhere, in whole or in part, you are required to:
1. inform us of your reprint (email or use comment form below)
2. link back to this original article, at the *beginning* of the reprint
3. clearly mention "Domain Food" as the source at the *beginning* of the reprint
Please respect many hours of research, thank you.
1. inform us of your reprint (email or use comment form below)
2. link back to this original article, at the *beginning* of the reprint
3. clearly mention "Domain Food" as the source at the *beginning* of the reprint
Please respect many hours of research, thank you.
Rick Schwartz owned 3000+ domains back in 2000, in a February 2004 interview claims to own between 4300 and 4500 domains, experiencing 100,000 hits per day. Famous for selling MEN.COM for $1.3 million in late 2003 and currently trying to market CANDY.COMRick Schwartz: Domain King or Royal Pain? (Domain Name Journal)
The King of Domains (South Florida Business Journal)
Saeid Yomtobian - owned 78,472 domains when he threatened to sue VeriSign in July 2001! (aka Daniel Yomtobian or possibly his son, he also is responsible for Xupiter and their toolbar nonsense overriding links on a page - more info older info)
John Zuccarini - owns at least 5500 (possibly 8000) domains, solely based on the fact they are typos for more commonly used sites (was arrested late 2003 and prosecuted - more info)
Court/WIPO cases Zuccarini has lost
Dan Parisi - owns (and currently trying to sell) the www.whitehouse.com as well as the 600+ domains of the sucks.com network of domains, and famous for losing the madonna.com WIPO dispute (more info)
Tuesday August
17th, 2004
Yahoo gets aggressive on domain name sales
For years Yahoo has offered domain names at an old legacy price of $35. This was a "retail" price perpetuated from a level set by VeriSign/Network Solutions back when there was no competition from other registrars. Yahoo simply relied on their massive consumer based to keep a trickle of sales going, even though for the past few years there have been plenty of compeitors offering the same service at less than a fourth of the cost.
Back in June, for the first time ever, Yahoo tried a promotional price around $15, a whopping $20 discount. This discount must have really shown them some encouraging results, as now they have dropped their price to an even more aggressive $9.95.
Back in June, for the first time ever, Yahoo tried a promotional price around $15, a whopping $20 discount. This discount must have really shown them some encouraging results, as now they have dropped their price to an even more aggressive $9.95.
Monday August
16th, 2004
VeriSign fights some more for SiteFinder
In a predictable demonstration of not knowing when to quit, VeriSign has printed a 95 page diatribe in response to ICANN's SSAC (Security and Stability Advisory Committee) report against SiteFinder. The SSAC had determined in early July that SiteFinder should remain offline indefinitely.
In their response, VeriSign dissects the technical determination that SiteFinder was causing damage or harm to the net and attacks the scope of ICANN's authority, while dancing around the points of politics and bad taste, in that no educated end user or domain name professional could tolerate what VeriSign had done. There are weak arguments that SiteFinder was "innovation" but in reality it was just thinly veiled greed - fed by the power VeriSign holds over the .com and .net registries.
One good "reward" for all the trouble they caused might be VeriSign losing the .net registry in about a year. If they keep pushing for SiteFinder, they might discover just about everyone against them, with no technical arguments required.
In their response, VeriSign dissects the technical determination that SiteFinder was causing damage or harm to the net and attacks the scope of ICANN's authority, while dancing around the points of politics and bad taste, in that no educated end user or domain name professional could tolerate what VeriSign had done. There are weak arguments that SiteFinder was "innovation" but in reality it was just thinly veiled greed - fed by the power VeriSign holds over the .com and .net registries.
One good "reward" for all the trouble they caused might be VeriSign losing the .net registry in about a year. If they keep pushing for SiteFinder, they might discover just about everyone against them, with no technical arguments required.
Sunday August
15th, 2004
CD.com - the next big domain name sale?
After remaining dormant for the past several years, the domain name CD.com will be put up for sale next week, without any content. This would make it elgible for our "Highest Domain Sales of All Time" list, if it fetches the price the owners are anticipating.
Their auction is scheduled to start August 23th, 2004 and last for a week, with a starting bid requirement of $300,000 and a "buy it now price" of $2 million. Their press release indicates that the auction will be on Sedo.com, although the CD.com website states that pre-registration and a qualification to bid must be established beforehand.
Records show that previous owners included a company called "Central Data" and "Digi International" but CD.com has been parked since early 2000. A marketeer showed up on a leading domain name forum earlier this year and requested a speculative evaluation of the domain name. Feedback was very positive and price evaluation ran high as the domain has both an obvious value to any industry in the music business, as well as a secondary value to any company with the initials of "C. D."
Their auction is scheduled to start August 23th, 2004 and last for a week, with a starting bid requirement of $300,000 and a "buy it now price" of $2 million. Their press release indicates that the auction will be on Sedo.com, although the CD.com website states that pre-registration and a qualification to bid must be established beforehand.
Records show that previous owners included a company called "Central Data" and "Digi International" but CD.com has been parked since early 2000. A marketeer showed up on a leading domain name forum earlier this year and requested a speculative evaluation of the domain name. Feedback was very positive and price evaluation ran high as the domain has both an obvious value to any industry in the music business, as well as a secondary value to any company with the initials of "C. D."
Saturday August
14th, 2004
Ticketmaster wins control of 108 domain names
Talk about a bad idea. Back in 2003, Bill Hicks registered over 100 domain names with the word "ticketmaster" in them. Ticketmaster is not only a registered trademark in the USA, it's registered in almost 80 other countries. Well it finally caught up to him as WIPO handed them right over to Ticketmaster last month.
You have to wonder what was he thinking? Even at GoDaddy's best discounted rate, that's over $600 down the drain. These domains are definitely not typo material (perhaps "ticketmasters" but that's about it) so advertising revenue could not possibly make up for the cost.
Ticketmaster Corporation v. Bill Hicks
You have to wonder what was he thinking? Even at GoDaddy's best discounted rate, that's over $600 down the drain. These domains are definitely not typo material (perhaps "ticketmasters" but that's about it) so advertising revenue could not possibly make up for the cost.
Ticketmaster Corporation v. Bill Hicks
The arbitrator first found that the domain names are confusingly similar to the TICKETMASTER mark. Indeed, 107 of the 108 domain names incorporate the entirety of the TICKETMASTER mark. As prior WIPO arbitration panels have ruled, the fact that a domain name wholly incorporates a registered mark of another is sufficient to establish confusing similarity. The only other domain name, ticktmasters.com, also was found to be confusingly similar to the TICKETMASTER mark because intentional typographical errors, as a matter of law, do not render a domain name dissimilar to a trademark.
Friday August
13th, 2004
VisitFlorida.com sells for $186,000
Some new material for our "highest domain sales of all time" list!
http://sptimes.com/2004/08/10/news_pf/Business/Florida_tourism_agenc.shtml
http://sptimes.com/2004/08/10/news_pf/Business/Florida_tourism_agenc.shtml
Visit Florida Inc., the state government's nonprofit tourist marketing agency, has finally secured the online address that bears its name.
The price for visitflorida.com was $186,000.
Agency officials would describe the seller only as a New Jersey entrepreneur who had been using the domain name as a drawing card for links to other sites maintained by companies that sell Florida travel.
The agency made several overtures over the years, but didn't have much choice but to pay. That's because the domain name was in use when state tourist marketers decided to name their agency Visit Florida seven years ago.
The price for visitflorida.com was $186,000.
Agency officials would describe the seller only as a New Jersey entrepreneur who had been using the domain name as a drawing card for links to other sites maintained by companies that sell Florida travel.
The agency made several overtures over the years, but didn't have much choice but to pay. That's because the domain name was in use when state tourist marketers decided to name their agency Visit Florida seven years ago.
Google likely to lose Gmail trademark
With the hundreds of gmail domain variations that have been registered, this should be some interesting news:
http://www.internetnews.com/bus-news/print.php/3394361
http://www.internetnews.com/bus-news/print.php/3394361
"The application process is first come, first served," said Sharon Marsh, a USPTO administrator. "Applications are processed as they're received, and the person second in line will get a refusal of registration from our examiner."
Google is fourth in line. First is Cencourse, a Miami, Fla., company that provides multimedia services, with an application filed March 31,2004, the same day Google's news broke. Next up is Precision Research, a Santa Barbara, Calif., company that consults on the design of high-tech equipment, with an application dated April 2. Following them is the British firm Independent International Investment Research (IIIR), formerly known as The Market Age, which operates Pronet Analytics, a stock research service; IIIR applied on April 3. Google didn't file its application until April 7
Google is fourth in line. First is Cencourse, a Miami, Fla., company that provides multimedia services, with an application filed March 31,2004, the same day Google's news broke. Next up is Precision Research, a Santa Barbara, Calif., company that consults on the design of high-tech equipment, with an application dated April 2. Following them is the British firm Independent International Investment Research (IIIR), formerly known as The Market Age, which operates Pronet Analytics, a stock research service; IIIR applied on April 3. Google didn't file its application until April 7
Wednesday August
11th, 2004
eBay domain sales July 25th - Aug 7th, 2004
We now feature a "recent domain sales page" at http://domainfood.com/sales/
which tracks some of the domain name marketplaces around the industry.
Here is this week's eBay update for our collection:
top eBay domain sales $200 or above
July 25th - August 7th, 2004
about 2317 items listed, only about 24 items sold for $200 or more
(note: only verified as eBay posted sale, not for actual transfer)
JFK-EDWARDS.com $5,000 7/30
BushCheney.com $5,000 8/1
usabreakingnews.com $5,000 8/4
(.org collection) $3,267 8/3
DirtyRentals.com $2,960 7/31
VinylRecords.com $3,150 8/7
(Vote collection) $3,000 8/1
6U.net $2,500 8/3
ZUW.com+.net+.org $1,990 8/3
ILY.net $1,500 8/3
KQF.com $1,500 8/3
UCZ.com $1,500 8/3
E-W.com $1,500 8/3
(.de collection) $1,000 8/7
sexybills.nl $999 7/27
(3 letter .com) $921 8/3
USA-Immigration-Service.com $900 8/3
(stocks collection) $510 8/3
ownerfinance.com 7/30
1NK.com $500 8/3
SellAnyHome.com $250 7/31
EXE.us $242 8/1
BigBrother6.com $220 7/27
(collection) $201 8/3
aaroneckhart.com $200 8/5
previous lists:
February 15th, 2004 - February 28th, 2004
January 31th, 2004 - February 14th, 2004
January 16th, 2004 - January 30th, 2004
December 28th, 2003 - January 11th, 2004
which tracks some of the domain name marketplaces around the industry.
Here is this week's eBay update for our collection:
top eBay domain sales $200 or above
July 25th - August 7th, 2004
about 2317 items listed, only about 24 items sold for $200 or more
(note: only verified as eBay posted sale, not for actual transfer)
JFK-EDWARDS.com $5,000 7/30
BushCheney.com $5,000 8/1
usabreakingnews.com $5,000 8/4
(.org collection) $3,267 8/3
DirtyRentals.com $2,960 7/31
VinylRecords.com $3,150 8/7
(Vote collection) $3,000 8/1
6U.net $2,500 8/3
ZUW.com+.net+.org $1,990 8/3
ILY.net $1,500 8/3
KQF.com $1,500 8/3
UCZ.com $1,500 8/3
E-W.com $1,500 8/3
(.de collection) $1,000 8/7
sexybills.nl $999 7/27
(3 letter .com) $921 8/3
USA-Immigration-Service.com $900 8/3
(stocks collection) $510 8/3
ownerfinance.com 7/30
1NK.com $500 8/3
SellAnyHome.com $250 7/31
EXE.us $242 8/1
BigBrother6.com $220 7/27
(collection) $201 8/3
aaroneckhart.com $200 8/5
previous lists:
February 15th, 2004 - February 28th, 2004
January 31th, 2004 - February 14th, 2004
January 16th, 2004 - January 30th, 2004
December 28th, 2003 - January 11th, 2004
Tuesday August
10th, 2004
SnapNames changes to auction system
SnapNames, which had recently suspended their reseller program for domain backorders, has now suddenly announced a switch to a auction based system instead of their previous "first come, first served" model.
SnapNames was one of the strongest backers of the highly controversial Wait-Listing Service (WLS). This move is considered a complete about-face to their previous beliefs.
SnapNames' website now states: "You pay a success fee only if we successfully acquire a domain name for you. In the event of multiple back-orders for the same domain name, we'll conduct a short auction, and the winning bidder will be awarded the name."
SnapNames was one of the strongest backers of the highly controversial Wait-Listing Service (WLS). This move is considered a complete about-face to their previous beliefs.
SnapNames' website now states: "You pay a success fee only if we successfully acquire a domain name for you. In the event of multiple back-orders for the same domain name, we'll conduct a short auction, and the winning bidder will be awarded the name."
Saturday August
7th, 2004
Web growing by over a million sites a month
Netcraft publishes an extensive survey of websites at the start of each month.
August shows a whopping increase of more than one million sites from July.
What's more impressive is that this is the sixth time in the past year that their survey has shown a monthly increase of over one million sites.
In the last twelve months, the internet has experienced a total growth of over ten million sites!
You can find their summary here and more detailed data here.
They have some very nice graphs which really dramatize the increases.
Netcraft also classifies active vs. parked domains and apache vs. microsoft hosting.
August shows a whopping increase of more than one million sites from July.
What's more impressive is that this is the sixth time in the past year that their survey has shown a monthly increase of over one million sites.
In the last twelve months, the internet has experienced a total growth of over ten million sites!
You can find their summary here and more detailed data here.
They have some very nice graphs which really dramatize the increases.
Netcraft also classifies active vs. parked domains and apache vs. microsoft hosting.
Wednesday August
4th, 2004
Mozilla FireFox 0.9.3 released, try it!
This release fixes a bunch of minor bugs and a few security issues.
If you are a current user, it is a must upgrade, if you haven't tried FireFox, it's time to see what all the buzz is about!
Find your flavor here:
http://ftp.mozilla.org/pub/mozilla.org/firefox/releases/0.9.3/
Release notes:
http://www.mozilla.org/products/firefox/releases/0.9.3.html
Here are the four critical bugs fixed:
http://bugzilla.mozilla.org/buglist.cgi?bug_id=251381,249004,250906,253121
If you are a current user, it is a must upgrade, if you haven't tried FireFox, it's time to see what all the buzz is about!
Find your flavor here:
http://ftp.mozilla.org/pub/mozilla.org/firefox/releases/0.9.3/
Release notes:
http://www.mozilla.org/products/firefox/releases/0.9.3.html
Here are the four critical bugs fixed:
http://bugzilla.mozilla.org/buglist.cgi?bug_id=251381,249004,250906,253121
Tuesday August
3rd, 2004
GoDaddy $7.95 .com special offer for August
GoDaddy is once again offering a discount on .com domain names.
Instead of $8.95 they are $7.95 for a limited time.
Use this link to get the discount, it should last until the end of August:
They also have .info on sale for $6.95 and .biz/.us on sale for $4.95
Domain Food makes no commision off this promotion, it is listed as a service.
Please mention Domain Food if you list it elsewhere, thank you.
Instead of $8.95 they are $7.95 for a limited time.
Use this link to get the discount, it should last until the end of August:
They also have .info on sale for $6.95 and .biz/.us on sale for $4.95
Domain Food makes no commision off this promotion, it is listed as a service.
Please mention Domain Food if you list it elsewhere, thank you.
Mozilla offers $500 reward for security bugs
You have to admire this attitude. Can you image Microsoft doing something like this? Actually they will probably copycat it in due time.
http://theregister.co.uk/2004/08/03/mozilla_bug_bounty/
http://mozilla.org/press/mozilla-2004-08-02.html
http://theregister.co.uk/2004/08/03/mozilla_bug_bounty/
http://mozilla.org/press/mozilla-2004-08-02.html
The Mozilla Foundation today announced the Mozilla Security Bug Bounty Program, an initiative that rewards users who identify and report security vulnerabilities in the open source project's software. Under the new program, users reporting critical security bugs - as judged by the Mozilla Foundation staff - will collect a $500 cash prize. The new initiative was launched with funding from leading Linux software developer Linspire, Inc., and renowned Internet entrepreneur Mark Shuttleworth.
KerryEdwards.com sale on Sedo falls through
Despite the previous hype for KerryEdwards.com it looks like the interest in the domain has fallen away after the Democratic National Convention (DNC).
Check out the latest spin on this domain from the paid press release:
Second Chance for KerryEdwards.com Buyers
Check out the latest spin on this domain from the paid press release:
Second Chance for KerryEdwards.com Buyers
The widely publicized auction of the domain name KerryEdwards.com ended Saturday night, but the search for a new owner continues. According to Matt Bentley, CEO of Sedo.com, the domain name brokerage managing the sale, a key bidder withdrew at a late stage in the auction, leaving the domain up for grabs among the dozen or so parties who had expressed a serious interest in purchasing the domain.
Sunday August
1st, 2004
"google" domain registration mania!
With Google recently losing all kinds of lawsuits and negotiations against variations of their domain names, some people have been becoming quite opportunistic, or so it would seem...
Recent domain registrations that include the word "Google"
http://www.resourceshelf.com/2004/google_names_4.html
some of the more interesting ones include:
Looking randomly at some of these, it's hard to guess which are just novices with misled dreams of fetching big prices on eBay someday and which are people with an axe to grind. Perhaps some are wanting any attention they can get. But while freedom of speech is a *good* thing, it is easy to assume that 99% of these registrations are just bad ideas, even if they point to a website with legitimate content.
Recent domain registrations that include the word "Google"
http://www.resourceshelf.com/2004/google_names_4.html
some of the more interesting ones include:
googlectomy.com
subvertinggoogle.com
mygoogleblog.com
censoredbygoogle.com
googleburiedme.com
google-hacks.com
churchofgoogle.com
googleture.com
evilgoogle.com
spamminggoogle.com
Whois Source reports over 3000 domains currently registered with the word "google" in them!subvertinggoogle.com
mygoogleblog.com
censoredbygoogle.com
googleburiedme.com
google-hacks.com
churchofgoogle.com
googleture.com
evilgoogle.com
spamminggoogle.com
Looking randomly at some of these, it's hard to guess which are just novices with misled dreams of fetching big prices on eBay someday and which are people with an axe to grind. Perhaps some are wanting any attention they can get. But while freedom of speech is a *good* thing, it is easy to assume that 99% of these registrations are just bad ideas, even if they point to a website with legitimate content.
Saturday July
31st, 2004
.ASIA sTLD looks hopeful on distant horizon
With the rollout of the new .EU gTLD scheduled for the end of this year, there is a new hopeful, .ASIA, that is starting to look very solid.
Back in March, ICANN announced it had accepted 10 applications for "sponsored" TLDs (sTLD).
The applications were for:
.xxx / .mobi / .cat / .jobs / .mail / .post / .tel / .asia / .travel
Originally there were seven global TLDs (gTLDs) .com, .edu, .gov, .int, .mil, .net, and .org created in the 1980's.
In 2000, ICANN tested the waters by selecting seven additional TLDs. Four of these new TLDs - .biz, .info, .name, .pro - are unsponsored. The other three TLDs - .aero, .coop, and .museum - are sponsored.
"Unsponsored" TLDs operate under policies directly through ICANN.
"Sponsored" TLDs are specialized and have a sponsor representing that focused community that is affected by the TLD. The sponsor then carries out many responsibilities concerning the TLD which would have otherwise been handled by ICANN.
Last week (7/19) the "DotAsia Organization Limited" (www.dotAsia.org) presented a very solid proposal that has impressed professionals in the domain industry, making it a new hopeful and shining star among the new sTLDs. Their presentation suggests a "Proof-of-Presence" requirement and an $8 per domain/year cost for Registrars.
You can read the full presentation here: (requires adobe acrobat reader)
http://gnso.icann.org/mailing-lists/archives/registrars/pdf00012.pdf
Back in March, ICANN announced it had accepted 10 applications for "sponsored" TLDs (sTLD).
The applications were for:
.xxx / .mobi / .cat / .jobs / .mail / .post / .tel / .asia / .travel
Originally there were seven global TLDs (gTLDs) .com, .edu, .gov, .int, .mil, .net, and .org created in the 1980's.
In 2000, ICANN tested the waters by selecting seven additional TLDs. Four of these new TLDs - .biz, .info, .name, .pro - are unsponsored. The other three TLDs - .aero, .coop, and .museum - are sponsored.
"Unsponsored" TLDs operate under policies directly through ICANN.
"Sponsored" TLDs are specialized and have a sponsor representing that focused community that is affected by the TLD. The sponsor then carries out many responsibilities concerning the TLD which would have otherwise been handled by ICANN.
Last week (7/19) the "DotAsia Organization Limited" (www.dotAsia.org) presented a very solid proposal that has impressed professionals in the domain industry, making it a new hopeful and shining star among the new sTLDs. Their presentation suggests a "Proof-of-Presence" requirement and an $8 per domain/year cost for Registrars.
You can read the full presentation here: (requires adobe acrobat reader)
http://gnso.icann.org/mailing-lists/archives/registrars/pdf00012.pdf
Thursday July
29th, 2004
.gov TLD to cost $125/year for agencies
Ever wonder what .gov costs?
The General Services Administration (GSA) today announced it will start charging agencies $125 a year for .gov domains. There are more than 3,400 sites using .gov
What I want to know is why it costs that much to manage a domain when the private sector does it for $8-$15 in general.
Since it's all government agencies paying the $125, guess who REALLY pays the half million dollars they just charged!
(from Government Computer News)
The General Services Administration (GSA) today announced it will start charging agencies $125 a year for .gov domains. There are more than 3,400 sites using .gov
What I want to know is why it costs that much to manage a domain when the private sector does it for $8-$15 in general.
Since it's all government agencies paying the $125, guess who REALLY pays the half million dollars they just charged!
(from Government Computer News)
Microsoft to release more IE patches next week
After a failed attempt with it's patch in June, Microsoft is preparing a new patch. On June 24th, many web servers running Microsoft's IIS 5 were infected with a malicious script called Download.Ject. Visitors to those sites that used Internet Explorer were possibly infected. A week ago, Microsoft issued a patch for IE to fix that vulnerability, but there is evidence that a modified version of the exploit can still compromise a fully patched system.
http://www.eweek.com/print_article/0,1761,a=132395,00.asp
http://www.eweek.com/print_article/0,1761,a=132395,00.asp
Microsoft officials say the company is prepping a patch for its Internet Explorer browser to plug the vulnerability exploited by the Download.Ject attacks in June. The patch is expected sometime next week, several weeks before the next scheduled batch release of security fixes.
.....
The forthcoming patch release is out of order, the company admits, revealing the critical nature of the patches as well as addressing the concerns expressed by customers over the recent issues with the browser. The last scheduled "Patch Day" was July 13, when the company released several "critical" updates.
.....
The forthcoming patch release is out of order, the company admits, revealing the critical nature of the patches as well as addressing the concerns expressed by customers over the recent issues with the browser. The last scheduled "Patch Day" was July 13, when the company released several "critical" updates.
RegisterFly $7.99 domains promo (7/23 - 7/31)
RegisterFly (one of the largest eNom resellers) has a one week promo code on new domains.
Good from 7/23 - 7/31 for $7.99 .com .net .org .info
code: FLY691GJV32T
http://registerfly.com/scripts/account_promo.php
Good from 7/23 - 7/31 for $7.99 .com .net .org .info
code: FLY691GJV32T
http://registerfly.com/scripts/account_promo.php
Wednesday July
28th, 2004
PayPal class action lawsuit settlement
PayPal is offering a class action lawsuit settlement.
Users who opened an account between October 1999 and January 2004 might qualify.
There is a $9.25 million settlement fund for claims of violations of the Electronic Fund Transfer Act (EFTA) which PayPal refuses to admit applies to their business. Statutory Damage Fund Claimants do not even have to have a complaint related to the lawsuit, they will split up $1 million.
(the settlement website is extremely overloaded and very slow right now)
http://www.paypal.com/settlement/
http://www.settlement4onlinepayments.com
PayPal settlement agreement PDF
PayPal summary PDF
Very good coverage/explanation of the entire deal here:
http://www.itmanagersjournal.com/article.pl?sid=04/07/28/1639215
Users who opened an account between October 1999 and January 2004 might qualify.
There is a $9.25 million settlement fund for claims of violations of the Electronic Fund Transfer Act (EFTA) which PayPal refuses to admit applies to their business. Statutory Damage Fund Claimants do not even have to have a complaint related to the lawsuit, they will split up $1 million.
(the settlement website is extremely overloaded and very slow right now)
http://www.paypal.com/settlement/
http://www.settlement4onlinepayments.com
... the website of the claims administrator for the class action settlement in In re PayPal Litigation, Case No. 02 1227 JF PVT, pending in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California in San Jose. On July 12, 2004 the Court preliminarily approved the proposed settlement and directed that class members be given notice of the settlement.
.......
Please note that online claim forms must be completed by October 23, 2004 in order to qualify for payment.
PayPal Settlement FAQ.......
Please note that online claim forms must be completed by October 23, 2004 in order to qualify for payment.
PayPal settlement agreement PDF
PayPal summary PDF
Very good coverage/explanation of the entire deal here:
http://www.itmanagersjournal.com/article.pl?sid=04/07/28/1639215
The lawsuit, filed by attorneys at Jacoby & Meyers law firm shortly after PayPal's IPO on February 14, 2002, claims that PayPal illegally restricted customers' access to the funds in their accounts and did not provide proper account statements, both in violation of the Electronic Fund Transfer Act (EFTA).
Tuesday July
27th, 2004
DoubleClick crushed by DDoS attack, 900 sites affected
DoubleClick, a popular advertisement supplier for websites, was hit Tuesday with a DDoS attack very similar to the one on Akamai back on June 15th that affected large parts of the web.
eWeek coverage
eWeek coverage
The DDoS attack targeted DoubleClick's DNS (domain name system) and interrupted its ability to serve online ads to its 900 customers from about 10:30 a.m. EDT to 2 p.m. EDT, spokeswoman Jennifer Blum said.
Netcraft coverage As DoubleClick's DNS servers became unreachable, the attack had a ripple effect, leaving many of the network's 900 client sites unable to retrieve banners from DoubleClick's ad servers. The company said the attack lasted about four hours and caused "severe disruptions" for customers.
In most cases, sites responded slowly as they struggled to load DoubleClick banners. The Washington Post was among the sites that removed DoubleClick's ad code from its pages until the attack concluded.
In most cases, sites responded slowly as they struggled to load DoubleClick banners. The Washington Post was among the sites that removed DoubleClick's ad code from its pages until the attack concluded.
Monday July
26th, 2004
ICANN has no plan in place for new TLDs
There was some interesting coverage of the ICANN meeting last week in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia over on http://ICANNwatch.org
Something that really caught my eye is this news, that despite repeated and continued promises to the the US Commerce Department for a method to add new TLDs, ICANN is completely unprepared (and apparently unaware) for the September 30th, 2004 deadline.
Basically there is a "Memorandum of Understanding" (aka MoU) between ICANN and the Department - created back in November 1998 - that has been repeatedly extended without good cause over the years.
Here is a facinating letter from members of the US Congress back in 2002 urging these extensions to be "earned" and not easily granted:
And here is an article that covers the last extension of the MoU in more detail.
Among the important issues listed:
So now, once again, a couple of months before the deadline with no plan in place, and it's supposed to be implemented by December. Will ICANN get another extension and continue the parody? If so, why do they deserve to milk the registrars for more money if they are not doing what they promised for over 5 years now?
Something that really caught my eye is this news, that despite repeated and continued promises to the the US Commerce Department for a method to add new TLDs, ICANN is completely unprepared (and apparently unaware) for the September 30th, 2004 deadline.
Basically there is a "Memorandum of Understanding" (aka MoU) between ICANN and the Department - created back in November 1998 - that has been repeatedly extended without good cause over the years.
Here is a facinating letter from members of the US Congress back in 2002 urging these extensions to be "earned" and not easily granted:
And here is an article that covers the last extension of the MoU in more detail.
Among the important issues listed:
New Top Level Domains: ICANN will develop, by September 30, 2004, and will implement by December 31, 2004, an appropriate long-term strategy for selecting new top level domains.
So now, once again, a couple of months before the deadline with no plan in place, and it's supposed to be implemented by December. Will ICANN get another extension and continue the parody? If so, why do they deserve to milk the registrars for more money if they are not doing what they promised for over 5 years now?
Sunday July
25th, 2004
Google gets HELLO.COM in Picasa deal
Remember how Google acquired Picasa (digital photos) a few weeks ago?
No one noticed that they got HELLO.COM in the deal too.
http://whois.sc/hello.com
Oh and get ready: http://IPO.google.com
Their ticker symbol was assigned today as "GOOG"
No one noticed that they got HELLO.COM in the deal too.
http://whois.sc/hello.com
Oh and get ready: http://IPO.google.com
Their ticker symbol was assigned today as "GOOG"
Saturday July
24th, 2004
Google loses fight for plural of trademark "Froogles.com"
This is fairly huge news if you think of the implications.
(what I don't understand is why ICANN was reviewing this and not WIPO?
Unless that is a reporting mistake.)
Google's challenge of 'Froogles' rejected
Wow, so this means the plural of a trademarked domain name is fair game?
Amazons.com? Ebays.com ?
This is completely inconsistant with other WIPO decisions!
(what I don't understand is why ICANN was reviewing this and not WIPO?
Unless that is a reporting mistake.)
Google's challenge of 'Froogles' rejected
Two of the three judges on the panel of the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers, or ICANN, rejected Google's argument that Froogles.com was "confusingly similar" to Google.
"The dissimilar letters in the domain name are sufficiently different to make it distinguishable from Google's mark," the panel found. The name Froogles.com "creates an entirely new word and conveys an entirely singular meaning from the mark."
The search-engine company's loss has no immediate impact on its use of the name Froogle. But it means that the Froogles.com name will remain with Richard Wolfe, a disabled Holtsville, N.Y., carpenter who started the Web shopping site in March 2001, before Google introduced Froogle in December 2002.
"The dissimilar letters in the domain name are sufficiently different to make it distinguishable from Google's mark," the panel found. The name Froogles.com "creates an entirely new word and conveys an entirely singular meaning from the mark."
The search-engine company's loss has no immediate impact on its use of the name Froogle. But it means that the Froogles.com name will remain with Richard Wolfe, a disabled Holtsville, N.Y., carpenter who started the Web shopping site in March 2001, before Google introduced Froogle in December 2002.
Wow, so this means the plural of a trademarked domain name is fair game?
Amazons.com? Ebays.com ?
This is completely inconsistant with other WIPO decisions!
Wednesday July
21st, 2004
CreditCards.com sells for $2.75 million
CreditCards.com has been sold for $2.75 million, in one of the biggest domain sales on record. It is getting coverage even from the mainstream news outlets.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5467584/
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5467584/
In the biggest-ticket domain name sale in years, a small Austin marketing firm has paid $2.75 million for CreditCards.com. Despite the rocky history of high-priced domain sales, participants say it was a fair price, and the sale may signal a new gold rush for Internet address speculators.
More coverage at the Domain Name Journal - domain sales
Tuesday July
20th, 2004
KerryEdwards.com goes onto SEDO at $150k+
The guy who was getting all the media attention for "KerryEdwards.com" has put it onto Sedo (instead of ebay, good for him).
http://sedo.com/search/details.php4?domain=kerryedwards.com
Bidding opens for KerryEdwards.com
http://sedo.com/search/details.php4?domain=kerryedwards.com
Bidding opens for KerryEdwards.com
A part-time bail bondsman named Kerry Edwards who registered a personal domain two years ago is now sitting on a gold mine thanks to the Democrats' recently announced US presidential ticket.
An online auction for his kerryedwards.com domain opened at $US150,000 ($A205,000) yesterday, according to the German firm handling the sale.
An online auction for his kerryedwards.com domain opened at $US150,000 ($A205,000) yesterday, according to the German firm handling the sale.
Saturday July
17th, 2004
Google - new "browse by name" feature
In what might be a big bonus for keyword domains, Google is now taking users to the closest keyword match (based on site rank though) for simple words typed into the address bar in IE when the user has the Google Toolbar installed.
For example, typing in apple ipod takes's you to Apple's Ipod page. "Yahoo" takes you to Yahoo, etc. I wonder where "juice" and "candy" take you - how about "men" or "business" which are major keyword domains that have or will sell for a fortune.
For example, typing in apple ipod takes's you to Apple's Ipod page. "Yahoo" takes you to Yahoo, etc. I wonder where "juice" and "candy" take you - how about "men" or "business" which are major keyword domains that have or will sell for a fortune.
http://toolbar.google.com/
"New! Browse by Name - save time by typing names
instead of URLs in your browser's address bar
"New! Browse by Name - save time by typing names
instead of URLs in your browser's address bar
big ICANN meeting this week in Malaysia
This is going to be a very important meeting with the budget issues, WLS issues, and apparently there is going to be some talk about .net/.org restrictions. The is the only meeting until December (in South Africa).
http://www.sundaytimes.co.za/business/technology/Tech2.asp
http://www.sundaytimes.co.za/business/technology/Tech2.asp
The worldwide clout of domain name authority Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) will come under the spotlight in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, next week.
ICANN is based in California and has developed a reputation for authoritarian implementation of Internet domain name standards. This, and concern about too much US influence over the Internet, will be highlighted at the series of meetings.
ICANN is based in California and has developed a reputation for authoritarian implementation of Internet domain name standards. This, and concern about too much US influence over the Internet, will be highlighted at the series of meetings.
Friday July
16th, 2004
GoDaddy $6.95 .com special offer
Apparently GoDaddy is again offering one of their better discounts on .com's. Instead of $8.95 they are $6.95 for a limited time.
Use this link to get the discount:
Domain Food makes no commision off this promotion, it is listed as a service.
Please mention Domain Food if you list it elsewhere, thank you.
Use this link to get the discount:
Domain Food makes no commision off this promotion, it is listed as a service.
Please mention Domain Food if you list it elsewhere, thank you.
Thursday July
15th, 2004
European domains lighten rules (.eu pressure)
I hate getting decent news from "press releases" but sometimes they do have little nuggets of info:
http://www.webhostdir.com/news/articles/showarticle.asp?id=2276
http://www.webhostdir.com/news/articles/showarticle.asp?id=2276
First it was Sweden, then came Spain, now France, and soon Italy. More and more countries are opening up their Registration rules to encourage companies - and private individuals - to register their Domain Names. Many of these changes have been influenced by the new .eu domain name that will provide a European-wide registration option. Companies and individuals need to be aware of these changes and to secure their brand and company names across Europe.
More than 28 European and generic domain extensions are now available for unrestricted registration at http://www.eurodns.com The website is available in 10 languages, and offers all registrations in an easy, fully automated way, including the 10 new European Union members who joined earlier this year.
(be sure to avoid the .eu pre-registration trap)
More than 28 European and generic domain extensions are now available for unrestricted registration at http://www.eurodns.com The website is available in 10 languages, and offers all registrations in an easy, fully automated way, including the 10 new European Union members who joined earlier this year.
Wednesday July
14th, 2004
ICANN sets new policy for domain transfers
The policy will be in effect starting November 12th, 2004.
http://www.icann.org/transfers/index.html
http://www.icann.org/announcements/advisory-12jul04.htm
http://www.icann.org/transfers/index.html
http://www.icann.org/announcements/advisory-12jul04.htm
July 12, 2004: ICANN is pleased to announce the adoption of The Inter-Registrar Transfer Policy. The new transfer policy will provide for a smooth transition of a domain name from one registrar to another when such a change is requested by the domain name holder. As a result this new policy will:
* Provide benefit to registrants in that they can more freely move their domain name from one registrar to another if they so desire, and further
* Encourage competition in the DNS among registrars.
* Provide benefit to registrants in that they can more freely move their domain name from one registrar to another if they so desire, and further
* Encourage competition in the DNS among registrars.
Tuesday July
13th, 2004
Firefox 1.0 scheduled for September 14th release
The Mozilla Firefox Roadmap has been updated with some exciting new info:
http://forums.mozillazine.org/viewtopic.php?t=94779
Development will remain on the AVIARY_1_0_20040515_BRANCH (itself cut from the Mozilla 1.7 branch) until 1.0, with three releases candidates planned. The launch of Mozilla Firefox 1.0 for Windows and Linux is currently scheduled for Tuesday 14th September. The Mac OS X version will be released a little later, following additional work to make Firefox fit in the Aqua look and feel.
Some more information and discussion here:http://forums.mozillazine.org/viewtopic.php?t=94779
Monday July
12th, 2004
SnapNames quietly suspends their reseller program
Possibly due to pressures from the upcoming wait-list-service (WLS) SnapNames, a "drop catching" service has told their resellers that they are going to stop accepting new orders from them starting , Tuesday, July 13th, 5pm PST.
Websites such as Snaps.com, FastSnaps.com and CheapSnaps.com will have to find other options at this point. These affiliates had a lower price than SnapNames did directly but they allowed only three "exchanges" per order vs. unlimited by direct order.
SnapNames has not made a public announcement about this shutdown, but in an email to resellers, claimed "the market for expiring domains is such right now that SnapNames is actually losing
money on the majority of [reseller] orders we fulfill..." They later state "we still think that WLS will be launched eventually, and when it is, we will resume our support".
Websites such as Snaps.com, FastSnaps.com and CheapSnaps.com will have to find other options at this point. These affiliates had a lower price than SnapNames did directly but they allowed only three "exchanges" per order vs. unlimited by direct order.
SnapNames has not made a public announcement about this shutdown, but in an email to resellers, claimed "the market for expiring domains is such right now that SnapNames is actually losing
money on the majority of [reseller] orders we fulfill..." They later state "we still think that WLS will be launched eventually, and when it is, we will resume our support".
Sunday July
11th, 2004
VeriSign updating DNS for .com/.net in realtime
Verisign has announced it is going to switch from twice a day updates of com/net DNS records to near-realtime. They had started to make changes towards this back in February:
http://merit.edu/mail.archives/nanog/msg06188.html
http://merit.edu/mail.archives/nanog/msg06188.html
VeriSign Naming and Directory Services (VNDS) currently generates new
versions of the .com/.net zones files twice per day. VNDS is
scheduled to deploy on September 8, 2004 a new feature that will
enable VNDS to update the .com/.net zones more frequently to reflect
the registration activity of the .com/.net registrars in near real
time. After the rapid DNS update is implemented, the elapsed time
from registrars' add or change operations to the visibility of those
adds or changes in all 13 .com/.net authoritative name servers is
expected to average less than five minutes.
FAQ: http://www.verisign.com/nds/naming/rapid_update/faq.htmlversions of the .com/.net zones files twice per day. VNDS is
scheduled to deploy on September 8, 2004 a new feature that will
enable VNDS to update the .com/.net zones more frequently to reflect
the registration activity of the .com/.net registrars in near real
time. After the rapid DNS update is implemented, the elapsed time
from registrars' add or change operations to the visibility of those
adds or changes in all 13 .com/.net authoritative name servers is
expected to average less than five minutes.
Saturday July
10th, 2004
ICANN - SiteFinder "should remain offline indefinitely"
Icann's Security and Stability Advisory Committee (SSAC) has finalized their report on Verisign's SiteFinder:
Washington Post article (via yahoo)
official report in PDF format here
(I love how they do expensive official studies to tell us what we already know - sitefinder was EVIL)
Washington Post article (via yahoo)
A panel of experts convened by the nonprofit organization that manages the Internet's domain-name system today took aim at the company that controls the popular "dot-com" and "dot-net" domains, issuing a report concluding that a controversial search service designed to make money off Web-browser typos is a threat to the stability of the Internet and should remain offline indefinitely.
official report in PDF format here
(I love how they do expensive official studies to tell us what we already know - sitefinder was EVIL)
Mozilla gains more market share over IE
Mozilla (Firefox) has gained an overall average of 1% more marketshare over Internet Explorer.
http://www.pcworld.com/resource/printable/article/0,aid,116848,00.asp
IMHO Mozilla has an even higher market share than this when you look at non-newbie websites. And also consider that every AOL user is practically forced to use IE so all those millions get lopped in. I feel Mozilla really has broken the 10% market share with the 0.9 release of Firefox after studying various website logs.
http://www.pcworld.com/resource/printable/article/0,aid,116848,00.asp
Internet Explorer has held more than 95 percent of the browser market since June 2002, and until June had remained steady with about 95.7 percent of the browser market, according to WebSideStory's measurements. Over the last month, however, its market share has slowly dropped from 95.73 percent on June 4 to 94.73 percent on July 6.
A loss of 1 percent of the market may not mean much to Microsoft, but it translates into a large growth, proportionately, in the number of users running Mozilla and Netscape-based browsers. Mozilla and Netscape's combined market share has increased by 26 percent, rising from 3.21 percent of the market in June to 4.05 percent in July, Johnston said.
"It takes a lot to get someone to change their browser. It's been years since anyone has been willing to do this in significant numbers," he said.
A loss of 1 percent of the market may not mean much to Microsoft, but it translates into a large growth, proportionately, in the number of users running Mozilla and Netscape-based browsers. Mozilla and Netscape's combined market share has increased by 26 percent, rising from 3.21 percent of the market in June to 4.05 percent in July, Johnston said.
"It takes a lot to get someone to change their browser. It's been years since anyone has been willing to do this in significant numbers," he said.
IMHO Mozilla has an even higher market share than this when you look at non-newbie websites. And also consider that every AOL user is practically forced to use IE so all those millions get lopped in. I feel Mozilla really has broken the 10% market share with the 0.9 release of Firefox after studying various website logs.
Friday July
9th, 2004
eBay employees to get $300k stock option
We've had a rebirth in domain name sales, perhaps the online .com boom is back again too with bonuses like this (stock options used to be the big gimmick in the .com boom-bust).
http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2004/06/24/BUG0G7AS031.DTL&type=printable
http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2004/06/24/BUG0G7AS031.DTL&type=printable
EBay, the online marketplace, plans to give its employees an average of $318,000 each in stock options this year, according to one estimate.
While the company's workers may welcome such a windfall, some investors and a proxy advisory firm are criticizing what they believe is as an example of excessive compensation that hurts shareholder returns.
The topic will be at the forefront at EBay's annual shareholder meeting today in New Orleans. Investors will vote on whether the company can continue to grant stock options to employees in 2004 as it has in the past.
While the company's workers may welcome such a windfall, some investors and a proxy advisory firm are criticizing what they believe is as an example of excessive compensation that hurts shareholder returns.
The topic will be at the forefront at EBay's annual shareholder meeting today in New Orleans. Investors will vote on whether the company can continue to grant stock options to employees in 2004 as it has in the past.
Thursday July
8th, 2004
Alternative ICANN Budget Proposal - domain prices may rise
ICANN recently announced a hefty budget request with plans to fund it by raising registrar fees. 76 smaller registrars have banded together to propose an alternate budget:
http://www.icannbudget.org/
If ICANN gets their way, registrars who now pay $4000 to $6000 in registrar fees may be required to pay $25,000+ next year, plus an increase of about 7 or 8 cents for every domain registered.
The larger registrars don't seem to mind this situation so much, perhaps hoping it puts some smaller ones out of business, reducing competition and therefore raising profits. This would then be a small cost to them. But of course, if that happens the consumer/domainer will lose, as domain prices would undoubtedly go up.
http://www.icannbudget.org/
If ICANN gets their way, registrars who now pay $4000 to $6000 in registrar fees may be required to pay $25,000+ next year, plus an increase of about 7 or 8 cents for every domain registered.
The larger registrars don't seem to mind this situation so much, perhaps hoping it puts some smaller ones out of business, reducing competition and therefore raising profits. This would then be a small cost to them. But of course, if that happens the consumer/domainer will lose, as domain prices would undoubtedly go up.
Wednesday July
7th, 2004
Googles sues Google
Well "sues" might not exactly be the correct term, but in a bizarre move, a company that has a trademark on the name Googles since 1997 is trying to take away the trademark from the Google search engine which was not incorporated until 1998.
http://zdnet.com.com/2102-1104_2-5259688.html?tag=printthis
http://zdnet.com.com/2102-1104_2-5259688.html?tag=printthis
Stelor Productions, the company that owns and operates Googles.com, said Wednesday it has initiated trademark proceedings with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office against Google...
...The company said it filed two separate actions, asserting that Google has overstepped its rights to market goods and services aimed at children, based on Stelor's own trademark rights on the Googles.com name.
...The company said it filed two separate actions, asserting that Google has overstepped its rights to market goods and services aimed at children, based on Stelor's own trademark rights on the Googles.com name.
Tuesday July
6th, 2004
Pool.com starts Domain Marketplace
http://www.pool.com/DomainsForSaleList.aspx?ia=
Pool.com is thrilled to announce that we are now offering a brand new service: the DOMAIN MARKETPLACE! In addition to backordering deleting domains with Pool.com, you can now buy and sell your own domains.
...
Pool.com can help you find the perfect domain with our new Domain Marketplace service. Some domains are listed as Auctions while others for a Fixed Price. If you're the highest bidder when an auction closes, you get the domain! If you buy a domain listed for a fixed price, you get the domain instantly - it's as simple as that! To find your perfect domain, search through our Domain Marketplace database by using our Quick or Advanced Search. Click here to start buying domains now!
...
Use Pool.com's new Domain Marketplace service to sell your domain(s). List your domains on Pool.com for 7, 10, or 14 days. You can choose to sell your domain(s) in an Auction or for a Fixed Price. Get great listing exposure with our Gold and Platinum listing levels. And by listing your domain with Pool.com, you get an additional year added to the registration period, even in the unlikely event it doesn't sell!
...
Pool.com can help you find the perfect domain with our new Domain Marketplace service. Some domains are listed as Auctions while others for a Fixed Price. If you're the highest bidder when an auction closes, you get the domain! If you buy a domain listed for a fixed price, you get the domain instantly - it's as simple as that! To find your perfect domain, search through our Domain Marketplace database by using our Quick or Advanced Search. Click here to start buying domains now!
...
Use Pool.com's new Domain Marketplace service to sell your domain(s). List your domains on Pool.com for 7, 10, or 14 days. You can choose to sell your domain(s) in an Auction or for a Fixed Price. Get great listing exposure with our Gold and Platinum listing levels. And by listing your domain with Pool.com, you get an additional year added to the registration period, even in the unlikely event it doesn't sell!
Monday July
5th, 2004
Verisign (NetSol) to lose .NET tld June 30th 2005
ICANN's contract with Verisign (and its public registrar Network Solutions aka NetSol) to operate the .NET tld expires June 30th 2005. This means it will (hopefully) be assigned to another group (though Verisign is elgible to re-apply for it).
ICANN is coming up with a procedure to pick the new operator and has opened the current document on it for public comments until July 14th, 2004.
http://icann.org/announcements/announcement-25jun04.htm
Here is the report:
http://www.icann.org/tlds/dotnet-reassignment/dotnet-committee-report-23jun04.htm
Here are the comments so far:
http://forum.icann.org/lists/dotnet-criteria
ICANN is coming up with a procedure to pick the new operator and has opened the current document on it for public comments until July 14th, 2004.
http://icann.org/announcements/announcement-25jun04.htm
25 June 2004 – 14 July 2004 (19:00 UTC): Final Public Comment Period
In this final comment period, the public is invited to submit comments on the new version of the initial report from the GNSO subcommittee.
In this final comment period, the public is invited to submit comments on the new version of the initial report from the GNSO subcommittee.
Here is the report:
http://www.icann.org/tlds/dotnet-reassignment/dotnet-committee-report-23jun04.htm
Here are the comments so far:
http://forum.icann.org/lists/dotnet-criteria
Saturday July
3rd, 2004
SnapNames End Reseller Program
http://www.dnjournal.com/lowdown.htm
SnapNames.com has pulled the plug on their reseller program. Effective Tuesday, July 13, the drop catching company stopped taking new orders from partner sites like Snaps.com, CheapSnaps.com and FastSnaps.com. Any subscriptions that are still open in early August will be moved to the main SnapNames site. The affiliates had offered a lower price than the main site but allowed only 3 Snapback exchanges per order (the full-priced subscriptions at SnapNames.com come with unlimited exchanges). In a letter to their resellers SnapNames said they had actually been losing money on every order and should have discontinued the program some time ago...
Friday July
2nd, 2004
Directi passes 200,000 customer mark, 10,000+ resellers
http://www.directi.com/aboutus/news/200k-customers
I guess this includes resellers like myself that have an account to see what they are about, though I never use it. However, unlike enom, I think resellers would only have one account instead of multiple, so the number is still quite impressive and indicative of the number of progressive resellers out there.
Directi is now serving a client-base of 207,774 customers and 10,171 Resellers spread across 215 countries; utilizing and re-selling various Web Services offered by the company. Adding over 100,000 customers and 6,000+ resellers in 6 months, the company has demonstrated a truly remarkable growth rate of greater than 200%
I guess this includes resellers like myself that have an account to see what they are about, though I never use it. However, unlike enom, I think resellers would only have one account instead of multiple, so the number is still quite impressive and indicative of the number of progressive resellers out there.
Thursday July
1st, 2004
RegisterFly $8 domains, $8 renewals, $1 whois privacy
July RegisterFly Promos
$7.99 Domains (ends around July 8th)
.com .net .org .info
https://registerfly.com/scripts/account_promo.php
Enter the Promotional code (in the domain registration promo section)
code: FLY691GJV32T
$7.99 Domain Renewals (good through July 4th?)
Access https://registerfly.com/renew/index.php
Enter the Promotional code on this page (lower part of the form)
code: N1j32FLY1RENW
$6.00 Domain Transfers for only 24 Hours (may be expired)
Go to http://www.registerfly.com/transfer/index.php
Select Transfer my domains
Enter your domains to transfer
Enter the Transfer promotion code below
code: FLY6PROMO
Whois Privacy Protection, 99 cents (good all July)
Hide Your Whois Info
http://registerfly.com/protectfly/
$7.99 Domains (ends around July 8th)
.com .net .org .info
https://registerfly.com/scripts/account_promo.php
Enter the Promotional code (in the domain registration promo section)
code: FLY691GJV32T
$7.99 Domain Renewals (good through July 4th?)
Access https://registerfly.com/renew/index.php
Enter the Promotional code on this page (lower part of the form)
code: N1j32FLY1RENW
$6.00 Domain Transfers for only 24 Hours (may be expired)
Go to http://www.registerfly.com/transfer/index.php
Select Transfer my domains
Enter your domains to transfer
Enter the Transfer promotion code below
code: FLY6PROMO
Whois Privacy Protection, 99 cents (good all July)
Hide Your Whois Info
http://registerfly.com/protectfly/
Wednesday June
30th, 2004
$2.99 .US domain name promo
http://order.1and1.com
(would appreciate feedback from those who have used 1 and 1 this past year)
1&1 Internet announced the availability of the .us domain as part of its offering for the first time. During the months of July and August, customers will be able to register their .us domains for only $2.99 per year as a special introductory offer.
(would appreciate feedback from those who have used 1 and 1 this past year)
Saturday June
26th, 2004
eBay buys Baazee.com for $50 million
eBay has bought India's largest online auction company, Baazee.com, for $50 million USD.
This purchase puts eBay into 29 countries!
(note this is not just a domain sale, it includes the full service)
Read more:
http://www.zdnet.co.uk/print/?TYPE=story&AT=39158402-39020645t-10000024c
http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/holnus/006200406241706.htm
http://inhome.rediff.com/money/2004/jun/26baazee.htm
This purchase puts eBay into 29 countries!
(note this is not just a domain sale, it includes the full service)
Read more:
http://www.zdnet.co.uk/print/?TYPE=story&AT=39158402-39020645t-10000024c
http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/holnus/006200406241706.htm
http://inhome.rediff.com/money/2004/jun/26baazee.htm
Friday June
25th, 2004
PayPal starts credit lines for buyers
PayPal today started offering credit lines for purchases through their system, including defered payments and fraud protection:
http://zdnet.com.com/2102-1104_2-5247925.html?tag=printthis
http://zdnet.com.com/2102-1104_2-5247925.html?tag=printthis
Created through a partnership with GE Consumer Finance, PayPal Buyer Credit will function much like any traditional credit card, allowing customers to defer payment. It promises an increased level of fraud protection to shoppers in cases where the items they buy on eBay differ from their descriptions or never show up. The credit line will offer deferred interest for up to 12 months for purchases over $199. PayPal said it can approve applicants in as little as 30 seconds.
Thursday June
24th, 2004
$3.99 domains promo
A company called Globat.com / DomainsAreFree.com is doing a big press release for their launch of $3.99 domain registrations.
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/040623/law029_1.html?printer=1
http://www.tophosts.com/articles/?001032.html
http://thewhir.com/marketwatch/glo062304.cfm
http://www.webhostdir.com/news/articles/showarticle.asp?id=2212
They are going to do .com, .net, .org, .biz, .info, and .us at $3.99
I am sure its only a promo price to get them off the ground and will eventually increase by a few dollars but for some of us this can be a good savings even in the short term. Just watch out for transfer-away fees (or lockouts) which has happened with other promos of this nature in the industry.
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/040623/law029_1.html?printer=1
http://www.tophosts.com/articles/?001032.html
http://thewhir.com/marketwatch/glo062304.cfm
http://www.webhostdir.com/news/articles/showarticle.asp?id=2212
They are going to do .com, .net, .org, .biz, .info, and .us at $3.99
I am sure its only a promo price to get them off the ground and will eventually increase by a few dollars but for some of us this can be a good savings even in the short term. Just watch out for transfer-away fees (or lockouts) which has happened with other promos of this nature in the industry.
Sunday June
20th, 2004
(Father's Day)
PayPal reduces fees for higher volume
https://www.paypal.com/us/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=p/gen/fees-us-domestic
Beginning August 6, 2004, PayPal will expand its fee structure to better serve sellers of all sizes. With this new performance-based pricing, sellers can pay as little as 1.9% + $0.30.
Monthly Volume (all in US dollars)
$0-$3,000 = 2.9%+$0.30
$3,000.01-$10,000 = 2.5%+$0.30
$10,000.01-$100,000 = 2.2%+$0.30
Above $100,000 = 1.9%+$0.30
As before, international transactions add 1.0% to the overall fee.
Monthly Volume (all in US dollars)
$0-$3,000 = 2.9%+$0.30
$3,000.01-$10,000 = 2.5%+$0.30
$10,000.01-$100,000 = 2.2%+$0.30
Above $100,000 = 1.9%+$0.30
As before, international transactions add 1.0% to the overall fee.
Thursday June
17th, 2004
.au domain names drop to $7.50
I am not sure if this is USD (why would it be?) maybe someone can clarify:
http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/06/17/1087245032475.html?oneclick=true
http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/06/17/1087245032475.html?oneclick=true
A surge in demand for internet addresses has sparked a fall in charges for registering domain names in Australia.
Communications Minister Daryl Williams said the number of domain names ending in .au soared to more than 433,000 in the past year, with more than 110,000 new names registered.
As a result the not-for-profit group which administers domain names, .au Domain Administration, would cut its registration fees to $7.50 from $10.00 from August 1, he said.
Communications Minister Daryl Williams said the number of domain names ending in .au soared to more than 433,000 in the past year, with more than 110,000 new names registered.
As a result the not-for-profit group which administers domain names, .au Domain Administration, would cut its registration fees to $7.50 from $10.00 from August 1, he said.
Tuesday June
15th, 2004
Firefox 0.9 - time to consider Mozilla
(updated for 0.9 -> 0.9.1 -> 0.9.2)
Fresh out this morning:
http://ftp.mozilla.org/pub/mozilla.org/firefox/releases/0.9.2/
also see upgrade info/tips
release notes
Don't forget all the wonderful free extensions for Firebird
My favorite two are Things they left out (more options) which has a feature to make .gifs animate only once and then stop (I had a tool for this in IE, its great)
and an absolute must the Web Developer extension which is like having a hundred IE favlets/bookmarklets in one little designer package.
Fresh out this morning:
http://ftp.mozilla.org/pub/mozilla.org/firefox/releases/0.9.2/
also see upgrade info/tips
release notes
Don't forget all the wonderful free extensions for Firebird
My favorite two are Things they left out (more options) which has a feature to make .gifs animate only once and then stop (I had a tool for this in IE, its great)
and an absolute must the Web Developer extension which is like having a hundred IE favlets/bookmarklets in one little designer package.
all three letter .US taken! three letter history!
All remaining three letter .US were finally registered sometime during the past two weeks! (there were 1000-2000 left)
This means except for daily drops, all three letter
.COM .NET .ORG .INFO .BIZ and now .US are GONE!
(FIY there are 17,576 possibilities for each TLD, 26^3)
Now to find out who did the big grab, was it Elequa? Chris Zouzas? Tumay Asena?
We all hope this means values go up, here's hoping as there is no definitive proof as of yet.
This means except for daily drops, all three letter
.COM .NET .ORG .INFO .BIZ and now .US are GONE!
(FIY there are 17,576 possibilities for each TLD, 26^3)
Now to find out who did the big grab, was it Elequa? Chris Zouzas? Tumay Asena?
We all hope this means values go up, here's hoping as there is no definitive proof as of yet.
Yahoo upgrades to 100 MB mailboxes
Most active Yahoo users will find their mailbox capacities upgraded to 100 megabytes today!
Great news – Yahoo! Mail is new and improved!
Thanks for being a loyal Yahoo! Mail user.
To ensure that Yahoo! Mail continues to be the easiest, most enjoyable way for you to stay in touch, we've made several great improvements to your service! In addition to all the features you currently enjoy, we've made these upgrades:
Thanks for being a loyal Yahoo! Mail user.
To ensure that Yahoo! Mail continues to be the easiest, most enjoyable way for you to stay in touch, we've made several great improvements to your service! In addition to all the features you currently enjoy, we've made these upgrades:
- Streamlined interface - Makes using your mail even easier
- 100MB of email storage - Keep more of the things that are important to you – without worrying about bumping up against your storage limit.
- Message size up to 10MB - Send monster-sized files – photos, presentations, whatever!
Thursday June
3rd, 2004
domain name patent grabs
You may have heard about microsoft applying for all kinds of patents on everything they can in an attempt to promise future profits for themselves in licensing and/or uniqueness. Well they are not the only group doing this questionable practice. It's starting to happen often in our industry too.
Register.com, Dotster, Join the DNS Patent Follies
"There are two entries this week in the race to pile up DNS-relevant patents. Joining notables such as the Sitefinder Patent, The Multi-TLD Menu Patent, the two pending WLS patents, and the Namespinner Patent, come a pair of miserable flops from Register.com and Dotster."
Register.com, Dotster, Join the DNS Patent Follies
"There are two entries this week in the race to pile up DNS-relevant patents. Joining notables such as the Sitefinder Patent, The Multi-TLD Menu Patent, the two pending WLS patents, and the Namespinner Patent, come a pair of miserable flops from Register.com and Dotster."
Saturday May
15th, 2004
(Armed Forces Day)
.fr ccTLD now has less restrictive registration
On May 11th the heavy restrictions for ".fr" and ".re" (Reunion Island) ccTLDs were lightened, and anyone who "can be indentified in the french chamber of commerce and other professional databases is able to register whatever name they like".
According to the French NIC, more than 50,000 requests were received in the first three weeks
But if you are now authorized to register, you may want to grab some of them quickly before it all ends...
French Senate to discuss a domain names statute
According to the French NIC, more than 50,000 requests were received in the first three weeks
But if you are now authorized to register, you may want to grab some of them quickly before it all ends...
French Senate to discuss a domain names statute
Since ".fr" policy changed, local authorities and governments are furious: Everyone is now free to register their name! And there are 36,778 cities in France (yes 36,778, due to historical reasons!), 2,400 communities of municipalites, 100 departments and 26 regions (who said French administrative is complex?).
Several French Senators wrote a statute proposal to protect the local bodies names. This text has been discussed and modified by a Senate Committee (see the 50 pages report), and should be discussed in chamber on June 22."
Several French Senators wrote a statute proposal to protect the local bodies names. This text has been discussed and modified by a Senate Committee (see the 50 pages report), and should be discussed in chamber on June 22."
Saturday May
1st, 2004
PayPal Developer Central website
https://developer.paypal.com
- PayPal API manuals, code samples and developer forums
- Sandbox test environment - Use test accounts to try out new concepts and to create test payment applications
- Website Payments testing - Fine tune your Website Payment buttons using a test seller account
- Instant Payment Notification (IPN) testing - Get immediate notification and authentication of test PayPal payments sent to your test seller account
- API testing - Test out API functionalities before using them with PayPal.com
Saturday March
6th, 2004
Wait List Service (WLS) approved by ICANN
There is news trickling in that the Wait List Service (WLS) has been approved by ICANN at the current meeting in Rome by a 12 to 0 vote!
(It was scheduled to be negotiated today:
Saturday, 6 March 2004 Item 3: WLS Negotiations with VeriSign )
Verisign will have to give a three month notice to registrars before they impliment it.
This is going to change EVERYTHING and put backorder services out of business.
(little wonder why the SnapName creators got out of the business)
I'll post URLs with more info as they become available.
(by the way, there was supposedly a webcam of the meeting here but its not working, at least for me, right now)
ps. expect the lawsuits to start flying even more soon...
(It was scheduled to be negotiated today:
Saturday, 6 March 2004 Item 3: WLS Negotiations with VeriSign )
Verisign will have to give a three month notice to registrars before they impliment it.
This is going to change EVERYTHING and put backorder services out of business.
(little wonder why the SnapName creators got out of the business)
I'll post URLs with more info as they become available.
(by the way, there was supposedly a webcam of the meeting here but its not working, at least for me, right now)
ps. expect the lawsuits to start flying even more soon...
Friday March
5th, 2004
.mobile or .cell TLD coming soon
Apparently ICANN has decided to now allow expidited approval of new TLDs in certain cases.
A new TLD for portable devices is undergoing evaluation, at the request of Microsoft, Nokia, Vodafone, Hewlett-Packard, Samsung, Sun and a few other groups.
http://www.internetwk.com/shared/printableArticle.jhtml?articleID=18311909
http://www.techweb.com/wire/story/TWB20040311S0013
http://www.circleid.com/print/528_0_1_0/
A new TLD for portable devices is undergoing evaluation, at the request of Microsoft, Nokia, Vodafone, Hewlett-Packard, Samsung, Sun and a few other groups.
http://www.internetwk.com/shared/printableArticle.jhtml?articleID=18311909
http://www.techweb.com/wire/story/TWB20040311S0013
http://www.circleid.com/print/528_0_1_0/
Thursday March
4th, 2004
new .DE with special characters, registrations overwhelming
http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/6/36036.html
Since Monday over 600,000 domains with special characters in them (umlauts) have been registered at DENIC since they started allowing them. Normally DENIC only gets a few thousand regular registrations per day.
Before you rush off to register some of these, note that most browsers and email programs can't understand such domains without special plugins. Almost as bad as new.net but still a bit more legit.
Since Monday over 600,000 domains with special characters in them (umlauts) have been registered at DENIC since they started allowing them. Normally DENIC only gets a few thousand regular registrations per day.
Before you rush off to register some of these, note that most browsers and email programs can't understand such domains without special plugins. Almost as bad as new.net but still a bit more legit.
Wednesday March
3rd, 2004
EV1 reaches 100,000 domain registrations
The Whir is reporting EV1 has reaches 100,000 registrations
(ev1servers) announced on Monday that it has completed its 100,000th domain registration; a milestone reached six months after the company began offering discount domains.
Tuesday March
2nd, 2004
EV1 cuts deal with SCO for linux "license"
In a move that is upsetting many clients, EV1 has signed a contract with SCO for linux:
SCO press release on Yahoo
InternetNews coverage:
Netcraft coverage
thread on EV1 support forum
slashdot thread
(SCO has also annouced they will
sue a company tomorrow for using Linux without their license)
ZDnet background and special report on SCO's claims
SCO press release on Yahoo
(SCO) today announced an intellectual property licensing agreement with EV1Servers.Net, a dedicated hosting division of Houston-based Everyones Internet (EV1.Net). Under the terms of the agreement, SCO will provide EV1Servers.Net with a site license that allows the use of SCO IP in binary form on all Linux servers managed by EV1Servers.Net in each of its hosting facilities.
InternetNews coverage:
SCO spokesman Blake Stowell declined to give the exact value of the deal but said it was worth at least $1 million.
EV1servers.net is a $99-per-month Web site hosting company. Formerly known as RackShack.Net, the company has been in existence since 1999 and claims 400,000 customers in 42 states.
"They have 20,000 servers total," Stowell said. "The majority of those are Linux servers. This is a site license that covers those servers."
EV1servers.net is a $99-per-month Web site hosting company. Formerly known as RackShack.Net, the company has been in existence since 1999 and claims 400,000 customers in 42 states.
"They have 20,000 servers total," Stowell said. "The majority of those are Linux servers. This is a site license that covers those servers."
Netcraft coverage
thread on EV1 support forum
slashdot thread
(SCO has also annouced they will
sue a company tomorrow for using Linux without their license)
ZDnet background and special report on SCO's claims
Monday March
1st, 2004
GoDaddy to help ICANN fight Site Finder
GoDaddy has pledged up to $100,000 for legal bills to ICANN
This may seem like a publicity stunty but IMHO, since the lawsuit most likely will end up in the courts, because of VeriSign's stupidity and greed, I give GoDaddy a thumbs up for financially defending our industry.
GoDaddy said Tuesday that it will pay up to $100,000 of the legal bills that the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) may run up through defending a lawsuit filed last week by VeriSign.
This may seem like a publicity stunty but IMHO, since the lawsuit most likely will end up in the courts, because of VeriSign's stupidity and greed, I give GoDaddy a thumbs up for financially defending our industry.
Sunday February
29th, 2004
top eBay domain sales Feb 15th - Feb 28th
Top eBay domain sales $200 or above
February 15th - February 28th, 2004
about 2728 items listed, 18 sold for $200 or more
(note: only verified as eBay posted sale, not for actual transfer)
$3,400 - AAA-homebusiness.com - Feb-25-04
$1,025 - MYEBAYSTORE.NET - Feb-27-04
$1,000 - mybidniz.com & .net - Feb-16-04
$1,000 - MILOTTERY.COM - Feb-21-04
$ 920 - queereyeforthestraightguy.net - Feb-19-04
$ 534 - barterbay.com - Feb-22-04
$ 510 - ZFD.com - Feb-15-04
$ 450 - ZVJ.Com - Feb-21-04
$ 400 - LebronJames.cc - Feb-16-04
$ 326 - Marijuana.net.cn - Feb-26-04
$ 300 - MidWestCo.Com - Feb-20-04
$ 260 - OmegaServers.net - Feb-20-04
$ 251 - Hirers.com - Feb-20-04
$ 255 - jerkies.com - Feb-21-04
$ 250 - SkinMe.com - Feb-23-04
$ 250 - PORN.SR - Feb-17-04
$ 217 - PeopleofToronto.com - Feb-28-04
$ 200 - CigarSuperStore.com - Feb-24-04
previous lists:
January 31th, 2004 - February 14th, 2004
January 16th, 2004 - January 30th, 2004
December 28th, 2003 - January 11th, 2004
February 15th - February 28th, 2004
about 2728 items listed, 18 sold for $200 or more
(note: only verified as eBay posted sale, not for actual transfer)
$3,400 - AAA-homebusiness.com - Feb-25-04
$1,025 - MYEBAYSTORE.NET - Feb-27-04
$1,000 - mybidniz.com & .net - Feb-16-04
$1,000 - MILOTTERY.COM - Feb-21-04
$ 920 - queereyeforthestraightguy.net - Feb-19-04
$ 534 - barterbay.com - Feb-22-04
$ 510 - ZFD.com - Feb-15-04
$ 450 - ZVJ.Com - Feb-21-04
$ 400 - LebronJames.cc - Feb-16-04
$ 326 - Marijuana.net.cn - Feb-26-04
$ 300 - MidWestCo.Com - Feb-20-04
$ 260 - OmegaServers.net - Feb-20-04
$ 251 - Hirers.com - Feb-20-04
$ 255 - jerkies.com - Feb-21-04
$ 250 - SkinMe.com - Feb-23-04
$ 250 - PORN.SR - Feb-17-04
$ 217 - PeopleofToronto.com - Feb-28-04
$ 200 - CigarSuperStore.com - Feb-24-04
previous lists:
January 31th, 2004 - February 14th, 2004
January 16th, 2004 - January 30th, 2004
December 28th, 2003 - January 11th, 2004
registrars sue Verisign and ICANN to stop WLS
A group of registrars, has filed a lawsuit against ICANN and VeriSign to stop WLS.
the group includes:
REGISTERSITE.COM
NAME.COM (DOMAINSTOBESEEN.COM)
SPOT DOMAIN, LLC,
$6.25 DOMAINS NETWORK, INC.
AUSREGISTRY GROUP PTY LTD.,
BID IT WIN IT, INC.
also see:
http://fightwls.com/
http://www.circleid.com/print/503_0_1_0/
http://slashdot.org/articles/04/02/28/1410245.shtml
the group includes:
REGISTERSITE.COM
NAME.COM (DOMAINSTOBESEEN.COM)
SPOT DOMAIN, LLC,
$6.25 DOMAINS NETWORK, INC.
AUSREGISTRY GROUP PTY LTD.,
BID IT WIN IT, INC.
also see:
http://fightwls.com/
http://www.circleid.com/print/503_0_1_0/
http://slashdot.org/articles/04/02/28/1410245.shtml
Saturday February
28th, 2004
John Zuccarini gets 2.5 years in prison
John Zuccarini was finally sentenced to 2.5 years in prison on Thursday after being arrested in late 2003 for registering thousands of domain names such as harrypottor.com, bobthebiulder.com, and dinseyland.com and redirecting them to pornography sites.
He is the first person to be prisioned under the new
"Truth in Domains Names Act" in the United States.
Reuter's orginal story or AP news wire
Attorney General John Ashcroft:
He is the first person to be prisioned under the new
"Truth in Domains Names Act" in the United States.
Reuter's orginal story or AP news wire
Attorney General John Ashcroft:
Individuals who use trickery and deceit to lure children to X-rated websites must know that they will pay a price for their criminal conduct...As today's sentence demonstrates, those who violate that law and expose innocent children to pornography for their own financial gain will be prosecuted, and they will serve time in jail.
Thursday February
26th, 2004
NetSol attempts end-run around Strato
Strato is a very large German web hosting company with over 240,000 domains. Seems like Network Solutions is trying to do an end-run around them chosing a new registrar and trying to sell renewls directly to the domain owners. Didn't NetSol try something like this a year ago with another group, I guess they don't learn?
http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/6/35462.html
http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/6/35462.html
Strato formerly had a resale agreement with NSI, and registered all its .com, .net and .org domains through the US registrar. In January, the agreement ended, and Strato decided to relocate all its US domains to its own subsidiary, Cronon.
However, NSI wouldn't let those domains go. Instead, it approached all German domain owners with a letter - written in English - asking them to renew their registration with fresh contracts at a price of $35 or more.
However, NSI wouldn't let those domains go. Instead, it approached all German domain owners with a letter - written in English - asking them to renew their registration with fresh contracts at a price of $35 or more.
Wednesday February
25th, 2004
(Ash Wednesday)
new .MD TLD goes live next month
At $200 a pop I don't think there will be a line.
But it's an alternative to the heavily restricted .pro TLD.
press release from MaxMD: Yahoo or Business Wire
But it's an alternative to the heavily restricted .pro TLD.
press release from MaxMD: Yahoo or Business Wire
MaxMD's initial marketing efforts will focus on a 60-day "sunrise period" that begins Monday, March 1, 2004 at 2:00 PM GMT and ends on April 29, 2004 at 10:00 PM GMT. During that time, qualified owners of U.S. and international trademarks may purchase .md domain names that correspond to their trademarks for $200 per domain name..... At the conclusion of this sunrise period, MaxMD will begin marketing .md domain names to physicians, medical institutions and other members of the global health care community.
MaxMD acquired long-term exclusive rights to market .md domain names in over 90 countries in North and South America, as well as in Europe and Asia. These rights were acquired from a Moldovan company that acquired them from a state enterprise of the Republic of Moldova. MaxMD is not affiliated with any company previously involved in marketing the .md domain. Moldova, a former republic of the USSR, was assigned the country code .md by ICANN
Monday February
23rd, 2004
ex-Snapnames employees manipulate Google
Next time you have to dig through a full page of Google spam (useless results for a meaningful request) you can thank these folks:
Jumping ship from SnapNames, Market Mechanix rides Google
Market Mechanix is small but claims to have around 7 million page views a month. When asked how much they made they commented that it was enough to pay 7 full time employees and some outside contractors, also while repaying the founders' initial investment.
Read the article for the full story. I don't think them discussing their techniques in public is going to keep them in business for too much longer. Did they just forget about SearchKing?
Jumping ship from SnapNames, Market Mechanix rides Google
A few ex-SnapNames employees Ron Wiener (former CEO), Len Bayles (former CTO), and Cameron Powell (former VP of business development) have joined forces with Charlie Kawasaki the former CEO of Portland's Rulespace. Their company has set out to ride the coat tails of Google by figuring out the Google search engine algorithm and inserting their pages in the engine.
Market Mechanix is small but claims to have around 7 million page views a month. When asked how much they made they commented that it was enough to pay 7 full time employees and some outside contractors, also while repaying the founders' initial investment.
Read the article for the full story. I don't think them discussing their techniques in public is going to keep them in business for too much longer. Did they just forget about SearchKing?
Sunday February
22nd, 2004
(Washington's Birthday)
DROA must pay $6 per transfer away in settlement
Domain Registry of America is now required by the FTC to payout $6 for each person who transfers away from them:
http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2003/12/domainreg.htm
http://www.droa.com/news.asp
(ARIShost onced used DROA for domain registrations, so if you ever had a ARIShost domain you may want to check if you qualify for this refund - I had at least one)
http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2003/12/domainreg.htm
http://www.droa.com/news.asp
(ARIShost onced used DROA for domain registrations, so if you ever had a ARIShost domain you may want to check if you qualify for this refund - I had at least one)
The Federal Trade Commission has requested that a federal district court enjoin Domain Registry of America, Inc., an Internet domain name re-seller, from making misrepresentations in the marketing of its domain name registration services and require it to pay redress to consumers. According to the FTC, the company told consumers that their domain registrations were expiring, leading many consumers unwittingly to switch their domain name registrar. The company also allegedly did not disclose that it would charge a processing fee to consumers if their transfer request was not competed – for any reason – and failed to provide consumers refunds in a timely manner. Under the terms of the stipulated final order announced today, Domain Registry of America (DROA), based in Ontario, Canada, may be required to provide redress to up to 50,000 consumers, is prohibited from engaging in similar conduct in the future, and is subject to stringent monitoring by the Commission to ensure its compliance with the court order.
Saturday February
21st, 2004
Verisign "wins" internet villain award
ZDnet article - press release
In contrast to ... what has become something of a tradition at the ISPAs ... nobody from VeriSign was present.
Instead, a person dressed as a thief, complete with black- and white-striped jumper, a facemask and a bag marked "swag", was despatched to pick up cards from tables. "It's VeriSign stealing domain names", explained master of ceremonies Simon Amstell from Channel 4's Popworld, when it became apparent that an explanation was necessary: "That's the joke". As the audience caught on, Amstell added: "I was told not to worry, that you'd all find this hilarious. The Internet people, they said, will think this is as funny as The Office.
Instead, a person dressed as a thief, complete with black- and white-striped jumper, a facemask and a bag marked "swag", was despatched to pick up cards from tables. "It's VeriSign stealing domain names", explained master of ceremonies Simon Amstell from Channel 4's Popworld, when it became apparent that an explanation was necessary: "That's the joke". As the audience caught on, Amstell added: "I was told not to worry, that you'd all find this hilarious. The Internet people, they said, will think this is as funny as The Office.
Friday February
20th, 2004
2003 domain registrations set new record
http://www.infomaticsonline.co.uk/News/1152840
Strong growth in domain registrations saw 2003 end as a record year for web domain registrations, according to domain name registry VeriSign.
Total domain name registrations reached an all-time high of 60 million, growing 16 per cent in 2003.
With 52 per cent of all registrations, .com and .net represent the most popular domain names. More than 30.4 million domain names are currently registered as either .com or .net, with more than 1.7 million of those added during the last three months of 2003.
But Country Code Top Level Domains (ccTLDs) account for a growing portion of overall domain names and currently represent 40 per cent of all registrations.
The majority of ccTLDs were registered in Europe, with the top 10 ccTLDs accounting for 71 per cent of all ccTLD registrations.
Rusty Lewis, executive vice president of VeriSign's naming and directory services, said in a statement: "The report shows how domain name registrations are increasing across the board.
"In October 2003, more than 1.5 million domain names were registered, which represents the highest number of registrations for any single month in the history of the internet."
Total domain name registrations reached an all-time high of 60 million, growing 16 per cent in 2003.
With 52 per cent of all registrations, .com and .net represent the most popular domain names. More than 30.4 million domain names are currently registered as either .com or .net, with more than 1.7 million of those added during the last three months of 2003.
But Country Code Top Level Domains (ccTLDs) account for a growing portion of overall domain names and currently represent 40 per cent of all registrations.
The majority of ccTLDs were registered in Europe, with the top 10 ccTLDs accounting for 71 per cent of all ccTLD registrations.
Rusty Lewis, executive vice president of VeriSign's naming and directory services, said in a statement: "The report shows how domain name registrations are increasing across the board.
"In October 2003, more than 1.5 million domain names were registered, which represents the highest number of registrations for any single month in the history of the internet."
Thursday February
19th, 2004
eBay halts sales of phone numbers
Looks like eBay has determined that phone number sales are not the same as domain name sales. I wonder how this will affect domains being sold with matching toll-free numbers?
full story (more info)
full story (more info)
The phone number popularized by 1982's one-hit wonder Tommy Tutone - Eight-six-seven-five-three-oh-nieeine - rings into a Murfreesboro used-car dealership in area code 615.
Tuning in to national attention for the auction of New York's 212 version of the number on eBay, the dealership put its number on the Internet auction block Monday.
However Tuesday afternoon, David Ludwig, general manger of Auto Outlet, said he got an e-mail from eBay notifying him that his "Jenny" auction had been canceled for being "inappropriate." The other phone numbers being also sold disappeared from the Web site.
The auctions were put on hold until eBay could determine whether they fell within the company's guidelines, a spokesman said Tuesday night. "People are really creative," said spokesman Henry Gomez. "And this one had us scratching our heads a bit."
Tuning in to national attention for the auction of New York's 212 version of the number on eBay, the dealership put its number on the Internet auction block Monday.
However Tuesday afternoon, David Ludwig, general manger of Auto Outlet, said he got an e-mail from eBay notifying him that his "Jenny" auction had been canceled for being "inappropriate." The other phone numbers being also sold disappeared from the Web site.
The auctions were put on hold until eBay could determine whether they fell within the company's guidelines, a spokesman said Tuesday night. "People are really creative," said spokesman Henry Gomez. "And this one had us scratching our heads a bit."
Wednesday February
18th, 2004
Registrars threaten to sue over WLS
A letter (pdf) was sent from an "ad hoc coalition of ICANN-accredited registrars" to ICANN today.
http://www.icannwatch.org/article.pl?sid=04/02/18/0245230
http://www.icannwatch.org/article.pl?sid=04/02/18/0245230
The un-named registrars claim that Verisign's proposed "Waiting List Service" (WLS) "if launched would constitute an unlawful and fraudulent protection racket in violation of state and federal consumer protection and unfair competition laws.
Sunday February
15th, 2004
top eBay domain sales Jan 31st - Feb 14th
Top eBay domain sales $200 or above
January 31st - February 14th, 2004
(note: only verified as eBay posted sale, not for actual transfer)
$14,600 FreeWebPages.com feb-02
$5,000 DrViagra.com/.net feb-13
$2,499 JIMS.COM feb-06
$2,000 ThePhiladelphiaEagles.com feb-07
$1,575 porn.ph feb-10
$1,025 duplication.net feb-01
$1,000 DJSFORYOU.COM feb-11
$510 ZFD.com Feb-14
$500 ListingAgent.Org feb-06
$500 lowhotelrates.net feb-02
$500 WarrenBuffett.com feb-13
$500 WAHMSONTHEWEB.COM jan-31
$499 BEAUTIFUL.ORG feb-06
$455 HummerOrlando.com feb-01
$435 UQV.COM feb-08
$350 WebMasterSkill.com feb-13
$310 MIKEROSOFT.COM feb-12
$306 goodsh*t.com feb-01
$299 tax-service.com feb-10
$299 AUCTIONBIDZ.COM feb-01
$228 OMAHABARS.COM feb-02
$227 onlineflirt.us feb-08
$225 AutoPolicy.Com jan-31
$202 Guide2Prince.org feb-01
$200 Animewebhosting.com feb-11
previous lists:
January 16th, 2004 - January 30th, 2004
December 28th, 2003 - January 11th, 2004
January 31st - February 14th, 2004
(note: only verified as eBay posted sale, not for actual transfer)
$14,600 FreeWebPages.com feb-02
$5,000 DrViagra.com/.net feb-13
$2,499 JIMS.COM feb-06
$2,000 ThePhiladelphiaEagles.com feb-07
$1,575 porn.ph feb-10
$1,025 duplication.net feb-01
$1,000 DJSFORYOU.COM feb-11
$510 ZFD.com Feb-14
$500 ListingAgent.Org feb-06
$500 lowhotelrates.net feb-02
$500 WarrenBuffett.com feb-13
$500 WAHMSONTHEWEB.COM jan-31
$499 BEAUTIFUL.ORG feb-06
$455 HummerOrlando.com feb-01
$435 UQV.COM feb-08
$350 WebMasterSkill.com feb-13
$310 MIKEROSOFT.COM feb-12
$306 goodsh*t.com feb-01
$299 tax-service.com feb-10
$299 AUCTIONBIDZ.COM feb-01
$228 OMAHABARS.COM feb-02
$227 onlineflirt.us feb-08
$225 AutoPolicy.Com jan-31
$202 Guide2Prince.org feb-01
$200 Animewebhosting.com feb-11
previous lists:
January 16th, 2004 - January 30th, 2004
December 28th, 2003 - January 11th, 2004
Moreover: domain news
Fees for `.org' domain names to increase 10 pct Fees for `.org' domain names to increase 10 pct 'Enterprising' cybersquatter ordered to transfer 12 domain names Redirecting Alternate Domains to Prevent Duplicate Content ICANN attacks 'fat and happy' IPv4 users IBM Goes Multi-Domain VeriSign swings to $19M Q1 loss COMMUNIQUE: PR Newswire: dotMobi Acquires Mowser Assets dotMobi Acquires Mowser Assets Israel.com headed for auction dotMobi Acquires Mowser Assets Jobs.ca Changes Hands in Blockbuster Deal That Ranks Among the Year's Ten Biggest Domain Sales dotMobi Acquires Mowser Assets Provider DiscountASP.NET Named Best Hosting Service by asp.netPRO Readers for Fourth Consecutive Year Name Provider Go Daddy Returns to NASCAR with Mark Martin in the Driver's Seat dotMobi Acquires Mowser Assets dotMobi Acquires Mowser Assets dotMobi Acquires Mowser Assets IBM Goes Multi-Domain 40% off .biz domains with Easyspace Israel.com headed for auction VeriSign Reports First Quarter 2008 Results New Internet Domain - .ME - Opens Registration for Trademark Holders VeriSign Reports First Quarter 2008 ResultsNews4Sites: domain news
MyDomain to Give Away 25 Domains MyDomain Announces 'Marathon Giveaway' Day of Free Domain Names ... Read.me: New '.me' Domains Available .Com The Best Domain in the World .ca The Domain That HasnÂÂ’t Kicked Off Google Becomes Domain Registrar, Why? Researchers switch magnetic domains from hard to soft BlueHost - Knocking on the Door of One-Million Domains Data Domain Certified Silver 5-Star Winner by Everything Channel's VARBusiness .me Domains Not Far Away Domain name policy puts us in Internet vanguard Digital Domain may scrap public stock offeringDNJournal: cover stories
He Made a Fortune When He Sold BuyDomains - Now Michael Mann Wants to Change the World With WashingtonVC How New Sales Platforms are Sending the Domain Aftermarket Into Orbit T.R.A.F.F.I.C. New York 2007 The NameMedia Story: How They Are Rocking the Internet and Rolling Up the Domain Industry How Domains Made Sahar Sarid's Dreams Come True Can Demand Media's Richard Rosenblatt Do It Again with Domains? T.R.A.F.F.I.C. West Wows Record Breaking Crowd in Las Vegas The Eric Rice Story: How A Displaced Domain Executive Survived 15 Domain Experts Ponder What Happened in 2006 and Predict What's Coming Next How Michael and David Castello Morphed from Struggling Musicians to Domain Millionaires T.R.A.F.F.I.C. East 2006: How Domain History was Made at the Westin Diplomat T.R.A.F.F.I.C. Conference Organizers Ready to Scale New Heights With Upcoming Florida Show The Marchex Story: Why They Spent $164 Million on Domains Inside iREIT: How a Startup Company Became an Industry Giant Overnight It's Nothing But Blue Skies For Nathan Sassover and WorldNetCast.comshow 46 more remaining...
Is Ari Goldberger the Domain Industry's Ultimate Entrepreneur?
Highlights From a Landmark Gathering of Industry Leaders in the Pacific Northwest
Repaving the Parking Lot: Have Domain Developers Won the Debate?
Be Careful what You Wish For: The Continuing Saga of Gary Kremen and Sex.com
Domain Business Moves Into the Fast Lane After T.R.A.F.F.I.C. Stop in Silicon Valley
The State of the Industry: Insight From 20 Domain Experts On What Happened in 2005 and What's Coming in 2006
Matias Makes His Mark: How a Creative Kid From a Third World Country Used Domain Names To Make His Dreams Come True
Going for Broke: Why Brian Null's Family Bet the Farm On His Golf Domains
Improving on Perfection: T.RA.F.F.I.C. East 2005 Wows Attendees With World Class Domain Conference
It's Showtime! T.R.A.F.F.I.C. East Doubles in Size for Return Trip to Delray Beach
Dead Heads to Domain Honchos: How the Internet Real Estate Group Became the Industry's Biggest Hitmakers
The State of the Industry (Summer 2005): Where We Are and Where We Are Headed
Chris Chena Takes Charge: How the Whiz Kid from Paraguay Is Building A Spanish Domain Empire
Domain Heavyweights Leave Las Vegas Stronger Than Ever After Quality Time at Traffic West
Debut Edition of Domain Roundtable Served Up Rich Banquet of Seminars and CEO's
Bright Lights and Brilliant Domainers Await Traffic Attendees in Las Vegas
Knights of the Domain Roundtable Ready for Summit in Seattle
Tools of the Trade: Free Resources That Will Help You Identify Domains That $ell
High Impact Sites: Inside Adam Dicker's Domain Empire
.Women Wanted: Our Role Models Rock But the Business Needs More Recruits
2004: It Was a Very Good Year - But Now What?
Industry Experts Say The Best Is Yet to Come!
AmericanFlags.com: How Jeff Reynolds Turned His Bargain Domain Into a Star Spangled Business
New.net's Impossible Dream: Can The Alternate TLD Company Reach the Unreachable Star?
Successful Trade Show Heralds the Start of a New Era For the Domain Industry
Why Parking Companies Want YOUR Portfolio and What DomainSponsor.com Is Doing To Try to Get It
Underachiever to Overlord: Go Daddy's Bob Parsons Started Slow Then Built Two Business Empires
Inside a Drop Catcher's War Room: How eNom Arms Maker Chris Ambler Is Turning The Tide for Club Drop
Divine Inspiration: Why Bob Broxton Believes His Domains Will Help Save the World
The Pool.com Story: How A Tadpole Turned Into A Killer Whale in Just 12 Months!
Filling Niches: The Alternate Road to Riches (My Sophomore Year in the Domain Business)
Sedo's Ascent: How the German Juggernaut Became A Global Giant
The Great Three-Letter .Info/.Biz Buyout: Elequa Alters the New Extension Landscape
Rick Schwartz: Domain King or Royal Pain?
China: Will the World's Most Populous Nation Become a Premier Market for Domains?
Tough Name to Live Up To: Is An Australian Registrar's Claim to Be Fabulous Fact or Fiction?
New.net's Impossible Dream: Can The Alternate TLD Company Reach the Unreachable Star?
The Full Monte: Why an Industry Pioneer's One Stop Shop Kept Expanding Long After the Bubble Burst
Off to See the Wizard:Will WLS Demolish Domain Drop Catchers?
Superhero or Arch Villain? The Secret Identity of Super Mann
Farmer Feeds the World With Domain Data: The Dwayne Rowland & Exody Story
Domain Industry Ghostbuster: Why Roger Collins Brought Afternic Back From The Afterlife
My First Year in the Domain Business: A Rookie's Diary
The Master of His Niche: How Domain Therapy Turned Triumph Into Tragedy for Nick Master
King Leads A Revolution to Make Acquiring Deleted Domains a Snap
Elequa Unmasked: Unveiling the World's Most Prolific"Domain Artist"
New Company Promises New Life for Your Tired Old & Inactive Domain Names
DNJournal: features
Elequa Makes 3-Letter .Biz And .Info Domains Disappear .DE Rules the Roost In Deutschland One Domainer's Case in Support of WLS $1.3 Million Sale of Men.com Signals Rebirth of the Premium Domain Market The Sun Rises on a Safe Internet Space for Children - KIDS.US Afternic.com Unveils Bazaar: The Industry's First Wholesale Domain Auction Venue Can the King weather challenges to its throne? Tariq Ghafoor on new extensions challenging .Com The Sleeping Giant is Waking Up! Dan McCullough on .US Tax Tips for Reporting Domain Name Sales Gamble Pays Off for Domain Name Forum Owner Domain Buyer Quickly Becomes Big Player in .USDNJournal: the low down
March - April 2006 January - February 2006 November - December 2005 July - October 2005 January - June 2005 November - December 2004 September - October 2004 July - August 2004 May - June 2004 April 2004 March 2004DNJournal: editorial
Time For ICANN to Reign In Out-of-Control Registrars Why New Extensions MUST Be Taken SeriouslyDNJournal: legal matters
Stick 'em Up! Self Defense Against Reverse Domain Name Hijacking Domain Names, Trademarks and the Dispute Carreon On Cybersquatting, Hijacking & Domain BasicsYahoo News
Name.com Opens Door to .ASIA Landrush With Gold Rush Prices (PRWeb) Visionary Company Captures 'The Best Web-Address' in the World, Literally (PRWeb) Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) US.gov disappears European-owned Cuba websites (The Register) Register.com Files Case to Get Register.cc (Web Host Directory) $6.95 Domain Name (La Stampa Nordovest) .Aero, Domains with 2 Letters (Web Host Directory) TECHBITS: Google hacking, Domain dispute, EFF awards, MIT award (Savannah Morning News) 33 Million Domains Registered in 2007 (Web Host Directory) Newsletter Subscription (ARNnet) 33 Million Domain Names Registered in 2007, Total Domains Now Over 153 Million (CircleID) Yahoo extends key deadline (Inside Bay Area) Internet domain names cross 150mn in 2007 (Business Standard India) New tool cracks most enterprise wireless LANs (ZDNet) US.gov disappears European-owned Cuba websites (The Register) VeriSign Publishes Domain Brief (Web Host Industry Review) Step by Step: Configuring SSL Under Apache (ONLamp.com)MSN News
ICANN grills domain-hogging Network Solutions No Domain Name Snatching Found Tucows Launches Personal Names Service Non-English Domains Still Unsettled Amazon.com seeks increased revenue promoting competitors' prices in ... Andy Oram Reports AsiaRegistry Ready for the .ASIA Landrush Asia helps celebrities protect their cyber identity Technology Pioneers Dr. Vinton G. Cerf and Dr. Martin E. Hellman Join ... Can an IPv4 stock market stave off address depletion, IPv6? Technology Pioneers Dr. Vinton G. Cerf and Dr. Martin E. Hellman Join ... September 2002 Major vendors join OpenID board Spear The Phishers--Not The Fish Domain Name Game Still Going Strong; Tad Less Secretive January 2004 Freebie Fridays Help You Save Cash Developers Fret Over Domain Name Drought Report: Security-Wise, the Mac Platform Is Getting Shaky Super Bowl Proves Meager Meal for WebDomain Name Wire
dotMobi Buys Mowser From Guy Who Doesn’t Believe in Mobile Web .Org Domain Name Prices to Jump 10% Maybe $2.6 Million for Pizza.com Isn’t that Outrageous Afterall Qwest Snags QwestVerizon.com…Just in Time Media Confusion Over a Parked Domain Name Survey: SnapNames Still King of Expired Domain Names DBS: Domain Parking Revenue PlummetingNom de domaine !
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Flûte alors !
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