Getting hold of a .com that's in use - options?

[SiD the Turtle]

Hi guys,

There's a .com address that I'm after, it's actually my surname. The .com has been registered to a company since the 90s, which seems to have an obscure product that is also my surname.

The web address itself has no site associated with it, page requests time out. It seems to have been that way since 2002. I'm going to email the administrative contact to see if I can buy it off him but if he tells me to get lost or I don't get a response what are my options?

Yes the company is just as entitled to the web address as I am, but is there any kind of dispute resolution to say that its not being used, similar to how companies can claw back sites from squatters?

 

[SiD the Turtle]

Hmm. Its seems to be a valid site.

 

[SiD the Turtle]

Hi guys,

Thanks for all the input. All I really want it for is for email, so nothing major, just wanted to get some ideas on where I stand. I'm going to email the administrative contact and see what he says, if it's in use or he wants to charge me a tonne of cash, it's not worth the effort.