Someone wants my domain name...

glitch

glitch

glitch

Soldato
Joined
8 Nov 2005
Posts
4,583
I've been sitting on a number of 'useful' domain names for a while now, partly because I can never make my bloody mind up about which to use and partly because I've got a number of projects on the go that I'm going to use them for and I need to know they are there when I want them.

However, I'm not a squatter. All the domains are unique to me and have no commercial or 'celebrity' affiliation that I can think of. I'm certainly not out to make money for them - I fully intend to use them at some point.

Recently I've acquired the .com variant of a domain that I've held the .co.uk for a number of years, having noticed on a rainy afternoon that it had become available. Just what I needed to finally get the motivation to do something with the domain.

However I've had contact from someone who professes to be the original 'owner' of the .com domain and they would quite like it back as they apparently forgot to re-register it and let it slip. I'm inclined to believe their story and I'm mulling over the possibility of giving up the domain, but I want to make sure the information I've been provided is accurate and I'm not being taken for a ride.

What tools are out there for me to check the 'history' of this domain (or any domain) and see who the previous registrant(s) were/are and to see what's been going on with the domain since it was active?

I'm aware of The Wayback Machine but what else can I take a good long look at?
 
I guess it depends how much you need and if they are telling the truth. I certainly had a lot of emailed reminders though when my domain was expiring so they did well to miss it.
 
Engram said:
Oh, I think you have to pay. :-|
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Oh, shame. Thanks for looking though!

Sp00n said:
I would give it back for a nominal fee :D
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If the story checks out and the information I've been given is consistent with the truth, I'd potentially give it up for any administration costs.

The problem is that it's the name of a book I'm (eventually) going to write and I really fancied the .com domain to go with it.

If there's nothing showing up on the Wayback Machine for the domain can I assume there's never been a website active? And is there any way to tell if there's ever been email routing through the domain in question?

Spooter said:
I guess it depends how much you need and if they are telling the truth. I certainly had a lot of emailed reminders though when my domain was expiring so they did well to miss it.
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This is why I'm trying to track down all the facts. I get about three emails a day for two months leading up to my domain expiries, although I appreciate that will differ from host to host.
 
Personally wouldn't even bother to check if he/she was the previous owner as it really doesn't matter. Just say something like I'm willing to accept offers around xxxxx - if they accept its great for you. If they don't then it doesn't matter.

Fact is, you own the domain now :)

glitch said:
This is why I'm trying to track down all the facts. I get about three emails a day for two months leading up to my domain expiries, although I appreciate that will differ from host to host.
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Long shot, but google cache might be worth a try? E.g. cache:www.domain.com
 
I would keep it.

You took possession of it, fair and square, and you intend to use it too.

They can't have had anything of much importance on it, otherwise they wouldn't have lost it!

I don't think it's right to try and sell it back to them though. (And it doesn't seem like you think that's right either, which is good).
 
It would have been inactive for a long period before the registration dropping so they can't have had anything too vital on it.

Though that said perhaps once a month we have a client pay a redemption fee because they missed the 30 day grace period!
 
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