My name is Rick Schwartz. In some circles I am known as the "Webfather"; in other circles I am known as the "Domain King", but in all circles I am known as Rick Schwartz. What you are about to read resides on my blog, RicksBlog.com. But I wanted a bigger, more universal soapbox, with lots of cross traffic from all corners. So I opened up HallofShame.com to put a spotlight on some very bad behavior by some very BIG companies, in the hope it will get noticed, and we can put an end to this disgusting practice.
For eight years, only one name had the dubious honor of being on the list.
Now, there is a new name.
A new HallOfShame.com inductee has been given the status of RDNH Poster Boy.
Take a look at our feature presentation now!
Reverse Domain Name Hijacking is when an person or entity tries to steal a domain name from the rightful and legal owner by claiming Trademark Infringement and/or Bad Faith, among other fabrications, in order to get a governing panel to award them the domain name. In lay terms, they are folks too cheap to pay the owner, so they abuse the process and try to steal, or hijack, the domain name to which they have no rights whatsoever. Panels may find that they are guilty of this practice and not only deny their claim, but find that the over reach is indeed Reverse Domain Name Hijacking. (RDNH).
At HallofShame.com we expose these people, companies and the attorneys that represent them and sometimes aid and abet!
First of all, if you have anything to do with Reverse Domain Name Hijacking and you do permanent and irreparable damage to the company you work for or represent, how long do you think you will be working there? You will see what it means to be labeled a "Reverse Domain Name Hijacker". It ain't pretty. The facts speak for themselves. If you put the reputation of your company on the line, be prepared for the fallout. Don't say you did not know as you resort to lies and thinking you are cute by registering trademarks long after the domain was registered.
See … that act is premeditated from where I sit. It's not an honest difference or honest disagreement, where you need a third party to make a ruling. It is an act that involved abusing the system; and in each decision, it clearly spells out how each abused the system, and many times there were fabrications. Some decisions are quite harsh by any standard. So read the Saveme.com decision, the Procter and Gamble decision and the Jaguar/Landrover decision. Look at the language the panels used. Insert your name, your company's name, your attorney's name. If you don't think that has life changing ramifications, then you don't have a chance in this new century. This conviction will follow you, and you will own it and have to deal with it.
And believe me, I don't want that to happen to you.