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Obviously no human is checking these; and they grab it for 1 day only? What an example of a shitty company getting shittier.

$ whois networksolutionssuckscock.com

Whois Server Version 2.0

Domain names in the .com and .net domains can now be registered
with many different competing registrars. Go to http://www.internic.net/
for detailed information.

      Domain Name: NETWORKSOLUTIONSSUCKSCOCK.COM
      Registrar: NETWORK SOLUTIONS, LLC.
      Whois Server: whois.networksolutions.com
      Referral URL: http://www.networksolutions.com/
      Name Server: NS1.RESERVEDDOMAINNAME.COM
      Name Server: NS2.RESERVEDDOMAINNAME.COM
      Status: ok
      Updated Date: 08-jan-2008
      Creation Date: 08-jan-2008
      Expiration Date: 08-jan-2009

It's beautiful. I got them to register BigGiganticDonkeyDicks.com! What a bunch of lowlifes they are. To think they once ruled all domain registration and are now reduced to bottom feeding.

Whois Server Version 2.0

Domain names in the .com and .net domains can now be registered
with many different competing registrars. Go to http://www.internic.net/
for detailed information.

      Domain Name: BIGGIGANTICDONKEYDICKS.COM
      Registrar: NETWORK SOLUTIONS, LLC.
      Whois Server: whois.networksolutions.com
      Referral URL: http://www.networksolutions.com/
      Name Server: NS1.RESERVEDDOMAINNAME.COM
      Name Server: NS2.RESERVEDDOMAINNAME.COM
      Status: ok
      Updated Date: 08-jan-2008
      Creation Date: 08-jan-2008
      Expiration Date: 08-jan-2009

Domain Name: FUCKYOUNSI.COM
Registrar: NETWORK SOLUTIONS, LLC.
Whois Server: whois.networksolutions.com
Referral URL: http://www.networksolutions.com/
Name Server: NS1.RESERVEDDOMAINNAME.COM
Name Server: NS2.RESERVEDDOMAINNAME.COM
Status: ok
Updated Date: 08-jan-2008
Creation Date: 08-jan-2008
Expiration Date: 08-jan-2009

http://islam-equals-murder.com

Domain Name: ISLAM-EQUALS-MURDER.COM
Registrar: NETWORK SOLUTIONS, LLC.
Whois Server: whois.networksolutions.com
Referral URL: http://www.networksolutions.com/
Name Server: NS1.RESERVEDDOMAINNAME.COM
Name Server: NS2.RESERVEDDOMAINNAME.COM
Status: ok
Updated Date: 08-jan-2008
Creation Date: 08-jan-2008
Expiration Date: 08-jan-2009

Not only that, they also put it on one of their parking "Domain Available!" pages too.

www.hitler-had-only-one-ball.com,

Tried on godaddy, showed up as open.
Same on NS, showed up as blank.
Went back to Godaddy, clicked it again, "DOMAIN TAKEN"

Whois shows it up as;
    Domain Name: HITLER-HAD-ONLY-ONE-BALL.COM
      Registrar: NETWORK SOLUTIONS, LLC.
      Whois Server: whois.networksolutions.com
      Referral URL: http://www.networksolutions.com/
      Name Server: NS1.RESERVEDDOMAINNAME.COM
      Name Server: NS2.RESERVEDDOMAINNAME.COM
      Status: ok
      Updated Date: 08-jan-2008
      Creation Date: 08-jan-2008
      Expiration Date: 08-jan-2009

Within seconds of having it hit.

As for the "domain tasting" drop after $n days, why not just 're-search' for it, after 3 days, so it stays registered until it costs them money?

Can you imagine the nightmare it's going to create with all those Trademark monitoring organizations out there like MarkMonitor? Can you imagine if you queried high-profile trademark domains such as: MicrosoftSunCiscoWalMartIBMFord.com and they "reserved" the names?

I just hit it and looks like they now own it.

      Domain Name: MICROSOFTSUNCISCOWALMARTIBMFORD.COM
      Registrar: NETWORK SOLUTIONS, LLC.
      Whois Server: whois.networksolutions.com
      Referral URL: http://www.networksolutions.com/
      Name Server: NS1.RESERVEDDOMAINNAME.COM
      Name Server: NS2.RESERVEDDOMAINNAME.COM
      Status: ok
      Updated Date: 08-jan-2008
      Creation Date: 08-jan-2008
      Expiration Date: 08-jan-2009

Since Network Solutions registered the domain, I'm sure its triggering a response to MarkMonitor's "clients". I'm sure MarkMonitor and the other TM moitoring sites are going crazy now.

Check out the button on the front page that links to http://www.networksolutions.com/domain-name-registration/pending.jsp

Pretty good service - they even explain how you can bid in an auction to get your site back if you've let it lapse, and they let you download a 1.7MB file of lapsed and squattable domains from ftp://ftp.networksolutions.com/dprd/dprd-sf-ftp.csv

Check out the button on the front page that links to http://www.networksolutions.com/domain-name-registration/pending.jsp

Pretty good service - they even explain how you can bid in an auction to get your site back if you've let it lapse, and they let you download a 1.7MB file of lapsed and squattable domains from ftp://ftp.networksolutions.com/dprd/dprd-sf-ftp.csv

Whois Lookup

Expire Date: 01/08/2009
Admin email address: domainsupport@networksolutions.com
Registrant: This Domain is available at NetworkSolutions.com
Registrar: NETWORK SOLUTIONS, LLC.
Status: active
Locked: N
Raw whois output:

      Domain Name: NETWORKSOLUTIONSSUCKSDICK.COM
      Registrar: NETWORK SOLUTIONS, LLC.
      Whois Server: whois.networksolutions.com
      Referral URL: http://www.networksolutions.com/
      Name Server: NS1.RESERVEDDOMAINNAME.COM
      Name Server: NS2.RESERVEDDOMAINNAME.COM
      Status: ok
      Updated Date: 08-jan-2008
      Creation Date: 08-jan-2008
      Expiration Date: 08-jan-2009
NOTICE AND TERMS OF USE: You are not authorized to access or query our WHOIS
database through the use of high-volume, automated, electronic processes. The
Data in Network Solutions' WHOIS database is provided by Network Solutions for information
purposes only, and to assist persons in obtaining information about or related
to a domain name registration record. Network Solutions does not guarantee its accuracy.
By submitting a WHOIS query, you agree to abide by the following terms of use:
You agree that you may use this Data only for lawful purposes and that under no
circumstances will you use this Data to: (1) allow, enable, or otherwise support
the transmission of mass unsolicited, commercial advertising or solicitations
via e-mail, telephone, or facsimile; or (2) enable high volume, automated,
electronic processes that apply to Network Solutions (or its computer systems). The
compilation, repackaging, dissemination or other use of this Data is expressly
prohibited without the prior written consent of Network Solutions. You agree not to use
high-volume, automated, electronic processes to access or query the WHOIS
database. Network Solutions reserves the right to terminate your access to the WHOIS
database in its sole discretion, including without limitation, for excessive
querying of the WHOIS database or for failure to otherwise abide by this policy.
Network Solutions reserves the right to modify these terms at any time.

Get a FREE domain name registration, transfer, or renewal with any annual hosting package
- or just $8.95 with monthly packages.

http://www.networksolutions.com/

Visit AboutUs.org for more information about NETWORKSOLUTIONSSUCKSDICK.COM
AboutUs: NETWORKSOLUTIONSSUCKSDICK.COM

Whois Lookup

Expire Date: 01/08/2009
Admin email address: domainsupport@networksolutions.com
Registrant: This Domain is available at NetworkSolutions.com
Registrar: NETWORK SOLUTIONS, LLC.
Status: active
Locked: N
Raw whois output:

      Domain Name: NETWORKSOLUTIONSSUCKSDICK.COM
      Registrar: NETWORK SOLUTIONS, LLC.
      Whois Server: whois.networksolutions.com
      Referral URL: http://www.networksolutions.com/
      Name Server: NS1.RESERVEDDOMAINNAME.COM
      Name Server: NS2.RESERVEDDOMAINNAME.COM
      Status: ok
      Updated Date: 08-jan-2008
      Creation Date: 08-jan-2008
      Expiration Date: 08-jan-2009
NOTICE AND TERMS OF USE: You are not authorized to access or query our WHOIS
database through the use of high-volume, automated, electronic processes. The
Data in Network Solutions' WHOIS database is provided by Network Solutions for information
purposes only, and to assist persons in obtaining information about or related
to a domain name registration record. Network Solutions does not guarantee its accuracy.
By submitting a WHOIS query, you agree to abide by the following terms of use:
You agree that you may use this Data only for lawful purposes and that under no
circumstances will you use this Data to: (1) allow, enable, or otherwise support
the transmission of mass unsolicited, commercial advertising or solicitations
via e-mail, telephone, or facsimile; or (2) enable high volume, automated,
electronic processes that apply to Network Solutions (or its computer systems). The
compilation, repackaging, dissemination or other use of this Data is expressly
prohibited without the prior written consent of Network Solutions. You agree not to use
high-volume, automated, electronic processes to access or query the WHOIS
database. Network Solutions reserves the right to terminate your access to the WHOIS
database in its sole discretion, including without limitation, for excessive
querying of the WHOIS database or for failure to otherwise abide by this policy.
Network Solutions reserves the right to modify these terms at any time.

Get a FREE domain name registration, transfer, or renewal with any annual hosting package
- or just $8.95 with monthly packages.

http://www.networksolutions.com/

Visit AboutUs.org for more information about NETWORKSOLUTIONSSUCKSDICK.COM
AboutUs: NETWORKSOLUTIONSSUCKSDICK.COM

Even funnier:

      Domain Name: FUCKYOUNSI00001.COM
      Registrar: NETWORK SOLUTIONS, LLC.
      Whois Server: whois.networksolutions.com
      Referral URL: http://www.networksolutions.com/
      Name Server: NS1.RESERVEDDOMAINNAME.COM
      Name Server: NS2.RESERVEDDOMAINNAME.COM
      Status: ok
      Updated Date: 08-jan-2008
      Creation Date: 08-jan-2008
      Expiration Date: 08-jan-2009

....for people with blonde hair: Domain Name: TONIGHTWOMANWELLBEDRIVINGDOWNSEPULVEDA.COM Registrar: NETWORK SOLUTIONS, LLC. Whois Server: whois.networksolutions.com Referral URL: http://www.networksolutions.com/ Name Server: NS1.RESERVEDDOMAINNAME.COM Name Server: NS2.RESERVEDDOMAINNAME.COM Status: ok Updated Date: 08-jan-2008 Creation Date: 08-jan-2008 Expiration Date: 08-jan-2009

Don't use a dictionary. Use a randomizer. Start with 63 characters+.com, .net, .org and what not.

So is there a way to do this automagicaly? It should not be too hard to make a bash script using curl for the page http://www.networksolutions.com/whois/index.jsp

Unfortunatly I am not good enough with curl.

Is there a whois server we can use?

Domain Name: USELESSDOMAIN00001.COM
      Registrar: NETWORK SOLUTIONS, LLC.
      Whois Server: whois.networksolutions.com
      Referral URL: http://www.networksolutions.com/
      Name Server: NS1.RESERVEDDOMAINNAME.COM
      Name Server: NS2.RESERVEDDOMAINNAME.COM
      Status: ok
      Updated Date: 08-jan-2008
      Creation Date: 08-jan-2008
      Expiration Date: 08-jan-2009

Nice, how nice

So I had this idea, like why not help Network Solutions!

Simply use the link: http://www.networksolutions.com/domain-name-registration/index.jsp to register as many variants of your preferred domain name at various top level domains!

Earlier today, I did a search for networksolutionslikesmen at networksolutions.com and checked off every top level domain box. I then did a whois at network solutions. Guess what Network solutions already had all the ownership info filled in! Sweet.

http://www.networksolutions.com/whois/results.jsp?domain=networksolutionslikesmen.com

This could be fun.

So I had this idea, like why not help Network Solutions!

Simply use the link: http://www.networksolutions.com/domain-name-registration/index.jsp to register as many variants of your preferred domain name at various top level domains!

Earlier today, I did a search for networksolutionslikesmen at networksolutions.com and checked off every top level domain box. I then did a whois at network solutions. Guess what Network solutions already had all the ownership info filled in! Sweet.

http://www.networksolutions.com/whois/results.jsp?domain=networksolutionslikesmen.com

This could be fun.

What a coincidence that just today, NSI spammed their customers with a Winter DNS sale announcement. Perhaps they are betting the hate will die down after the 3 week sale. If you need some help moving your DNS away from NSI, take a look at their HOW-TO

You're right, and somehow I doubt there's any human intervention, it seems to be done all automatically. Whoever said he queried a domain and it wasn't taken must of been lying or working for Network Solutions :P Has anyone come up with a script yet to perform random whois searches? It would be wicked if that script could just sit in the background and run all day. Be sure to post the script on slashdot!

Domain Name: EVERYONEATNSIHASASMALLPENIS.COM
      Registrar: NETWORK SOLUTIONS, LLC.
      Whois Server: whois.networksolutions.com
      Referral URL: http://www.networksolutions.com/
      Name Server: NS1.RESERVEDDOMAINNAME.COM
      Name Server: NS2.RESERVEDDOMAINNAME.COM
      Status: ok
      Updated Date: 08-jan-2008
      Creation Date: 08-jan-2008
      Expiration Date: 08-jan-2009

1. Go to networksolutions.com and check the availability of a random domain
2. Go to some other registrar (domainsatcost.ca worked for me) and try the same thing.

Mysteriously, the domain is suddenly unavailable.

So, we can create a link that has a simple php script to have the user check a random domain through them. That way it isn't all coming from one IP Address...

First up, 2-Oscar-7.net

symbolis@symbolis-desktop:~$ whois -H 2o7.net

Whois Server Version 2.0

Domain names in the .com and .net domains can now be registered
with many different competing registrars. Go to http://www.internic.net/
for detailed information.

      Domain Name: 2O7.NET
      Registrar: NETWORK SOLUTIONS, LLC.
      Whois Server: whois.networksolutions.com
      Referral URL: http://www.networksolutions.com/
      Name Server: NS1.DAL.OMNITURE.COM
      Name Server: NS1.SJ1.OMNITURE.COM
      Name Server: NS1.SJ2.OMNITURE.COM
      Status: clientTransferProhibited
      Updated Date: 27-jun-2006
      Creation Date: 29-sep-2000
      Expiration Date: 29-sep-2010

>>> Last update of whois database: Sun, 30 Dec 2007 01:07:05 UTC http://www.internic.net/
for detailed information.

      Domain Name: 207.NET
      Registrar: MARKMONITOR INC.
      Whois Server: whois.markmonitor.com
      Referral URL: http://www.markmonitor.com/
      Name Server: NS1.DAL.OMNITURE.COM
      Name Server: NS1.SJ1.OMNITURE.COM
      Name Server: NS1.SJ2.OMNITURE.COM
      Status: clientDeleteProhibited
      Status: clientTransferProhibited
      Status: clientUpdateProhibited
      Updated Date: 28-dec-2006
      Creation Date: 11-jul-1996
      Expiration Date: 10-jul-2012

>>> Last update of whois database: Sun, 30 Dec 2007 01:07:05 UTC http://www.markmonitor.com/

        Administrative Contact:
                Domain Admin (NIC-14522673) Omniture
                550 East Timpanogos Circle Orem UT 84097 US
                dnsadmin@omniture.com +1.8017227000 Fax- +1.8017227001
        Technical Contact, Zone Contact:
                Domain Admin (NIC-14522673) Omniture
                550 East Timpanogos Circle Orem UT 84097 US
                dnsadmin@omniture.com +1.8017227000 Fax- +1.8017227001

        Created on..............: 1996-Jul-10.
        Expires on..............: 2012-Jul-09.
        Record last updated on..: 2006-Dec-30 03:02:52.

        Domain servers in listed order:

        NS1.SJ1.OMNITURE.COM
        NS1.SJ2.OMNITURE.COM
        NS1.DAL.OMNITURE.COM

I think they were referring to the 'whois' command which just goes straight to the whois server at various registrars. For a .com, whois will check com.whois-servers.net which resolves to a forward to whois.verisign-grs.com.

However, if you think you can evade detection by your ISP by using a web browser, you're mistaken unless you are also using SSL. Try sticking https:/// in front of your favorite registrar's url when doing searches if you're concerned about snooping. Many will not run the service through SSL by default, but their sites support SSL and will likely stay in SSL for the request. Network Solutions stays secure the whole way through the lookup.

Another alternative, as suggested by others, is to use the registration process to do your lookups. Just take care to not accidentally back-order a domain by mistake.

I had a situation which sounds close to this... the domain wasn't "stolen" (as this article seems to infer), but what did happen was interesting, and potentially expensive...

I had registered a domain with Net-Sol last year and didn't re-new in time, so lost it (around June this year). There was a grace period for which I could get it back from Net-Sol, but it would cost me $45 (on top of the $35/year fee). Well, since I was in a situation anyway, I decided to let it go (it wasn't popular as far as I could tell), and take a chance on grabbing it when is came back "on the market" (in 45-days, according to Net-Sol). The point of this was trying to "move" the domain to Google Apps. This is what happened, and I got the domain again (in August).

But what is weird about this, is that after the 45-days, the domain still wasn't available. I tried a look-up (WHOIS, I think) to see if it was snatched up by someone, but couldn't find any information (outside of Net-Sol still showing as the registrar). So I called Net-Sol to see what the deal was, and they said that Verizon now held it, and that I could buy it from them for $150, or I could wait for two months for it to be freed-up. I almost called Verizon directly to see if I could find out (1) why they held it, (2) how they did so (w/o registration) in the first place, and (3) why I would have to pay them to even get it back (let alone register it) or wait for two months. But I didn't. (sorry, no great story there)

So, something screwy is going on with registrars and such... Is there anyone here who deals with this on a daily basis that might shed some light on any of this?

If I don't hear from you, I'll just drop by and visit you or call:

501 E FRANKLIN ST
RICHMOND, VA 23219-2330
US
Phone: 804-644-5109
Fax: 804-644-5410
mark@BAYMOUNTAIN.COM

http://www.networksolutions.com/whois/results.jsp? domain=whyfirefoxisblocked.com

http://www.google.com/search?q=Danny+Carlton&ie=ut f-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&c lient=firefox-a

http://www.networksolutions.com/whois/results.jsp? domain=jacklewis.net

http://www.networksolutions.com/whois/results.jsp? domain=dannycarlton.com

Here's a quote from his "About Jack Lewis" page (which I viewed in FIREFOX through Google's cache):

...

While I abandoned any real effort at anonymity several years ago, I kept the pseudonym, because so many people knew me by that name.

So, if he's abandoned his effort at anonymity, why didn't he leave any contact info on whyfirefoxisblocked.com? Is it, by chance, because he doesn't want to get slammed back by Firefox users? Thanks, Danny. You're living proof that idiots *can* use the Internet.

http://www.networksolutions.com/whois/results.jsp? domain=whyfirefoxisblocked.com

http://www.google.com/search?q=Danny+Carlton&ie=ut f-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&c lient=firefox-a

http://www.networksolutions.com/whois/results.jsp? domain=jacklewis.net

http://www.networksolutions.com/whois/results.jsp? domain=dannycarlton.com

Here's a quote from his "About Jack Lewis" page (which I viewed in FIREFOX through Google's cache):

...

While I abandoned any real effort at anonymity several years ago, I kept the pseudonym, because so many people knew me by that name.

So, if he's abandoned his effort at anonymity, why didn't he leave any contact info on whyfirefoxisblocked.com? Is it, by chance, because he doesn't want to get slammed back by Firefox users? Thanks, Danny. You're living proof that idiots *can* use the Internet.

http://www.networksolutions.com/whois/results.jsp? domain=whyfirefoxisblocked.com

http://www.google.com/search?q=Danny+Carlton&ie=ut f-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&c lient=firefox-a

http://www.networksolutions.com/whois/results.jsp? domain=jacklewis.net

http://www.networksolutions.com/whois/results.jsp? domain=dannycarlton.com

Here's a quote from his "About Jack Lewis" page (which I viewed in FIREFOX through Google's cache):

...

While I abandoned any real effort at anonymity several years ago, I kept the pseudonym, because so many people knew me by that name.

So, if he's abandoned his effort at anonymity, why didn't he leave any contact info on whyfirefoxisblocked.com? Is it, by chance, because he doesn't want to get slammed back by Firefox users? Thanks, Danny. You're living proof that idiots *can* use the Internet.

Be nice.

http://www.networksolutions.com/whois/results.jsp? domain=whyfirefoxisblocked.com

Registrant:
      Danny Carlton
      19724 E Pine St
      Suite #149
      Catoosa, Oklahoma 75015
      United States

      Registered through: GoDaddy.com, Inc. (http://www.godaddy.com)
      Domain Name: WHYFIREFOXISBLOCKED.COM
            Created on: 06-Aug-07
            Expires on: 06-Aug-08
            Last Updated on: 06-Aug-07

      Administrative Contact:
            Carlton, Danny godaddy@DannyCarlton.net
            19724 E Pine St
            Suite #149
            Catoosa, Oklahoma 75015
            United States
            (918) 697-4039 Fax --

      Technical Contact:
            Carlton, Danny godaddy@DannyCarlton.net
            19724 E Pine St
            Suite #149
            Catoosa, Oklahoma 75015
            United States
            (918) 697-4039 Fax --

      Domain servers in listed order:
            NS1.FAMILYNETHOME.COM
            NS2.FAMILYNETHOME.COM

The American Center for Voting Rights (ACVR) popped in and out of existence a while back like a virtual particle to get everyone riled up about "voter fraud". Basically when workers are paid by the number of registrations, Mickey Mouse and Mister Magoo show up on the rolls in multiple districts and if Mister Magoo actually shows up to vote in all those districts that's "affirmative voter fraud" oh no! These dead people and cartoon characters always vote for Democrats. So we need voter ID laws and stiffer punishments for incorrect voting in case they show up, right?

There is a great article on Slate about this. The ACVR was set up by a lawyer in Saint Louis named Mark "Thor" Fernlund Hearne, II, who works for a law firm in St. Louis Missouri called Lathrop & Gage, L.C. (I just love it when guys can't say "Jr." and they try to make it into a "II".) Wikipedia's articles about both Thor Hearne and his American Center for Voting Rights have been repeatedly cleansed by somebody from an IP address in his law firm. Just look at a few of those diffs. Wikipedia is still good for some things!

http://www.networksolutions.com/whois/results.jsp? domain=atdmt.com
http://www.networksolutions.com/whois/results.jsp? domain=bidclix.com

http://www.networksolutions.com/whois/results.jsp? domain=atdmt.com
http://www.networksolutions.com/whois/results.jsp? domain=bidclix.com

As a buyer I've had good experience with buying "resold" domains both from Afternic.com and Network Solution's Certified Offer Service.

Each service has it's own features- Network Solutions, erm, solution is really just a way to make a safe transaction on a domain sale to an independent buyer, it offers an escrow service and other protections. Afternic has a similar service but they also have a nice domain name listing service where you can auction your domain like eBay. There may be others, but these are the only 2 I've had experience with, albeit from the buying side.

For your situation with this buyer I recommend to at least use Network Solutions' service to manage the transaction-- it offers protection to both you and the buyer, though there is a fee of course.

By the way, Network Solutions service also offers free domain name appraisals (Afternic has one too but charges). I don't know how much to trust it because for your domain I received values ranging over $10,000 when I first queried it on down to the $500 range later on. It seems to take into account the number of queries for a domain name? I'm not sure, but try it and see what it says now. Also, if RadicalTrust is also the name of a product or service then that price could be higher (or possible lower) then the estimated value according to Network Solutions.

If I were you I'd post it on Afternic.com for auction and tell your buyer about it. Your sure to incur some new offers from this /. article and an auction might be just the thing for your situation- if you're willing to pay the transaction fees of course :)

Good luck!

Besides, I was never suggesting sequences of 9 random alphanumericals.

No, you were suggesting 5 random alphanumericals. Which wouldn't work, by the way -- you'd very quickly fill up on things like sex.whatever.

Because there are plenty of other people who have just as much right to the name "coke" as the coca-coly company.

Which is why we mostly do first-come, first-serve.

Examples include suppliers of dry-destilled charcoal, columbian drug-cartels, people working to help coke-addicts, people who think the coca-cola company sucks, etc...

Wow, watch this: charcoal, columbian-coke, coke-addiction, cokesucks, coca-cola. And whoever is first to register gets "coke".

Actually, it's not named Apple Corp, it is named Apple Inc (and it was Apple Computer Inc until 8. jan 2007).

For someone so worried about confusion: I very specifically meant Apple Corps, which does not sell computers.

Many companies use different names when they register as a business, and when they conduct their business with real customers.

And in the corporate world, domain names are not business registrations, and business registrations are not domain names. Domain names are where they conduct business with real customers.

So, let's talk about Apple Computer: I don't go to applecomputerinc.com, I go to apple.com. If Apple Corps wanted a real web presence, they'd probably own applerecords.com (which it seems they do, it's just mis-managed). If Apple Records got there first, I could live with applecomputer.com, or mac.com (which does exist, and is owned by Apple).

Furthermore, this doesn't stop us from doing nice things like redirecting to a more relevant site, if you think someone might get lost -- parrotcode.org is about a VM called "Parrot", and it does say "Parrot is not about parrots", with a link to a Google search on parrots, the first result of which is the Wikipedia page. That Wikipedia page, by the way, is about the birds, but does provide a link to a disambiguation page, which includes links to pages about Parrot VM, and Parrot Records, and so on.

Of course, SSNs doesn't work within USA, so your idea may still have some merit.

You do realize that was sarcasm, right?

In the real world, we almost never run into people with the same first and last name, and if we do, we have things like nicknames, or "of $state", to sort them out. However, the real world is not exactly analogous here, as we do have a central authority of this kind of thing. Just as there can be only one "Apple, Inc" in the US, there also can be only one "apple.com" on the Internet. Both of them are generally first-come, first-serve. I just don't get why you want us to add random alphanumeric strings -- if you aren't imaginative enough to register "cokesucks" when Coca-Cola already owns "coke", then you don't deserve a web presence anyway.

"I don't like big companies putting up billboards along the main roads, while other people with fewer resources, who has something to say, are not allowed to put their own billboards up..."

Ahem. Domain Names are dirt cheap.

Besides, you yourself said:

And the coca-cola company probably has enough money to repeat registering their name untill they come up with something more rememberab

Maybe it is Abrahamen Biderman... http://www.networksolutions.com/whois/index.jsp zcodec.com

What a p*** !!!
I just wrote a long explanation in their forum and when clicking 'submit' I was kicked out. :( :(

A funny company. Has someone tried google-earth about the address ?? Anyone around in that area; from Dublin ?

I tried a whois, and they don't have a registered www.steorn.net. Only steorn.net. Probably a wildcard thingy. Makes it even more suspicious.
They also have no e-mail address(es) under their domain

dig steorn.net MX

; > DiG 9.2.4 > steorn.net MX ;; QUESTION SECTION: ;steorn.net. IN MX ;; AUTHORITY SECTION:
steorn.net. 7200 IN SOA NS59.WORLDNIC.COM. namehost.WORLDNIC.COM. 2006081400 10800 3600 604800 7200

But the address seems to prevail:

$ whois steorn.net

      Domain Name: STEORN.NET
      Registrar: NETWORK SOLUTIONS, LLC.
      Whois Server: whois.networksolutions.com
      Referral URL: http://www.networksolutions.com/
      Name Server: NS59.WORLDNIC.COM
      Name Server: NS60.WORLDNIC.COM
      Status: REGISTRAR-LOCK
      EPP Status: clientTransferProhibited
      Updated Date: 03-Aug-2006
      Creation Date: 16-Jul-2004
      Expiration Date: 16-Jul-2007

>>> Last update of whois database: Tue, 22 Aug 2006 03:49:37 EDT
Registrant:
McCarthy, Sean
      Steorn Limited
      Docklands Innovation Park
      East Wall Road
      Dublin3, Co.Dublin D3
      IE

      Domain Name: STEORN.NET

      Administrative Contact, Technical Contact:
            McCarthy, Sean seanmcc@eircom.net
            Steorn Limited
            Docklands Innovation Park
            East Wall Road
            Dublin3, Co.Dublin D3
            IE
            +353-1-664-1744 fax: +353-1-664-1809

      Record expires on 16-Jul-2007.
      Record created on 16-Jul-2004.
      Database last updated on 22-Aug-2006 03:49:55 EDT.

http://www.networksolutions.com/

Registrant:
Glacier Bay Seafood and Meat Company Inc
8167 Cole Pkwy
Shawnee, KS 66227
US

Domain Name: GBAY.COM

ok looking at the page source we have app.shareholder.com and whois tells us this

      Domain Name: SHAREHOLDER.COM
      Registrar: NETWORK SOLUTIONS, LLC.
      Whois Server: whois.networksolutions.com
      Referral URL: http://www.networksolutions.com/
      Name Server: NS2.SHAREHOLDER.COM
      Name Server: NS1.SHAREHOLDER.COM
      Status: REGISTRAR-LOCK
      EPP Status: clientUpdateProhibited
      EPP Status: clientTransferProhibited
      EPP Status: clientDeleteProhibited
      Updated Date: 15-Nov-2005
      Creation Date: 28-Nov-1994
      Expiration Date: 27-Nov-2011

Registrant:
Direct Report Corporation
      12 Clock Tower Place
      Maynard, MA 01754
      US

      Domain Name: SHAREHOLDER.COM

      Administrative Contact, Technical Contact:
            Direct Report Corporation netops@SHAREHOLDER.COM
            12 Clock Tower Place
            Maynard, MA 01754
            US
            999 999 9999 fax: 999 999 9999

      Record expires on 30-Nov-2010.
      Record created on 29-Nov-1994.
      Database last updated on 17-Jun-2006 23:46:57 EDT.

      Domain servers in listed order:

      NS2.SHAREHOLDER.COM 170.224.5.50
      NS1.SHAREHOLDER.COM 206.17.96.209

ok so who is direct report corperation?

http://www.choate.com/practice/litigation/intellec tual_property_litigation/index.asp

"Direct Report Corporation d/b/a Shareholder.com v. CCBN, Inc.. et al., D. Mass. We represent Direct Report Corporation with respect to claims that the defendants' employees infiltrated the plaintiff's computer network and acquired commercially sensitive, proprietary information."

now this isn't proof of anything but it sure makes me wonder if this SCO announcement is genuine.

Indeed. In fact, I before I thought about that, I tried to login and couldn't, despite being a user since 2003. So I check whois for their registration information. You're right to be wary though - I got greedy and jumped in...

Domain Name: VONAGEIPO.COM
      Registrar: NETWORK SOLUTIONS, LLC.
      Whois Server: whois.networksolutions.com
      Referral URL: http://www.networksolutions.com/
      Name Server: DNS1-NYC.VONAGE.NET
      Name Server: AUTH01.KEWR0.S.VONAGENETWORKS.NET
      Name Server: AUTH00.KEWR0.S.VONAGENETWORKS.NET
      Status: REGISTRAR-LOCK
      EPP Status: clientDeleteProhibited
      EPP Status: clientUpdateProhibited
      EPP Status: clientTransferProhibited
      Updated Date: 08-May-2006
      Creation Date: 25-Apr-2005
      Expiration Date: 25-Apr-2012

Registrant:
vonage holdings
      23 Main Street
      Holmdel, NJ 07733
      US

      Domain Name: VONAGEIPO.COM

      Administrative Contact, Technical Contact:
            vonage holdings itadmin@vonage.com
            23 Main Street
            Holmdel, NJ 07733
            US
            732-365-2603

      Record expires on 25-Apr-2012.
      Record created on 20-Feb-2006.
      Database last updated on 10-May-2006 11:00:43 EDT.

      Domain servers in listed order:

      DNS1-NYC.VONAGE.NET 216.115.31.140
      AUTH00.KEWR0.S.VONAGENETWORKS.NET 69.59.252.42
      AUTH01.KEWR0.S.VONAGENETWORKS.NET 216.115.30.40

Vonage.com
      Whois Server: whois.networksolutions.com
      Referral URL: http://www.networksolutions.com/
      Name Server: DNS1-NYC.VONAGE.NET
      Name Server: AUTH00.KEWR0.S.VONAGENETWORKS.NET
      Name Server: AUTH01.KEWR0.S.VONAGENETWORKS.NET
      Status: REGISTRAR-LOCK
      Updated Date: 21-dec-2005
      Creation Date: 12-dec-2000
      Expiration Date: 12-dec-2008

vonageipo.com
      Whois Server: whois.networksolutions.com
      Referral URL: http://www.networksolutions.com/
      Name Server: DNS1-NYC.VONAGE.NET
      Name Server: AUTH00.KEWR0.S.VONAGENETWORKS.NET
      Name Server: AUTH01.KEWR0.S.VONAGENETWORKS.NET
      Status: REGISTRAR-LOCK
      Updated Date: 08-may-2006
      Creation Date: 25-apr-2005
      Expiration Date: 25-apr-2012

Apparently the nameservers are the same, and all the registration details are identical. I appreciate that the logos are different though, and the site is in a completely different style than the original. It's certainly suspicious that they give you a different username and password- surely that makes no sense whatsoever.

I'd say it was definitely worth an email to Vonage (DOT COM). ;)

Vonage.com
      Whois Server: whois.networksolutions.com
      Referral URL: http://www.networksolutions.com/
      Name Server: DNS1-NYC.VONAGE.NET
      Name Server: AUTH00.KEWR0.S.VONAGENETWORKS.NET
      Name Server: AUTH01.KEWR0.S.VONAGENETWORKS.NET
      Status: REGISTRAR-LOCK
      Updated Date: 21-dec-2005
      Creation Date: 12-dec-2000
      Expiration Date: 12-dec-2008

vonageipo.com
      Whois Server: whois.networksolutions.com
      Referral URL: http://www.networksolutions.com/
      Name Server: DNS1-NYC.VONAGE.NET
      Name Server: AUTH00.KEWR0.S.VONAGENETWORKS.NET
      Name Server: AUTH01.KEWR0.S.VONAGENETWORKS.NET
      Status: REGISTRAR-LOCK
      Updated Date: 08-may-2006
      Creation Date: 25-apr-2005
      Expiration Date: 25-apr-2012

Apparently the nameservers are the same, and all the registration details are identical. I appreciate that the logos are different though, and the site is in a completely different style than the original. It's certainly suspicious that they give you a different username and password- surely that makes no sense whatsoever.

I'd say it was definitely worth an email to Vonage (DOT COM). ;)

It certainly appears legit, here's the registrar information:

Whois Server Version 1.3

Domain names in the .com and .net domains can now be registered
with many different competing registrars. Go to http://www.internic.net/
for detailed information.

      Domain Name: VONAGEIPO.COM
      Registrar: NETWORK SOLUTIONS, LLC.
      Whois Server: whois.networksolutions.com
      Referral URL: http://www.networksolutions.com/
      Name Server: DNS1-NYC.VONAGE.NET
      Name Server: AUTH00.KEWR0.S.VONAGENETWORKS.NET
      Name Server: AUTH01.KEWR0.S.VONAGENETWORKS.NET
      Status: REGISTRAR-LOCK
      Updated Date: 08-may-2006
      Creation Date: 25-apr-2005
      Expiration Date: 25-apr-2012

The email origined from bloc17.suceava.rdsnet.ro which is a Romanian domain. I did a domain lookup of www.chase-all.com and got some interesting info:

Registrant:
Steve Rudway marrrk559@ya

I've noticed that Carl Bialik from Wall Street Journal has a Slashdot user account that proudly and upfrontly states that he works and writes for the Wall Street Journal, and with that disclaimer I have no problem with someone submitting their own stories. However, I sort of had the feeling that "Andrew" was pumping his own site, but no disclaimer. Oddly, the shortflip.com site has no names of authors, proprietors, business owners, or anything. Their whois record lists a registrar as "Domains by Proxy". There is absolutely no mention of any names at all on the website, even on the articles! A quick Google search for shortflip turns up a digg account of someone working for shortflip who is also pumping their own site, who I assume is "Andrew".

I'm sure it's just me being anal but I think the ethical thing to do here is to mention that yes, you are pumping your own site, and not to go to extreme lengths to cover your tracks. Dude, no one cares that you are pumping your site, but doing it under the guide of some neutral third party is sort of shady. My .02

Roland Piquepaille and Slashdot: Is there a connection?

I think most of you are aware of the controversy surrounding regular Slashdot article submitter Roland Piquepaille. For those of you who don't know, please allow me to bring forth all the facts. Roland Piquepaille has an online journal (I refuse to use the word "blog") located at www.primidi.com [primidi.com]. It is titled "Roland Piquepaille's Technology Trends". It consists almost entirely of content, both text and pictures, taken from reputable news websites and online technical journals. He does give credit to the other websites, but it wasn't always so. Only after many complaints were raised by the Slashdot readership did he start giving credit where credit was due. However, this is not what the controversy is about.

Roland Piquepaille's Technology Trends serves online advertisements through a service called Blogads, located at www.blogads.com. Blogads is not your traditional online advertiser; rather than base payments on click-throughs, Blogads pays a flat fee based on the level of traffic your online journal generates. This way Blogads can guarantee that an advertisement on a particular online journal will reach a particular number of users. So advertisements on high traffic online journals are appropriately more expensive to buy, but the advertisement is guaranteed to be seen by a large amount of people. This, in turn, encourages people like Roland Piquepaille to try their best to increase traffic to their journals in order to increase the going rates for advertisements on their web pages. But advertisers do have some flexibility. Blogads serves two classes of advertisements. The premium ad space that is seen at the top of the web page by all viewers is reserved for "Special Advertisers"; it holds only one advertisement. The secondary ad space is located near the bottom half of the page, so that the user must scroll down the window to see it. This space can contain up to four advertisements and is reserved for regular advertisers, or just "Advertisers". Visit Roland Piquepaille's Technology Trends (www.primidi.com [primidi.com]) to see it for yourself.

Before we talk about money, let's talk about the service that Roland Piquepaille provides in his journal. He goes out and looks for interesting articles about new and emerging technologies. He provides a very brief overview of the articles, then copies a few choice paragraphs and the occasional picture from each article and puts them up on his web page. Finally, he adds a minimal amount of original content between the copied-and-pasted text in an effort to make the journal entry coherent and appear to add value to the original articles. Nothing more, nothing less.

Now let's talk about money. Visit http://www.blogads.com/order_html?adstrip_category =tech&politics= to check the following facts for yourself. As of today, December XX 2004, the going rate for the premium advertisement space on Roland Piquepaille's Technology Trends is $375 for one month. One of the four standard advertisements costs $150 for one month. So, the maximum advertising space brings in $375 x 1 + $150 x 4 = $975 for one month. Obviously not all $975 will go directly to Roland Piquepaille, as Blogads gets a portion of that as a service fee, but he will receive the majority of it. According to the FAQ [blogads.com], Blogads takes 20%. So Roland Piquepaille gets 80% of $975, a maximum of $780 each month. www.primidi.com is hosted by clara.net (look it up at http://www.networksolutions.com/en_US/whois/index. jhtml). Browsing clara.net's hosting solutions, the most expensive hosting service is their Clarahost Advanced (http://www.uk.clara.net/clarahost/advanced.php) priced at £69.99 GBP. This is roughly, at the time of this wri

Live.com doesn't even appear to bo owned by Microsoft. WHOIS

Excellent. It seems that this particular situation is so convoluted and widespread that whoever has the best lawyers will eventually win. Further:

The domain "Gmail.co.uk" is "is the private mail service reserved exclusively for the customers of the Contensis Content Management System" and is linked to Contensis, a web content management application developer. Although I was unable to discover who actually owns the name, there was no suggestion they are involved with IIIR and IIIR states that they did not register the domain. In an article by Chris Richardson, several points are made about the statius of the url, including a suggestion that its purpose is to collect gmail ids and passwords. Richardson does state that "The company who has ownership of the domain has received offers to sell the rights, although none were from Google. They have, up until now, declined to sell the rights, stating, "[l]uckily, we're honourable people." I wonder if that means that they will "do no evil"?

Now as to IIIR. They have had several incarnations, but basically are an ASP provider of financial projections under the name Pronet Analytics.com Limited. IIIR's founder and CEO is Shane Smith. Although well regarded, they have experienced significant financial difficulties lately and are struggling. An independent firm has estimated the trademarks worth at around $45M to $60M dollars. Must be nice for a guy who ran down after he heard Google's announcement of gmail and registered the trademark for $700. Yeah, that sounds like he was protecting his "intellectual property rights". It also speaks to how "reluctantly" he is proceeding with the claim against Google. In a pretty thorough search using these resources, I was unable to find any reference to IIIR and g-mail prior to the Google story. It was not mentioned in any of the company documents I read. Wouldn't a working e-mail system have a bit stronger web presence?

My conclusion is that the law suit is a money grab. There IS evidence of possible prior claims to the "gmail" name. Actually, quite a few, with established histories and credible owners. IIIR's is one of the weakest, although presented by one of the bigger firms, and augmented by the IIIR's area of business - International Finance. In the end, Smith's whole claim is based on a service that was never developed and seemingly no one uses, and a valuation based on what the name is worth to GOOGLE, not to IIIR. I doubt Google is too worried. The real shame is the way this shit muddies the waters and will make it very difficult for legitimate claimants to get a fair shake. Smith is grasping at straws to save a business that has already screwed its creditors. I, for one, am glad he picked the wrong target. Mr. Smith - "you don't tug on Superman's cape, you don't spit into the wind, you don't pull the mask off the ole Lone Ranger" and you sure as hell don't mess around with Google. Just ask Bill Gates. It ain't gonna be pretty.

billy - who would not call what's going to happen...well...evil

Roland Piquepaille and Slashdot: Is there a connection?

I think most of you are aware of the controversy surrounding regular Slashdot article submitter Roland Piquepaille. For those of you who don't know, please allow me to bring forth all the facts. Roland Piquepaille has an online journal (I refuse to use the word "blog") located at http://www.primidi.com/ [primidi.com]. It is titled "Roland Piquepaille's Technology Trends". It consists almost entirely of content, both text and pictures, taken from reputable news websites and online technical journals. He does give credit to the other websites, but it wasn't always so. Only after many complaints were raised by the Slashdot readership did he start giving credit where credit was due. However, this is not what the controversy is about.

Roland Piquepaille's Technology Trends serves online advertisements through a service called Blogads, located at www.blogads.com. Blogads is not your traditional online advertiser; rather than base payments on click-throughs, Blogads pays a flat fee based on the level of traffic your online journal generates. This way Blogads can guarantee that an advertisement on a particular online journal will reach a particular number of users. So advertisements on high traffic online journals are appropriately more expensive to buy, but the advertisement is guaranteed to be seen by a large amount of people. This, in turn, encourages people like Roland Piquepaille to try their best to increase traffic to their journals in order to increase the going rates for advertisements on their web pages. But advertisers do have some flexibility. Blogads serves two classes of advertisements. The premium ad space that is seen at the top of the web page by all viewers is reserved for "Special Advertisers"; it holds only one advertisement. The secondary ad space is located near the bottom half of the page, so that the user must scroll down the window to see it. This space can contain up to four advertisements and is reserved for regular advertisers, or just "Advertisers". Visit Roland Piquepaille's Technology Trends (http://www.primidi.com/ [primidi.com]) to see it for yourself.

Before we talk about money, let's talk about the service that Roland Piquepaille provides in his journal. He goes out and looks for interesting articles about new and emerging technologies. He provides a very brief overview of the articles, then copies a few choice paragraphs and the occasional picture from each article and puts them up on his web page. Finally, he adds a minimal amount of original content between the copied-and-pasted text in an effort to make the journal entry coherent and appear to add value to the original articles. Nothing more, nothing less.

Now let's talk about money. Visit http://www.blogads.com/order_html?adstrip_category =tech&politics= [blogads.com] to check the following facts for yourself. As of today, December XX 2004, the going rate for the premium advertisement space on Roland Piquepaille's Technology Trends is $375 for one month. One of the four standard advertisements costs $150 for one month. So, the maximum advertising space brings in $375 x 1 + $150 x 4 = $975 for one month. Obviously not all $975 will go directly to Roland Piquepaille, as Blogads gets a portion of that as a service fee, but he will receive the majority of it. According to the FAQ, Blogads takes 20%. So Roland Piquepaille gets 80% of $975, a maximum of $780 each month. www.primidi.com is hosted by clara.net (look it up at http://www.networksolutions.com/en_US/whois/index. jhtml [networksolutions.com]). Browsing clara.net's hosting solutions, the most expensive hosting service is their Clarahost Advanced (http://www.uk.clara.net/clarahost/advanced.php [clara.ne

Organization:
Association Network Management
Leo Stoller
PO Box 35189
Chicago, IL 60707-0189
US
Phone: 773-283-3880
Fax..: 708-453-0083
Email: leo@rentamark.com

Registrar Name....: Register.com
Registrar Whois...: whois.register.com
Registrar Homepage: http://www.register.com/

Domain Name: RENTAMARK.COM

Created on..............: Mon, Sep 20, 1999
Expires on..............: Thu, Sep 20, 2007
Record last updated on..: Wed, Jun 05, 2002

Administrative Contact:
Association Network Management
Leo Stoller
PO Box 35189
Chicago, IL 60707-0189
US
Phone: 773-283-3880
Fax..: 708-453-0083
Email: leo@rentamark.com

Technical Contact, Zone Contact:
Register.Com
Domain Registrar
575 8th Avenue - 11th Floor
New York, NY 10018
US
Phone: 902-749-2701
Fax..: 902-749-5429
Email: domain-registrar@register.com

http://www.networksolutions.com/en_US/whois/result s.jhtml;jsessionid=GS3RUEBGBRKEGCWMEAQCFEY?whoisto ken=0&_requestid=415445/

I backordered google.com; I should get it in 5 years when they're not around to renew it...