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Who Bought Linux.Net?

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the this-game-again dept.

So Fred VanKampen (who has to hold the record for most money made by reselling two domain names) e-mailed us to say that the Domain Name for 'Linux.Net' has been sold. He won't say to whom, but it supposedly will be announced at LinuxWorld next week. Of course we have no idea what he got for the entry, but the rumors were that he made several million when he sold Linux.com to VA Linux. Hopefully he'll take me for a ride in his yacht. ;)

6 of 165 comments (clear)

  1. What about andover.net by god_of_the_machine · · Score: 5

    Has anybody considered the possibility that Andover.net would consider buying the linux.net domain? It would make a good fit for their most profitable businesses, and would probably make their stock price jump.

    "The Linux Network" says a lot more than "Andover Net", besides, look at their index page and see that they are calling themselves "The Leading Linux Desination" so it's a fit.

    Don't be too surprised if I'm right!

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    -rt-
    ** Evil Canadians are taking over the world. Learn about the conspiracy
  2. Before everyone starts by Amphigory · · Score: 5
    Before everyone starts talking about domain squatting, I should point out that this guy registered these domains to /protect/ them from half-baked websites. In fact, when he sold linux.com, he did not sell to the highest bidder -- on of the biggest bidders was Microsoft.

    I don't think is the same thing that (for exampl) domainbank does. So go easy onhim.

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    -- Slashdot sucks.
    1. Re:Before everyone starts by Scott+Laird · · Score: 4

      Also, the seller has been involved with Linux for a *long* time. He was the second maintainer of the Linux networking code, after Ross Biro (who wrote the first implmentation) and before Alan Cox. According to whois, he registered this domain in 1994, which was right around the time that he was the Linux networking maintainer.

      I really don't think this counts as cyber-squatting.

  3. Simple "squatting or not" test. by Christopher+Thomas · · Score: 5
    There seems to be a lot of argument over whether this sale involved "domain squatting". Well, there's a simple test for that; and money has nothing to do with it:

    • Would you consider this person to be a rightful owner if they held on to the domain instead of selling it?


    If the answer is "yes", then they are not squatting. The domain is theirs to do with as they please.

    I don't know the people involved, so I have no opinion on this.
  4. Michael's Theorem by meepzorb · · Score: 5

    Once a technology has reached that point in its lifecycle where domain name deals, buyouts, IPOs and the like are the chief means of progress, that technology has ceased to be interesting from a technological standpoint.

    Corollary #1: Slashdot is now a business page. Expect deals like this to be praised without question.

    Corollary #2: Prepare for a massive cultural shift this year. The technically inclined will be moving on to something else very soon.

    :Michael

  5. How do you get praised for all kinds of scams? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4

    Just promise to take CmdrTaco for a ride in your yacht.