/    Sign up×
Community /Pin to ProfileBookmark

Registrar Has Stolen My Domain Name

Copy linkTweet thisAlerts:
Feb 23.2006

I registered a domain name with a new hosting account at Bravenet.com. They seemd like a respectable company. I decided later that I needed the services of another hosting company. Bravenet suddenly cancels my account and refuses to respond to any e-mails that I sent to all their departments! I simply asked them to please change the name servers.They refused to respond. I found out they register domains through Public Domain Registry. I started a support ticket with them but they said I had to contact Bravenet and gave me a phone number. I called the number and it said Bravenet would only handle problems through support tickets. Nobody I talk to has any good ideas of what I can do. Has anybody ever heard of something like this before? It has got to be illegal. I did of seo work for my new site and now all my work is worthless.

to post a comment
Web Hosting

15 Comments(s) ↴

Copy linkTweet thisAlerts:
@chazzyFeb 24.2006 — surprisingly, it's not.

they actually own the domainname. you just tell them which you want. it works differently if you purchase it. happened to me many years ago.

put your domain name in here

http://www.internic.com/whois.html

to see who owns it. happened at my first "it" company. the guy wanted a domain so he freaked out one morning and ran to yahoo and bought it. yahoo owned it.

i think it was yahoo at least.
Copy linkTweet thisAlerts:
@coblivionauthorFeb 24.2006 — The registrar does not own the domain name. They are simply parking it for you. If you register a domain name you legally own it. People play tricks to steal your domain name or make it inaccessible, but if a domain is available and you register it and it has not expired, then it is legally yours. However, registrars can and do make up phony reasons in order to make it in inaccessible, and fighting this in the legal system is extremely difficult.
Copy linkTweet thisAlerts:
@bathurst_guyMar 02.2006 — It actually depends what is in the contract.
Copy linkTweet thisAlerts:
@chazzyMar 02.2006 — The registrar does not own the domain name. They are simply parking it for you. If you register a domain name you legally own it.[/QUOTE]

Except, if they do say in the contract that "this domain is owned by <<Their Company>>". If you get a domain name free when signing up for hosting, they usually own the domain, as per the agreement. I usually find it easier to register with one guy and get hosting from another - no legal issues. Did you visit the registrar to register it or did Bravenet do it for you?
Copy linkTweet thisAlerts:
@coblivionauthorMar 03.2006 — Well, Bravenet did it for me. Hmmmm... if they own it they made sure I did not know that. I don't remember seeing a contract. But they refuse to answer any e-mails. I found out who the public registrar was, but they won't cooperate either. Bravenet made a false charge of fraud so it could give them excuse of killing the domain. Maybe they will sell it themselves later for a profit. What is frustrating is that I can't contest their false excuse for locking the domain. Even ICANN did very little for me. Thanks for the advice though.
Copy linkTweet thisAlerts:
@DaveSWMar 04.2006 — did you look up the whois information like chazzy suggested to find out who the name is registered to?

If it's you then you have a case.

If it's bravenet then it's more difficult.
Copy linkTweet thisAlerts:
@worldsaversMar 04.2006 — Regarding your situation. Advise you signup to Prepaid Legal I use it and it has helped me a lot. I don't sell it but it is worth it. Then write a letter to your Senator, Consumer affairs, BBB and whom ever will listen to you. State the facts only!

Then send a copy of the correspondences to the registar with your reply address. Send it registered receipt by USPS. Then if no response in 30 days hit the TV circuit! 15 mins of Fame

It should raise some eyebrows!

But before this is started above review your contract with the registrar when the name was registered. Read the fine print.

Another way is to register like name with different extension and have the word trademarked through Mr.Trademark.com they are a pretty good service. Tell them worldsavers sent ya. Then open the website and do business, later come back to them for Trademark infringement. Now the Feds are on your side!

God Bless you and good luck!
Copy linkTweet thisAlerts:
@felgallMar 04.2006 — If the domain was provided "free" with the hosting then Bravenet own it. If you paid for it separately (as is the case after the first 12 months) then you own it.
Copy linkTweet thisAlerts:
@coblivionauthorMar 06.2006 — Hey thanks everybody. Yeah, I did the whois and I definitely own the domain. I contacted ICANN and their rep is putting some pressure on publicregistrydomain.com who said they will try to get the issue resolved with Bravenet. Although at first they tried to give me the run-around, saying I had to contact Bravenet to resolve the problem, but after I forwarded their response to my contact at ICANN suddenly their attitude changed and they said they would work on it ASAP. Although I have not heard from publicregistrydomain.com yet... I hope I don't have to do everything that Worldsavers said. But I will do all that stuff if I have to. I put a lot of work into my web site.
Copy linkTweet thisAlerts:
@DaveSWMar 07.2006 — Good luck with it!
Copy linkTweet thisAlerts:
@coblivionauthorMar 07.2006 — Thanks. I just received good news. I guess the ICANN pressure worked because I just got an e-mail from publicregistrydomain.com saying that they will allow me to manage my domain if I fax them proof of my identity on a company letterhead. Bravenet.com will no longer have control. Thank the lord for justice after all. ?
Copy linkTweet thisAlerts:
@worldsaversMar 07.2006 — I am happy for you!

Where Right is Might and Might is Right is where Goodness overcomes the Bad!

Response to who owns what. It all depends on the sale or contract. It does not depend on if hosting pays. What it depends on is the sale contract. If you receive a free domain with hosting you received the domain with it free. It is yours. The proof of the pudding is who is the registered owner and who controls it.

Always buyer beware!

Keep the pressure on them!

:eek:

Al

worldsaversfundinggroup_com

32+ years computers, super computers to pc, the whole enchilada!
Copy linkTweet thisAlerts:
@coblivionauthorMar 07.2006 — Right on WorldSavers.... ? . I think you know what you are talking about and you have the right moral attitude. BTW, the registrar is publicdomainregistry.com rather than publicregistrydomain.com... I hope latent dyslexia is not coming out in me... :p
Copy linkTweet thisAlerts:
@DaveSWMar 08.2006 — Great news!
Copy linkTweet thisAlerts:
@NogDogMar 08.2006 — You better believe they'll listen to ICANN. If ICANN says "Clean up your act or we won't allow you to register domain names any more," I suspect they'll jump. ?
×

Success!

Help @coblivion spread the word by sharing this article on Twitter...

Tweet This
Sign in
Forgot password?
Sign in with TwitchSign in with GithubCreate Account
about: ({
version: 0.1.9 — BETA 5.20,
whats_new: community page,
up_next: more Davinci•003 tasks,
coming_soon: events calendar,
social: @webDeveloperHQ
});

legal: ({
terms: of use,
privacy: policy
});
changelog: (
version: 0.1.9,
notes: added community page

version: 0.1.8,
notes: added Davinci•003

version: 0.1.7,
notes: upvote answers to bounties

version: 0.1.6,
notes: article editor refresh
)...
recent_tips: (
tipper: @AriseFacilitySolutions09,
tipped: article
amount: 1000 SATS,

tipper: @Yussuf4331,
tipped: article
amount: 1000 SATS,

tipper: @darkwebsites540,
tipped: article
amount: 10 SATS,
)...