Okay, here's an admittedly strange question: Is it always inherently wrong,
improper or maybe even illegal to register someone else's name as a domain
name, particularly if they are a prominent person?
By chance, discovered that a rather "hot" and prominent person (whose been on
Oprah twice
What you are talking about used to be a common practice before the
net world and made some people some money.
Now the courts favor the individual or corporation whose name it is.
It is called cyber squatting. It is not illegal, per se, but I would
let the person know and possibly help them de
I wouldn't say never. Remember during the 2004 presidential campaign? John
Kerry's father had set up a website to brag about his son - and it wasn't the
John Kerry who was running for office. The campaign rather belatedly found the
name taken not by a squatter, but by someone with as legitimate
>By chance, discovered that a rather "hot" and prominent person (whose been
>on Oprah twice fairly recently) actually does not have a website, at least
>not one that shows up on GoDaddy, using the name and .com or .net.
There is a good chance that a cybersquatter has grabbed it as a
consequence
- Original Message -
From: "Tom Piwowar" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To:
Sent: Saturday, October 06, 2007 2:10 PM
Subject: Re: [CGUYS] Grabbing domain names of well-known persons?
There is a good chance that a cybersquatter has grabbed it as a
consequence of your search. Ther
At 09:21 PM 10/6/2007, you wrote:
BTW, would this sort of situation ideally call for a .com, or would
it matter much? Is there really much difference between .com, .net,
.org or maybe some of the others?
There used to be a lot of difference but they have relaxed the rules ALOT!
.com was comm
(probably too long as well) in order to get .com. Unnecessary move?
Randall
- Original Message -
From: "Rev. Stewart Marshall" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To:
Sent: Saturday, October 06, 2007 9:34 PM
Subject: Re: [CGUYS] Grabbing domain names of well-known persons?
At 09
AIL PROTECTED]>
To:
Sent: Saturday, October 06, 2007 9:34 PM
Subject: Re: [CGUYS] Grabbing domain names of well-known persons?
At 09:21 PM 10/6/2007, you wrote:
BTW, would this sort of situation ideally call for a .com, or would it
matter much? Is there really much difference between .co
Do you or anyone else who might know think it matters that
much at this point between .net and .com?
If you're selling something it should be .com. If you're providing
information it should be .net. If you're a non-profit it should be
.org. If you are a government it shold be .gov, etc.
esan
;ll have to see.
Randall
- Original Message -
From: "Randy" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To:
Sent: Saturday, October 06, 2007 9:21 PM
Subject: Re: [CGUYS] Grabbing domain names of well-known persons?
- Original Message -
From: "Tom Piwowar" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Well, ended up buying the .com domain for this person's name.
Why would you do that? People have a right to their own
identity. If you're fucking with people, especially famous people,
you have to accept that there are likely to be consequences.
I didn't like the smell of you from the start,
>Do you or anyone else who might know think it matters that
>much at this point between .net and .com? I settled for a second choice
>name (probably too long as well) in order to get .com. Unnecessary move?
In the early days of the 'net "com" was viewed with disdain. Today the
"com" are ridin
>I also sort of assumed that .org meant a real nonprofit. Otherwise, various
>unscrupulous outfits and organizations might simply pose as being
>non-profits. Could have the equivalent of, say, Microsoft.org
Today anybody can get an org TLD. When the registrars went commercial any
effort to en
> This person I'm talking about is one of those amazing
> people who has so much to offer so many people, which is why I am so
> glad
> Oprah had her on twice in the space of weeks. She is a renowned
> psychologist and writer and when I heard she didn't have a website, it
> occurred that a websit
>H'Anyone here ever dealt with a situation like this? - as far as
>whether the added exposure of a website causes a lot of extra pressure,
>etc.? I'm guessing that most of us would think we'd die for that kind of
>exposure and web traffic, and maybe she would too, but she's not exactly
>Why would you do that? People have a right to their own
>identity. If you're fucking with people, especially famous people,
>you have to accept that there are likely to be consequences.
Did you get up on the wrong side of the bed this morning? Randy is being
careful and asking the right questi
>Well, ended up buying the .com domain for this person's name. Maybe I'll
>just hold it for awhile and just see if she wants the name. If I do this or
>go beyond this and start creating a website around the themes associated
>with her name, just hope she sees this as neutral or positive rathe
>I bet if she wanted to do this, she would have by now. Why do you think she
>needs your help? 30 million people watching Oprah isn't enough exposure for
>you? She's inundated with calls. I think everyone else interested is on
>to it.
Typical Windows-style "nails that stick out get hammered d
er back to. Not that it would be worth
anything for anyone to sue me, since I don't have any money anyway! :)
Randall
- Original Message -
From: "Tom Piwowar" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To:
Sent: Sunday, October 07, 2007 11:01 AM
Subject: Re: [CGUYS] Grabbing domain n
orks with
this women at the school; simply to get basic contact info. for her and one
or two others who work there).
Randall
- Original Message -
From: "Tom Piwowar" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To:
Sent: Sunday, October 07, 2007 11:11 AM
Subject: Re: [CGUYS] Grabbing domain na
bles are a result
of not having enough religious faith or some other dubious and ultimately
harmful thoughts about their problem.
Randall
- Original Message -
From: "Tom Piwowar" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To:
Sent: Sunday, October 07, 2007 1:21 PM
Subject: Re: [CGUYS] Gra
>Can I easily and cheaply transfer the name to her?
Yes. Just change the registration info at GoDaddy. But then she has to
keep the registration paid up or it falls into the hands of cyber
vultures. And GoDaddy sales will pounce on her. Signing up an innocent
with GoDaddy is not doing them a f
>I am sure I will be letting this person know that I got
>her name in the next few weeks and if she isn't thrilled about having it
>become a sort of "fan" site (something I was only vaguely familiar with
>until you mentioned it) and would like possession of this domain with her
>name, I will gl
Ye-e-e-es, Thomas, hence if *she* wanted it by now, *she* would have done
it. Maybe she's doing it as we speak, so it can be done right. I don't
think I'd want someone I didn't know doing that on my behalf, without my
permission.
You must be representing the Blackwater "Shoot first and don't ask
>Ye-e-e-es, Thomas, hence if *she* wanted it by now, *she* would have done
>it.
Yes Jeff, we know where you are coming from: "If my users wanted decent
computers they would have slaughtered me years ago -- so they must be
happy with Windows."
***
On 10/7/07, Jeff Wright <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>
> Ye-e-e-es, Thomas, hence if *she* wanted it by now, *she* would have done
> it. Maybe she's doing it as we speak, so it can be done right. I don't
> think I'd want someone I didn't know doing that on my behalf, without my
> permission.
>
Poo
Whatever. Randy can and will do whatever he likes.
> -Original Message-
> Poor Jeffrey. So used to having people obey senseless rules that he
> can no
> longer come up with reasonable justifications.
>
> I can see the people in your organization. "Another crazy rule from
> IT. Oh
> we
On 10/7/07, Jeff Wright <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>
> > -Original Message-
> > Poor Jeffrey. So used to having people obey senseless rules that he
> > can no
> > longer come up with reasonable justifications.
> >
> > I can see the people in your organization. "Another crazy rule from
> >
e my motives and intentions via the internet.
Randall
- Original Message -
From: "Eric S. Sande" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To:
Sent: Sunday, October 07, 2007 1:23 AM
Subject: Re: [CGUYS] Grabbing domain names of well-known persons?
>Well, ended up buying the .com domain for thi
, 2007 3:26 PM
Subject: Re: [CGUYS] Grabbing domain names of well-known persons?
>I am sure I will be letting this person know that I got
her name in the next few weeks and if she isn't thrilled about having it
become a sort of "fan" site (something I was only vaguely familiar
r application).
Randall
- Original Message -
From: "Tom Piwowar" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To:
Sent: Sunday, October 07, 2007 3:20 PM
Subject: Re: [CGUYS] Grabbing domain names of well-known persons?
>Can I easily and cheaply transfer the name to her?
Yes. Just chang
same thing. I guess this is why even Oprah herself has a
site and magazine, etc., to complement her show.
Randall
- Original Message -
From: "John DeCarlo" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To:
Sent: Sunday, October 07, 2007 6:37 PM
Subject: Re: [CGUYS] Grabbing domain names of we
I'm constantly amazed and pleased at the kindness and generosity of
strangers here, and around the world. Jeff, you miss so much by assuming
the worst when most likely the outcome will be neutral or positive.
Randy, there's a fine line between being a fanboy and being a stalker.
You seem to h
ot of people who otherwise would not be easily reached, to
inform and especially inspire and empower them. This is what the 2 recent
appearances of this psychologist were about.
Randall
- Original Message -
From: "b_s-wilk" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To:
Sent: Sunday, Octo
On 10/7/07, Tom Piwowar <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>
> >I also sort of assumed that .org meant a real nonprofit. Otherwise,
> various
> >unscrupulous outfits and organizations might simply pose as being
> >non-profits. Could have the equivalent of, say, Microsoft.org
>
> Today anybody can get an
At 10:07 AM 10/8/2007, you wrote:
>On 10/7/07, Tom Piwowar <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>>
>> >I also sort of assumed that .org meant a real nonprofit. Otherwise,
>> various
>> >unscrupulous outfits and organizations might simply pose as being
>> >non-profits. Could have the equivalent of, say, Mic
7 AM
Subject: Re: [CGUYS] Grabbing domain names of well-known persons?
On 10/7/07, Tom Piwowar <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>I also sort of assumed that .org meant a real nonprofit. Otherwise,
various
>unscrupulous outfits and organizations might simply pose as being
>non-profits
Can't just buy a .edu address either iirc.
Matthew
The only thing you
can't buy is gov and mil.
* ==> QUICK LIST-COMMAND REFERENCE - Put the following commands in <==
* ==> the body of an email & send 'em to: [EMAIL PR
>Tom, OTOH, I picture as Yosemite Sam, stomping on his hat, when someone is
>productive using a PC.
I spend a lot of my time making PC users as productive as possible and
less of a burden on their Mac-using brethren.
* ==>
>I guess this is why even Oprah herself has a
>site and magazine, etc., to complement her show.
Oprah has them to make a lot of money. While Oprah does accomplish much
that is good I expect that you could be mighty disillusioned to find out
that she is a very good businesswoman first and foremo
>And while we are at it, why not this: Every legal citizen would ( at birth
>or whenever this would be implemented for everyone else) be automatically
>registered with one domain based on their legal name, with some unique
>identifier to distinguish identical names.
This would be creepy.
***
>so, can i ask, what's the point of all the different domain extensions at
>this point? is it like the propagation of area codes for phone lines
>because of the popularity of fax machines? if i register a domain name,
>does it matter if i use .net or .org or .com or .name, etc etc etc. in
>fact
On Mon, 8 Oct 2007, Tom Piwowar wrote:
I guess this is why even Oprah herself has a
site and magazine, etc., to complement her show.
Oprah has them to make a lot of money. While Oprah does accomplish much
that is good I expect that you could be mighty disillusioned to find out
that she is a ver
tical
influence, e.g. Obama campaign. Just a hunch and based on how her shows
have changed and what she says.
Randall
- Original Message -
From: "Tom Piwowar" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To:
Sent: Monday, October 08, 2007 2:30 PM
Subject: Re: [CGUYS] Grabbing domain names
their
name as far as being used commercially in these ways.
Randall
- Original Message -
From: "Tom Piwowar" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To:
Sent: Monday, October 08, 2007 2:37 PM
Subject: Re: [CGUYS] Grabbing domain names of well-known persons?
>And while we are at it, w
[CGUYS] Grabbing domain names of well-known persons?
On Mon, 8 Oct 2007, Tom Piwowar wrote:
>> I guess this is why even Oprah herself has a
>> site and magazine, etc., to complement her show.
>
> Oprah has them to make a lot of money. While Oprah does accomplish much
> that is g
Okay, here's an admittedly strange question: Is it always inherently
wrong, >improper or maybe even illegal to register someone else's name as a
domain
name, particularly if they are a prominent person?
Without their explicit permission yes, in my opinion (obviously).
Fourth Amendment of the
Did you get up on the wrong side of the bed this morning?
Evidently.
If you have concerns you can state them in a respectful manner and
help him work out the right thing to do.
I don't condone identity theft. And I won't facilitate it.
The web is full of well done, unofficial fan sites.
Why don't you contact her publisher? Publishers usually handle much of
the PR for their authors and handle requests like yours. They also set
up web pages to publicize and sell their books. Writers who are also in
practice and teaching don't usually do, or even have, their own web sites.
Take
d into question very much?
Randall
- Original Message -
From: "Eric S. Sande" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To:
Sent: Tuesday, October 09, 2007 11:16 PM
Subject: Re: [CGUYS] Grabbing domain names of well-known persons?
>Okay, here's an admittedly strange question: Is it a
>Well, only a few days ago, I knew virtually nothing about this domain
>registration business. Yet I rather quickly came to the tentative
>conclusion that it doesn't make sense that people are allowed to register
>other people's names...
>So if it's illegal or clearly unethical, why is is allow
Oh yes, the much vaunted Mac ease of use. 2 examples from this past week:
1 - I wanted to change the short name of the root admin, so that all of my
Macs had the same one. The consultant I used to deploy these used several
different short (and long) names, bless them. I wanted to change it as I
ing to do
this could seek and receive permission, could they not?
Randall
- Original Message -
From: "Tom Piwowar" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To:
Sent: Thursday, October 11, 2007 12:58 PM
Subject: Re: [CGUYS] Grabbing domain names of well-known persons?
>Well, onl
I read this and thought no way...can't be. Looks like.
Shortest way seems to be to set up a icon in the dock to activate the screen
saver and have that lock the computer.
Mike
On 10/11/07, Jeff Wright <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>
>
>
> 2 - I wanted people to lock their computers if they stepped
Yeah, I saw that, but no native shortcut. Heck, there are no less than 2
ways of doing this on a PC without waiting for the screensaver to kick in.
Just illustrating that Windows does this simple, yet very valuable, thing
out of the box and on a Mac, it's E*N*T*E*R*T*A*I*N*M*E*N*T.
> -Orig
But the mac cases look so much better not doing it then any pc.
Mike
On 10/11/07, Jeff Wright <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>
> Yeah, I saw that, but no native shortcut. Heck, there are no less than 2
> ways of doing this on a PC without waiting for the screensaver to kick in.
>
> Just illustrating
Why should this be legal, any more than identity theft is?
It's "legal" if the name in question isn't trademarked, as Tom said.
If the USE of the name harms or injures the "famous person" then
it's on the injured party to seek remedy. Typically I believe that
intent would need to be proved.
A
>If you can't see that then you haven't got a sense of basic fairness, which
>I got from the start.
I think you are exhibiting an RIAA-like exaggerated notion of ownership.
Are you going to sue Wikipedia if they post your *unauthorized*
biography? Will you demand that people seek a waiver before
Randall
- Original Message -
From: "Eric S. Sande" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To:
Sent: Thursday, October 11, 2007 11:30 PM
Subject: Re: [CGUYS] Grabbing domain names of well-known persons?
>Why should this be legal, any more than identity theft is?
It's "le
>Unless you can tell me some legitimate purpose for
>registering and maybe using someone else's name without permission, there
>are too many ways this could exploit or hurt the person (as someone said,
>post things in the name of that person that would be embarrassing or worse).
Happens all th
>Unless he is harmed, in which case he could expect remedy (if he pays
>a lawyer to bring suit, fight the case and wins).
So if the other guy named Tom Piwowar does something that I think
reflects badly on our name can I sue him for damages?
*
On 10/12/07, Tom Piwowar <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>
> >If you can't see that then you haven't got a sense of basic fairness,
> which
> >I got from the start.
>
> I think you are exhibiting an RIAA-like exaggerated notion of ownership.
> Are you going to sue Wikipedia if they post your *unauthoriz
Yep, and these all have in common the fact that they are not living or never
existed. Could see making that distinction.
Randall
- Original Message -
From: "Tom Piwowar" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To:
Sent: Friday, October 12, 2007 10:21 AM
Subject: Re: [CGUYS] Grabbing
M
Subject: Re: [CGUYS] Grabbing domain names of well-known persons?
Which one "never existed?" That one would probably have the strongest IP
rights.
Yep, and these all have in common the fact that they are not living or .
Could see making that distinction.
Happens all the time: George
>Clearly, we could legislate that everyone at birth be given a UUID/GUID
>(Universally Unique ID/Globally Unique ID) and prevent anyone but that
>person from using that ID in a web site.
Simple, just apply an RFID implant shortly after birth.
>What about the "tompiwowarsucks.biz" web site? We sh
On 10/12/07, John DeCarlo <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>
>
> [OT quiz - what was the first registered domain name with a numeral as the
> first character in it? BTW, the RFC documenting it allowed it, but none
> of
> the early DNS implementations did.]
3com.com ?
***
We have a winner!
On 10/12/07, Michael Fernando <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>
> On 10/12/07, John DeCarlo <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> >
> >
> > [OT quiz - what was the first registered domain name with a numeral as
> the
> > first character in it? BTW, the RFC documenting it allowed it, but none
Are you going to sue Wikipedia if they post your *unauthorized*
biography?
Maybe. If it's not factual information from public records and isn't
incredibly complimentary and uplifting, ha ha.
Will you demand that people seek a waiver before uttering your
name in a public place?
Of course not
So if the other guy named Tom Piwowar does something that I think
reflects badly on our name can I sue him for damages?
Well, anybody can sue anybody for anything, that's the beauty of
the system. It would most likely be thrown out of court though,
and you'd be out court costs and attorney fees
>Shortest way seems to be to set up a icon in the dock to activate the screen
>saver and have that lock the computer.
Yes you could write a one-line AppleScript and put it in the Dock. But do
we want to scare Jeff with writing a computer program? He will complain
that it is too hard.
tell appli
Which one "never existed?" That one would probably have the strongest IP
rights.
>Yep, and these all have in common the fact that they are not living or .
>Could see making that distinction.
>> Happens all the time: George Washington, Robert E Lee, Uncle Ben, etc,
***
> [OT quiz - what was the first registered domain name with a numeral as
> the first character in it? BTW, the RFC documenting it allowed it, but
> none of the early DNS implementations did.]
I just noticed a URL that was all numbers.
***
>Uncle Ben?
thestraightdope.com reports that there really was an Uncle Ben -- a rice
farmer from Houston.
* ==> QUICK LIST-COMMAND REFERENCE - Put the following commands in <==
* ==> the body of an email & send 'em to: [E
>If you really want to do something about the health problem that is the
>Mystery Person's field, why not do a website about that particular
>health problem, with links to some of her publications or articles about
>her on Oprah? You'll want to use the proper disclaimers, of course, to
>be legally
mind too much when I tell her I've
registered her name and offer to give it to her.
Randall
- Original Message -
From: "Tom Piwowar" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To:
Sent: Tuesday, October 09, 2007 4:54 PM
Subject: Re: [CGUYS] Grabbing domain names of well-known persons? liabil
I just hope she doesn't mind too much when I tell her I've
registered her name and offer to give it to her.
And that is the right thing to do.
* ==> QUICK LIST-COMMAND REFERENCE - Put the following commands in <==
* ==>
If the Mystery Person is something in the medical field, there may be
serious liability and medical malpractices implications if there is a
website that offers medical information IN HER NAME. You DEFINITELY
need to consult a lawyer before you do a site for her; you could put her
in serious financ
p someone out. Maybe I'll get some other referrals
from her at some point.
Randall
- Original Message -
From: "Constance Warner" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To:
Sent: Tuesday, October 09, 2007 1:36 PM
Subject: Re: [CGUYS] Grabbing domain names of well-known persons? liabi
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