ICANN has to do something about Snapnames and their Shady Registrar Partners – Protondomains & Media Web Plus, and what they get away with.

For several months we’ve had to contend with registrars that includes Directnic, Intercosmos, DirectI, Snapnames, Protondomains, and now Media Web Plus.

Back in July, My company asked DirectNIC/Intercosmos (through emails and faxes) to release a specific inactive and parked domain name to the public because of our trademark. They did so by expiring and deleting the domain (Thank you Intercosmos!) and we waited patiently for over thirty days to purchase the name when it became available.

Snapnames grabbed it first through their domain drop and snatch service and then auctioned it off to THEIR shady registry partner and SUBSIDIARY – PROTONDOMAINS. According to Whois:

“Domain Name: *.COM
Registrar: PROTONDOMAINS.COM LLC
Whois Server: whois.protondomains.com
Referral URL: http://www.protondomains.com
Name Server: NS1.SEDOPARKING.COM
Name Server: NS2.SEDOPARKING.COM
Status: ok
Updated Date: 20-dec-2008
Creation Date: 10-dec-2008
Expiration Date: 10-dec-2009″

So first it was under the name of DirectI, a company in India. We called them, and they informed us that they weren’t the owners, and then we contacted Oversee and they said that the domain name was being managed by Snapnames under its subsidiary: Prontodomains.

We then made numerous attempts to reach Protondomains. The Whois information was incorrect, so we made a formal complaint with ICANN about their phony Whois information. The recently restored accurate information to the whois, so hopefully we’ve led to helping to prevent them from misleading the public in the future.

We made attempts to contact KJEL HOLMBERG over at Snapnames, but he hasn’t replied since December of 2008 (It’s now approaching April 2009), only to our surprise that Protondomains might share an office with the folk at Snapnames.

Recently, the name was sold to or registered by MEDIA WEB PLUS, cybersquatters in the search optimization business. We did reach out to them and they have asked us for $5000 for the name and then to f*ck off when we refused to pay. We forwarded their request as well as our response to legal@moniker.com. I spoke to a couple of folk at Moniker, as they were the only ones answering their phones and they were wondering why Snapnames hadn’t responded to our voicemail messages and emails.

Next We learned that the same domain name is on the Moniker marketplace being sold for $1600 as of 1:38PM EST. Dec. 22nd, 2008. We were confused and so we contacted their customer support line and Moniker explained that Media Web Plus is most likely involved in a practice that is in likelihood violating their terms and agreement as customers of theirs. The domain name also appears on the SEDO marketplace for an unknown bid amount.

All we want is our name. Media Web Plus along with SEOSEO and OnlineDomains.mobi are also the owners and administrators of websites that would tarnish our brand name, and for what, so they can make a quick buck?

We have rights to THIS domain through our business registration in the State of New York and we hold a USPTO trademark and relevant pseudo-mark registration for THIS name, and have engaged in commerce under THIS name, and we were also issued a Tax ID by the IRS number under THIS name and will be filing for our company 2008 tax returns under THIS name.

On March 26, 2009, Media Web Plus informed us that the name will be sold through SEDO. That means they’ve had literally no traffic on the name and have been attempting to sell it for their outrageous sum since December 22, 2008!!!

This was our response (sent the same day):

“As I mentioned on my previous email, we have a trademark for the name, so anyone who, to their misfortune purchases the name, we will inform them of our rights over the name and what they do from there to get there money back is up to them. I don’t think it’s even fair for them to be buying into a domain dispute and then delivered cease and desist letters by our lawyers. As long as they want to engage in any activity involving the United States, they’ll be confronted by the USPTO as using our name illegally. Who wants that? Is that worth $5000?

There’s a reason why it has taken you so long to sell the name. No one wants it and would have to be reckless to buy it if they did their research. We are cool with buying the name for a $100 and that’s it – quick & easy. We already have money set aside for the legal fees and arbitration fees to pursue this issue from start to finish.

Do what you have to do in the name of business and commerce. Best of luck to you and I hope you guys are successful in your accomplishing your wishes and hopes. We will still always be {inserted domain name}, and doing good by that name for all our world’s kids.”

We want our name and won’t stop fighting until a transfer is made.WE sent ALL our supporting documents to the above parties, and we will not send them again. We wanted to avoid an arbitration process (it’s expensive), but it may come to that. However, we will make sure that any customer, ICANN and anyone who has to deal with SNAPNAMES, PROTONDOMAINS, and MEDIA WEB PLUS will find this board posting, and be fearless in the pursuit of their dreams.

Fight them!!!

Anyone wishing to contact me about resolving this matter or have any questions or tips, please do so (to avoid spam) through this site’s messaging process. We will get back to you as soon as we can.

—————————————
Email addresses of those mentioned in this posting. Contact them if you face similar issues Good luck future business owners and social entrepreneurs, and thank you ICANN for establishing new policies against those who are a part of why our US economy is bad. We need more oversight and regulations. This issue has made me an advocate for them. Here are the email addresses you won’t find as available on the web:

Also try:

Attn: Legal (Moniker)
1600 Southwest 4th Avenue, Suite 400
Portland, Oregon, 97201
————————————————————————————–
If you have trouble with MEDIA WEB PLUS, their public whois information (made public) is:

Registration Service Provided By: MANAGE.SNAPNAMES.COM
Contact: +1.5034595739
Website: http://Manage.SnapNames.com

Domain Name

Registrant:
Media Web Plus
nidal elkadri
125 marcel chaput
gatineau
qc,j9a 3b3
CA
Tel. +1.8197761113
————————————————————————————-

Kjel P. Holmberg
SnapNames, Business Development Manager
115 NW 1st Ave, 3rd Floor
Portland, Oregon 97209
503.219.9990 ext. 236

XXXXXX Stephen Douglas Responds:

Sorry about your domain issues you discuss. I can’t get involved with your legal issues regarding the domain (and I don’t know what that domain is).

If you want to write to me and enlist my help, I will give it a try to resolve your problems. It sounds like you don’t have much financial backing to just get the domain at auction for $1600 and be done with it. An official filing of a UDRP at ICANN costs a little more than that. The time you spend chasing after the domain is going to be more costly than just buying it for some price that they’re trying to sell it (since I don’t know the domain, I can’t comment on the possible TM infringement).

You can contact me directly at successclick (at( gmail

Best wishes…

Thank you for contacting Domain Direct / Net Identity / ItsYourDomain Customer Service.

First I would like to apologize for the delayed response regarding your issue.

Security Questions are questions set up by you, the domain owner, to prevent your
domain name from being stolen. If you need to retrieve this information to gain
access or control of your domain name, then please follow these procedures:

First, look up who the current owner of the domain name is listed as. You can do so
through this link:

https://secure.onlineaccess.net/iyd/whoislookup.php?IYD=1

Enter your domain name, the WhoIs password that is showing on the screen and click
on the Do WhoIs button
When the information displays, examine the REGISTRANT section
It will show the Owner’s name and Company name (if any) and associated address on
file with the domain registration
Keep in mind that the Company Name will be take precedence over the Owners Name listed.

Once you know that information, you will need to fax us information relating to the
search you just did.

If a Company Name shows up in the Registrant section of the Whois search

* You will need to provide us a copy of a business license or letters of
incorporation
* A scanned drivers license of the current or new owner
* A business card that shows the owners name with the same address listed in the
Whois search you did
* The domain name in question
* An active email address to send a confirmation to
* A contact phone number just in case
* Explanation of what you need done

If NO Company Name shows up in the Registrant section, concentrate on the Owners
Name. In this case, you should fax in:

* A scanned drivers license of the current owner
* A business card that shows the owners name with the current address listed in
the Whois search you did earlier
* The domain name in question
* An active email address to send a confirmation to
* A contact phone number just in case
* Explanation of what you need done

Fax this information to: 416-352-0113.

We review incoming faxes everyday, so please be very detailed with your inquiry. We
will then assess your domain name and the information you have provided to us. Once
it has been reviewed, we will send confirmation via email that requested changes
have been made on your account.

If you are a new owner and don’t have any of this information, you will need to give
us a call. Please use the toll free number at: 1-866-796-5718

This ticket will be placed into “Awaiting Customer Action”. If your issue has
already been resolved, then please close this ticket or send a response requesting
that it be closed.

+++++
Arrggggh! I have received so many of these notices, also from GoDaddy, but a lot from “itsyourdomain”. Remember, this sleazy registrar was bought by Tucows.com. I’d complain to them directly. These types of overbearing “proof of ownership” tactics used because of some mistake made on their part, or an unwillingness to allow the domain to be transferred out even though you have the login name and password, is unacceptable.

If I was you, I’d rate the value of the domain, then divide the domain value by the value of your time hourly. If the domain value doesn’t exceed four hours of your “hourly worth”, fugetaboutit. You’ll spend at least that much more time trying to retrieve the domain.

I’m really surprised more domainers don’t complain about “itsyourdomain”. Bill Sweetman of Tucows should gladly help you personally. He’s a very nice guy, and should straighten out the problem for you. Good luck!

Support Ticket opened April 5th 2008 and NO REPLY as of May 24th 2008:

“Hi, I can login to my IYD account perfectly. However once in my account, I have tried to Unlock the domain ****Hotel.com but your system does not recognize my password on the unlocking page. Therefore, please would you Unlock the domain ****Hotel.com so that I can transfer it away. Thanks”

There is no way to unlock an IYD domain, they request a 2nd password within the account that does not exist or work. No response from support after nearly 7 weeks, NOTHING. IYD suck to the highest degree. The worst non-existent customer service on the planet. IYD are definitely crap. Who is the owner of the IYD piss poor operation? Perhaps I can email him.

++++STEPHEN DOUGLAS SEZ+++++

Hi Jon,

I’m really sorry for your troubles with this rogue registrar IYD. Since last year it’s been owned by TUCOWS, a seemingly legitimate, if not very well funded parent registrar, I’m surprised they’ve not fixed this problem, even after I’ve commented on it at length, and their sale manager responded to my article, seemingly with much sincerity. Hmmmm… I have his info posted on the followup article in my blog, so check it out, and contact him. All I can say now is with your post, all domainers should be wary of ItsYourdomains.com and TUCOWS when they want to register a domain.

Please keep us updated, Jon. Good luck.

++++STEPHEN DOUGLAS SEZ+++++

Hi Betty,

I would suggest you contact Mr. Sweetman at Tucows. His post and explanations here on the Successclick blog are quite sincere and he should be helpful. Good luck with this. I am going to be putting forth a formal request at Snapnames that any domains from ITD not be accepted into the Snapnames auction roster because of this problem.