NetworkSolutions Scandal: Hijacking User Domain Searches
UPDATE: Our voices have been heard! The ICANN Board of Directors a resolution was passed which will end domain tasting as we know it, including this Network Solutions scandal. Read the full story here on DotSauce.
There has been an uproar today about a recent devious tactic being used by one of the original ICANN accredited registrars, NetworkSolutions. Apparently they are internally registering each and every domain name that a user searches for using their website, essentially holding it hostage so that it can not be purchased at any other significantly cheaper and more ethical registrar.
Stratagenix, a member of DomainState writes:
BEWARE: Don’t Search For Names At NetworkSolutions.com
Network Solutions has instituted a 4 day lock on all domain names searched on their site. They are effectively using phishing techniques to hijack or steal domain names and forcing domain name registrants to register their names at Network Solutions.
Boycott Network Solutions
This kind of tactic can destroy a company’s reputation. Many registrars have been accused of selling their whois search data to domain tasting companies, but never has any company immediately secured domain searches in their name as they are searched for. I urge you to never use Network Solutions and spread the word about this scandalous practice.
Stratagenix later replies in the discussion topic:
I contacted ICANN and they said that although they believe it to be an unethical business practice…. it is legal for Network Solutions to hijack domain names and hold them…. ICANN stated that there is nothing they can do to stop the practice.
What is the best/safest site to look for domain names?
Where you should be Searching Instead
I personally use Moniker’s Bulk Search tool because it is safe, reliable and fast. I then register my desired domain names at GoDaddy for various reasons, mainly that it is the most popular and desirable for domain buyers.
Have Your Say
You can discuss the NetworkSolutions situation at DotSauce Forums, NamePros or DomainState. This news has also been announced by other domain industry blogs: Conceptualist, Elliot’s Blog, Dominik Mueller, DomainBits and hopefully more will follow soon.
Popularity: 39% [?]
January 8th, 2008 at 5:00 pm
Hi ,
I work for Network solutions and wanted to clarify our side.
We are not monetizing these domains, nor do we intend to keep them after the holding period.
Network Solutions is not front running. “ Front Runners” are people who register domain names known to have been searched, for the purpose of monetizing them and then selling them at inflated prices either directly to the customer who searched for the domain or through aftermarket channels.
We have started protecting all domain name searches at Network Solutions by holding the searched domains for our customers for a short period of time before releasing them. This gives our customers the opportunity to register names later without fear that the name will be registered by a “Front Runner.”.
We did this because we heard customers complain that queried domain names are being snatched up by other people as soon as they searched. Network Solutions makes sure its search data is secure and we do not sell it any third party. I know that Network Solutions has no intention of keeping any searched domain or monetizing it
January 8th, 2008 at 5:33 pm
Network Solutions are such cocksuckers, it’s even hard to move your own domain from them when you want to.
January 8th, 2008 at 5:58 pm
Now here’s a “flip side” question: is it safe to transfer the domain from network solutions to another provider? I’m just afraid there’s going be some sort of unethical process happening in between to make me lose that domain.
January 8th, 2008 at 7:21 pm
Yes they definitely are doing that, I just did a whois search at netsol, and now the domain is registered today a one year.
And when you go through with the registratin the amount is more than 3x the cost if you registered it with a different registrar.
Very underhanded and unethical.
January 8th, 2008 at 10:31 pm
Network Solutions is the proud owner of all of these .com domains:
the-real-microsoft
the-real-ibm
the-real-dell
the-real-walmart
the-real-esso
the-real-general-motors
the-real-ford
the-real-chrysler
I hope the trademark lawyers sue the pants off Netsol.
January 8th, 2008 at 10:38 pm
Domain Name: NETWORKSOLUTIONSSUCKSMONKEYBALLS.COM
Administrative Contact, Technical Contact:
Network Solutions, LLC domainsupport@networksolutions.com
13681 Sunrise Valley Drive, Suite 300
HERNDON, VA 20171
US
1-888-642-9675 fax: 571-434-4620
January 8th, 2008 at 11:18 pm
[…] Solutions Sucks Ass Posted in January 9th, 2008 by ChronoFish in Inner Geek, No Where Else Base of story Base of […]
January 8th, 2008 at 11:23 pm
NetSol is lying through their teeth. Matter of fact, it may be worse than this; a domain that’s actually registered and PAID FOR is being used by Network Solutions to host advertising links.
Check out “sunrisehomeownersassociation.org” which was registered with Network Solutions. There’s no actual web site associated with it - my homeowners’ association decided (foolishly) not to maintain the web site - but the domain itself IS registered. It appears to be one of the generic “advertising” pages. I’m the “Administrative Contact” for this domain, and I have NOT authorized NSI to make money on a domain that _I_ am responsible for.
NSI, you’re busted!
January 8th, 2008 at 11:43 pm
the redditors have got ahold of this, and some are trying to make it stick on digg. the challenge is to register the most offensive or NSA-suspicious names possible to the site.
Not that it is going to accomplish anything, but it sure is fun.
January 9th, 2008 at 1:23 am
Just for the fun of it, I went to NetSol’s site and search for the availability of NetworkSolutionsSucksAss.com. They posted the results of which all the dot extensions were available. I closed down the browser and then restarted it with a search of Dotster’s search page. This time the domain was listed as “Make Offer”, and guess who you were to make the offer to? The first two guesses don’t count … NetSol of course.
Too bad we can’t spread the word to more people.
January 9th, 2008 at 1:26 am
my domain jamming with network solutions e-book will be out in 15 minutes. don’t buy when you can make netsol hold it hostage for you! i take paypal guys.
January 9th, 2008 at 1:31 am
They are front-running crooks. Period. No amount of spin will change what this program is. It was only 2003 when Verisign/NSI decided they would screw over the internet standards and have all unregistered .com’s point their parked page.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Site_Finder
They should lose the damn spin, NSI have taken every opportunity they can to screw people.
January 9th, 2008 at 1:58 am
NETWORKSOLUTIONSKISSMYASS.COM
Administrative Contact, Technical Contact:
Network Solutions, LLC
13681 Sunrise Valley Drive, Suite 300
HERNDON, VA 20171
US
1-888-642-9675 fax: 571-434-4620
Record expires on 09-Jan-2009.
Record created on 09-Jan-2008.
Database last updated on 9-Jan-2008 01:54:49 EST.
January 9th, 2008 at 1:58 am
Wow. If they are just “protecting” it, then why the sales pitch in my whois result? I’m guessing theres a project manager or two over there that are packing their bags…
Registrant:
This Domain is available at NetworkSolutions.com
13681 Sunrise Valley Drive, Suite 300
HERNDON, VA 20171
US
Domain Name: NETSOLLIKESTOSTEAL.COM
January 9th, 2008 at 4:07 am
so, why do you or others do domain searches at one registrar only to register it somewhere else? Netsol hasn’t changed their pricing structure for these domains at all. While I can see how people may feel slighted, it still doesn’t make much sense to me. To put it in a more real world context, it’s like going to Target, putting all of your items in your shopping cart, but then instead of buying them there, you get in your car and drive off to Walmart. Why not just start there in the first place?
The fact is, a lot of the people that have been posting about this, aren’t even Netsol’s customers in the first place–they’re all domainers that are far too price sensitive to buy from Netsol anyway. So essentially the argument has been broken down to:
They’re crooks (I didn’t like them anyway!)
I search for my domain that I was going to buy at Godaddy and they’ve held it! (I wasn’t going to buy at Netsol anyway)
Hey look, I can register stupid spurious obvious trademarked names or obscenity riddled ones! (how old are you?)
So whether this has been on slashdot, digg, or a blog, I just have been reading the exact same thing over and over again. But I have yet to find a single post that says, “I’ve been a customer of Netsol’s and I’m so angry about this!”
So if you were never planning on doing business with them, why does this effect you again? Front-running and domain tasting happens through all registrars and all domain searches, this one just happens to have probably gotten a bit pissed off about it seems.
January 9th, 2008 at 6:42 am
It is funny how NSI states they are doing this to protect their customers from DNFR however, not 3 months ago, they made a public statement of.
http://www.circleid.com/posts/7112810_nominet_on_front_running/
January 9th, 2008 at 8:18 am
“We are not monetizing these domains…”
That is complete bull. Network Solutions is monetizing them, by forcing users who want to register a domain name to either wait for the your expiriation or pay you $34.95, when you can get a domain at several other registars for less than $10 - and better service I might add. I certainly call that monetizing them - with overcharges.
Bill
January 9th, 2008 at 8:33 am
“I’m guessing theres a project manager or two over there that are packing their bags…”
More like “in the bosses office getting a raise”. Network Solutions has worked hard to earn the title of scummiest company on the net. Partly because of tactics like this.
Be sure to tell your Joe Sixpack friends not to use them for searching or registering their domains. Make them say it ten times out loud in front of you…”I will never use Network Solutions”, “I will never use Network Solutions”…
Remember, the sixpacks are the ones who pay $20 for a domain because they don’t know any better.
January 9th, 2008 at 9:28 am
I got ripped-off this week. Netsol registered a domain yesterday. I whois-ed it last 2 days on netsol website only. So whatever netsol says, they ARE scaning user whois searches on their website and register domains. I’m totally frustrated.
January 9th, 2008 at 9:30 am
If they were actually protecting the domain, no one else could register it. Anyone can buy the domain, but only through their service. Sounds like monetizing to me.
January 9th, 2008 at 9:59 am
[…] Courtesy of Dotsauce.com […]
January 9th, 2008 at 10:54 am
I’m confused. If they are protecting it for YOU, why can ANYBODY come to Network Solutions after seeing the “This Domain is available at NetworkSolutions.com” and purchase it from under me?
Now if I search for domains and find ones with those tags, I know that somebody is considering the domain. Maybe I could have been a “front runner” cheaper elsewhere, but this is a potentially more lucrative deal. I’m purchasing things I know someone wants!
January 9th, 2008 at 11:06 am
This kind of practice is really not acceptable. I hope they get a really big PR desaster…
January 9th, 2008 at 11:38 am
shashib Says:
“Network Solutions is not front running. “ Front Runners” are people who register domain names known to have been searched, for the purpose of monetizing them and then selling them at inflated prices either directly to the customer who searched for the domain or through aftermarket channels.”
Forcing you to buy it from them for $35 when you could get it elsewhere for $8 sounds an awful lot like “monetizing” to me. Charging 400% what the competition does, and not allowing you to go to the competition sounds like abuse of power to me.
If you’re really trying to protect the customer you could choose anywhere from 15 minutes to 24 hours. There is no need for a 4 day hold. Look at airline tickets or ticket master hold times.
January 9th, 2008 at 11:50 am
Thats BULLSHIT, shashib. Crap, even when sugar-coated, is still crap. And this is just yet another example of more bullshit in this world. Thanks for contributing to the problem and not the solution. Now you join the ranks of Intercosmos Media Group, Kenyatech and those whackos in New Orleans who call themselves DirectNIC. You and your company are jackasses.
January 9th, 2008 at 11:52 am
Uproar, yes. Recent devious tactic, not at all. There is nothing new about this.
And, your defence is total BULLSHIT, shashib. Complete and utter bullshit.
Crap, even when sugar-coated, is still crap. And this is just yet another example of more bullshit in this world. Thanks for contributing to the problem and not the solution. Now you join the ranks of Intercosmos Media Group, Kenyatech and those whackos in New Orleans who call themselves DirectNIC. You and your company are jackasses.
January 9th, 2008 at 12:59 pm
This is so funny that it makes me cry.
January 9th, 2008 at 1:20 pm
Why doesnt someone just get a bot hammering their site with domain name tests.. After a few thousand stolen domain registrations things should stop.
January 9th, 2008 at 1:23 pm
ICANN makes the rules regarding domain practices… so they too should bear some blame. they are essentially the regulating body for domain consumerism. So they make or break these kind of policies and obviously they were this.
January 9th, 2008 at 1:25 pm
If they are “protecting” it, then they should request an email address for all serious queries, such that when you return to purchase, you get it for the non-inflated price…!
January 9th, 2008 at 1:37 pm
Hey Sashib,
Here’s an excerpt from what you wrote:
“….selling them at inflated prices either directly to the customer who searched for the domain or through aftermarket channels.”
Shashib — You’re not selling at inflated prices??!? You’re telling us that $34.99 a year is the going rate for domain names? That is horribly deceptive and you and your company are completely taking advantage of uninformed consumers. I can get the same domain name for less than $10 nearly ANYWHERE ELSE, Shashib.
I hope there’s some serious change at Network Solutions that comes from this exposure of your horrible business practices.
January 9th, 2008 at 1:39 pm
[…] [via DomainTools Blog and DotSauce] […]
January 9th, 2008 at 1:40 pm
Remember the five day grace period was conceived as consumer protection. That ridiculous policy (like we need to protect registrants from losing $60 for accidentally registering the wrong domain name) spawned domain tasting.
I am not buying the NSI response. In fact, we think we they are doing violates their own service agreement and consumer protection laws.
Nowhere in the Whois NOTICE AND TERMS OF USE language does it say that an Internet user’s search of the WHOIS database will result in NSI registering the domain name searched for a five day period wherein the Internet user can only purchase the domain name through NSI (at a much higher cost that with another registrar). To the contrary, the Terms of Use states, “The Data in Network Solutions’ WHOIS database is provided by Network Solutions for information purposes only…” While we shouldn’t expect NSI to say that it participates in domain front running, there should be notice to the Internet user that this is not a free, public, no-strings-attached domain name availability search. Users have undoubtedly lost out on domains because of this practice.
We have analyzed the legal aspects of this issue at this link http://tcattorney.typepad.com/anticybersquatting_consum/2008/01/nsi-accused-of.html
January 9th, 2008 at 1:47 pm
we-fund-terrorism.com
Administrative Contact :
Network Solutions, LLC
domainsupport@networksolutions.com
13681 Sunrise Valley Drive, Suite 300
HERNDON, VA 20171
US
1-888-642-9675
Fax: 571-434-4620
January 9th, 2008 at 1:50 pm
gggrrrrrrrRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!!
I’ve known NetSol sucks for too long - they host a couple sites - basically overcharging me for registration and hosting. Why do I stay? The domains are so old and with their original registrar/host that I don’t want to jeopardize their success (just supersticious)
Anyway, those poor sites have suffered there - having been hacked into via their poor server config. When i pointed out the hack, the NetSol tech said it was a product they’ve added to my account (added 100 invisible links to my footer?!) and that I wouldn’t be charged for it.
Now to hear this about the hijacking of domains via searches is too much.
Network Solutions - you suck.
From,
One of you customers
January 9th, 2008 at 2:17 pm
I’m not sure that I mind the ‘grace’ registration itself. I do mind that they don’t ask you if you want them to temp-register it for you, and make sure that they have your contact info to hold it for you only. That said, they should also explain the risk that a front-runner will search for names that have been ‘graced’ and will soon expire in order to hijack lots of sites. I’m betting that someone is already hijacking whois’d sites (it’s not clear from the comments if anyone has actually had domain hijacking from this). I think that it’s worth creating a million fake whois’s just to kill off a few front-runners/hijackers.
January 9th, 2008 at 2:18 pm
Wonder why some class-action lawyers haven´t picked up on this and sued Network Solutions for all their activities?
Be a huge class-action suit to squash them.
January 9th, 2008 at 2:31 pm
This just happened to me. I usually check availability of domains with Netsol and then register them at GoDaddy as I like Network Solutions search tool… Earlier in the day I had checked a domain and it was available… later in the day I decided to register it and went to Godaddy to do so and it was “taken”. So I double checked on Netsol again and it was available. I called Netsol and said that I wanted to register it and that I was confused as to why it was showing up as available there but not elsewhere… the rep that I spoke to said that they were now locking domains that were searched and found to be available on Netsol “for our users protection”. She said that someone “from some foreign country” was watching which domains were being searched for on Netsol and then registering them and trying to re-sell them at marked up rates to the original searcher(s). This seemed within the realm of possibility but probably way way too much effort for a hijacker to undergo simply because the value of most domains is so questionable and subjective. I eventually got her down to $8.75 per year for the registration (3 year min) but this was still 22% more than what I would have paid at GoDaddy (at $7.15 per .com) for only a one year commitment. I agree with all the posters that I’ve read and Network Solutions is not only cheating, but also their actions could be deemed illegal. Now that this is out in the open, this has got to be something that can’t last or should cause an uproar of some sort.
Rob
http://www.BitRealty.com
January 9th, 2008 at 3:16 pm
Quote:”She said that someone “from some foreign country” was watching which domains were being searched for on Netsol and then registering them and trying to re-sell them at marked up rates to the original searcher(s).”
My question: How would any third party know what’s being searched at NetSol? Seems like more of their BS to me.
January 9th, 2008 at 3:24 pm
I have never searched with NetSol (thank God) but, once I heard this, I did a little testing myself.
AppleiPodLove.com
MicrosoftZuneLove.com
WeLoveScamming.com
NetSolScams.com
MicrosoftZunePlayers.com
Have fun with the Trademarked domains NetSol. I hear that Microsoft absolutely loves it when registrars and domainers register domains containing their company. Red Register is receiving lots of love as we speak. I hope you can be so lucky.
O.k. sarcasm over. This really disgusts me.
January 9th, 2008 at 3:40 pm
Sorry for the double post I just had to make a curious observation. NetworkSolutions did not register (”protect”) one of the domains. Guess which one? NetSolScams.com
That is very interesting.
January 9th, 2008 at 4:17 pm
Boy I first started with network solutions years ago, but have not used them for quite some time. They seem to be doing crazy things.
January 9th, 2008 at 5:38 pm
Also, now people are writing tools to automate the whole thing, pretty soon ALL domains will be unavailable except through netsol, so all other registrars will go bust
January 9th, 2008 at 5:55 pm
It’s Extortion. Netsol has been unethical scumbags since day one.
January 9th, 2008 at 10:20 pm
I wonder if some people are even remotely capable of putting the emotions aside for a moment to analyze NetSol’s recent actions and their stated reasons for it.
Now originally, NetSol indeed didn’t put commercial parking pages except a page to register the domain name via their site only. That’s been since replaced by their non-commercial parking pages (just checked one I tested), and their rep posted somewhere they’ll soon be having no content at all.
Next, domain tasting, domain front running, whatever you want to call it, is indeed happening. Various users are being “deprived” the chance to register it at their leisure (although registrars can’t guarantee availability anyway) because of them, and that’s what NetSol’s essentially trying to address.
Unfortunately registrars are also getting the flak for this, even though many themselves aren’t engaged in domain tasting by themselves. Well, I hope anyway, but the one I worked with in a previous life has consistently NOT done this.
The .Org Registry imposed a fee on this and effectively limited this practice for .org domain names. VeriSign could very well do the same, but I guess they won’t for whatever reason.
So more or less everyone is bugging ICANN to do something quick. Until then, registrars are going to do what they can under the circumstances.
It won’t surprise me if other registrars are thinking, “Why didn’t we think of that before?” or “Why don’t we do the same for OUR customers?”. It’s unfortunate if they resort to doing this when it’s really unnecessary, but are nonetheless compelled to.
Of course, no one has to agree. And it’s fine.
January 9th, 2008 at 10:48 pm
Me thinks, Network Solutions is not the only one doing this. I had recently discovered a very good health related domain that was available. Unfortunately did not register it immediately. Barely twelve hours later it was already gone!!
January 9th, 2008 at 10:53 pm
[…] http://www.dotsauce.com/2008/01/08/networksolutions-scandal-hijacking-domain-searches/ […]
January 10th, 2008 at 12:17 am
Other than maybe having no assurance of getting paid, it’s because someone needs to define a class-action lawsuit for what exactly.
People just love tossing that around. Quite pointless.
January 10th, 2008 at 12:31 am
I was thinking of doing that same thing. I dont think that there servers will handle all the open domain registrations locked. * thinks about making an automated program *
January 10th, 2008 at 12:49 am
[…] so that it can not be purchased at any other significantly cheaper and more ethical registrar. NetworkSolutions Scandal: Hijacking User Domain Searches I know this is the second post with there link in a week. I want to make it clear I’m in no way […]
January 10th, 2008 at 1:02 am
Yes, I discovered this tonight the hard way. But, as of this evening, network solutions has reserved 603 names, winners such as dnkdhyhheromo.de.com
January 10th, 2008 at 1:34 am
I had the same incident before when I searched for a domain in their website. After a day when I’m ready to buy it, its already in use. But after a week or so, It becomes available again.
January 10th, 2008 at 2:24 am
I’ve heard so much unpleasant experiences of bloggers with Network Solutions. I’m surprised that ICANN can’t do anything about this. Are there lawsuits filed against Network Solutions yet?
Useful and informative post. Cheers!
January 10th, 2008 at 2:54 am
ICANN’s actually got its hands full handling the domain tasting issue as of this post, although people have already “complained” to them about this. If anyone will possibly file a lawsuit, it’s likely a trademark holder who will believe what NetSol’s doing is infringing their rights.
January 10th, 2008 at 2:56 am
What if a few 1000 domainers go to there whois and ask for
adgargjnavajfbvabvlakbvlabhvlahbvalhvbajhbvab.com
and 10 more domians like this.
Will their system stand all this ???
January 10th, 2008 at 4:43 am
“We have started protecting all domain name searches at Network Solutions by holding the searched domains for our customers for a short period of time…”
They are not your customers until they have bought something surely?
January 10th, 2008 at 8:24 am
TO KEN MITCHELL (who says)
> Check out “sunrisehomeownersassociation.org” which was
> registered with Network Solutions.
> There’s no actual web site associated with it -
> my homeowners’ association decided (foolishly) not
> to maintain the web site - but the domain itself IS registered.
If that is the case, then they should go back and put in a simple, single-page “business card” ad.
This would prevent NetSol from “parking” the domain.
Using ‘parked’ domains is allowed by ICANN and is a generally accepted practice. I’m not defending it — the practice should not be allowed since it dilutes the internet, search engine results, and as you say is an unfair practice.
That you allow it to go on is YOUR OWN FAULT. Not NetSol’s.
January 10th, 2008 at 8:30 am
What? You’re getting upset about this practice NOW ???
Where were you 15 years ago when it first started?
This is a sophisticated, supposedly legal version of domain squatting, which has been going on since the Clinton administration deregulated domains. And when you open something as important as domains to a band of unrelated, unregulated internationals along with any jack-leg on earth, you’re just inviting criminal exploitation.
All domains acquired should be paid for immediately at the point of registration. PERIOD. Rogue registrars should NOT be allowed to “taste” (aka “kite”) thousands of domains and then release them only to pick them back up again moments later.
If ICANN wants to offer “grace” or “tasting” period, then the purchaser should be required to request and then obtain a refund. Ideally, via the postal service in WRITING to provide a court admissable paper trail with real, valid signatures.
This would weed out the criminal “tasters.”
The side benefit to ICANN would be, in effect, a ‘loan’ to ICANN of the use of hundreds of thousands of dollars for the period of time between registration and refund — which could amount to a considerable piece of interest.
At that point ALL domain tasting would probably grind to a dead stop — because the only people “tasting” (kiting) domains are criminals who would never otherwise purchase the domains — interested only in exploiting and profiteering off the system.
Let anyone who wants a domain — for testing or otherwise — PAY FOR IT. Period. If they don’t like it or don’t use it, then get a refund like the rest of us do.
Then the world (particularly the search engines and those who use them) would be a much better off.
At any rate, this is just one more indication that ICANN should be dissolved and a new, accountable entity put in charge of the domain system.
THE BEST SOLUTION OF ALL
would be for ALL domains to be permanently registered once and ONLY once. If registration lapses, then the domain is DEAD. They would NEVER be released back for reuse — they would simply cease to exist. This would solve a number of problems now troubling the internet. After a while there would be only legitimate domains in legitimate use. And there would be far fewer domains. Honorable intentions would prevail.
End of story.
January 10th, 2008 at 9:21 am
Dave noted “So more or less everyone is bugging ICANN to do something quick. Until then, registrars are going to do what they can under the circumstances.” This really get’s to the heart of the problem. ICANN needs to end the grace period. letting someone obtain a refund of a negligible spend for a domain they later decide they don’t want is hardly a compelling reason for the policy in the first place. If domain tasting ended, it would solve some of the problems at issue. ICANN never does anything quick, however. But the marketplace is responding. And my guess is that NSI is listening, and other registrars as well. The fact that NSI has modified its policy is good news. it shows that they at least appreciate the fact that legal liability exists for putting up parking pages on trademarked domains.
Dave notes that a class action lawyer is unlikely to step in and bring suit since there is no way for the lawyer to get paid. As I have noted on our blog, liabilty likely exists under consumer protection laws. Those laws also provide penalty damages and attorney fees. So, litigation is certainly possible and economically feasible. We are considering ’stepping up’ and looking hard at a consumer class action at our firm.
January 10th, 2008 at 4:18 pm
I sent them this cease and desist letter:
—————————————————
Dear Network Solutions:
I am sending you this in the light of news that you have been infringing your customers privacy by registering domain names that hey had searched for only minutes earlier.
It has come to my attention that you have made an unauthorized use of my intellectual copyrighted work including my ideas for domain names by registering these with intentions for monetary gain derived therefrom. I have reserved all rights for these. Your work is essentially identical to the Work and clearly used the Work as its basis.
As you neither asked for nor received permission to use the Work as the basis for your registered domain names nor to make or distribute copies, including electronic copies, of same, I believe you have willfully infringed my rights under 17 U.S.C. Section 101 et seq. and could be liable for statutory damages as high as $150,000 as set forth in Section 504(c)(2) therein.
I demand that you immediately cease the use and distribution of all infringing works derived from the Work, and all copies, including electronic copies, of same, that you deliver to me, if applicable, all unused, undistributed copies of same, or destroy such copies immediately and that you desist from this or any other infringement of my rights in the future. If I have not received an affirmative response from you by 20th January 2008 indicating that you have fully complied with these requirements, I shall take further action against you.
In doing this you infringed the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (18 U.S.C. § 1030) and the Economic Espionage Act of 1996. This may also be an infringement of the Uniform Trade Secrets act.
I have contacted my lawyer to discuss matters further
Very truly yours,
[my name]
—————————————————
I really hope they get sued
January 10th, 2008 at 4:24 pm
I also went and searched for about 50 trademarked names
Now I’ve just got to email the owners of those trademarks telling them how Network Solutions need to be sued… hehe
January 10th, 2008 at 5:42 pm
[…] DotSauce Pass it on: These icons link to social bookmarking sites where readers can share and discover new web pages. […]
January 10th, 2008 at 6:26 pm
As of 5:24pm Central, it would appear that this practice has ceased. I’ve attempted multiple random character-domain names and none of them appear through any other whois after 15-minutes. IIRC, root updates are nearly instantaneous these days.
January 11th, 2008 at 1:22 am
And deny: a) another person the opportunity to use the domain name for their desired intent, and b) another registrar an opportunity to make money?
Nope, it’s not the end of the story. Not by a long shot.
January 11th, 2008 at 1:32 am
You might want to get a better lawyer than the one who composed that C&D for you. Copyrights don’t apply to domain names, and I don’t see how you can accuse them of breaking 18 U.S.C. § 1030 when you used their computers to do your query.
January 11th, 2008 at 9:00 am
Amen Dave!
January 11th, 2008 at 11:37 pm
As someone earlier mentioned, don’t forget about the Site Finder bull crap they were engaging in a few years ago.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Site_Finder
Also, don’t forget about their domain name slamming scam they were operating a while ago too:
http://arstechnica.com/archive/news/1017291828.html
I work for Arizona’s oldest ISP and we haven’t used Netsol in years and years. I continue to see we made a great decision. Oh, and before I forget, Network Solutions engages in spam as well.
Network Solutions: you are deplorable, blackhat scumbags. Die, die, die! I look forward to the day when ICANN pulls their collective heads out of their rears and chooses another registrar to maintain the COM and NET stewardships.
January 12th, 2008 at 1:54 am
Lane (and anyone else reading this), VeriSign sold off Network Solutions years ago to a venture capital firm, which was later acquired by another one last year. Network Solutions is now a registrar on its own just like any other.
Just thought I’d mention that since a lot of people still seem to think VeriSign and Network Solutions are one and the same. They’re not.
January 12th, 2008 at 4:57 pm
[…] Network Solutions Scandal: Hijacking User Domain Searches […]
January 12th, 2008 at 9:56 pm
[…] RSS feed subscribers, but we have already blown past that and are working on 600! Thanks to some scandalous news in the domain industry about a certain shady company, traffic at DotSauce spiked pretty high this […]
January 13th, 2008 at 2:29 am
There are so many shady companies in the domain business it is despicable.
January 14th, 2008 at 9:06 pm
I haven’t used any website for checking availability of domain names for years, for the precise reason that I never trusted the site to not do something with the name.
If you want to know if a domain is available, use nslookup, and do an SOA query for the domain.
January 14th, 2008 at 11:15 pm
[…] for the down time. They weren’t improving my customer experience, especially in light of Network Solutions domain name phishing and hijacking […]
January 15th, 2008 at 6:47 am
Seems to be unethical thing to do. Pity that even ICANN can’t do anything though they know that this is not way to do domain registration.
Tina Iyer
January 15th, 2008 at 8:10 am
I got a reply:
————————————
Dear [my name],
Thank you for contacting Network Solutions. Your request was forwarded to my attention in the Executive Office.
I do apologize for any difficulties you may have experienced as it relates to the Domain Protection Service. I fully understand your concerns and would be happy to accommodate your request to release the domain. Please email me with the domain name or call me if you would like to discuss further.
I can be reached at 570-708-8700 ext 9125. Our office hours are Monday through Friday 9 AM - 6 PM Eastern Time.
Sincerely,
Tracy Lillis
————————————
January 15th, 2008 at 11:53 am
networksolutions.com holds even domains you do want to transfer to other provider. Be careful! Lousy e-mail customer service: 24h response time… forget it. If you are with networksolutions.com you are bound forever. ..Or THEY will sell YOUR domain to someone else.
January 15th, 2008 at 2:46 pm
Network Solutions probably isn’t the only registrar doing this. I’ve noticed in the past that when I search for domains on a registrars site, the name is gone after a couple of hours. Now I only search at a registrars site if I want to buy the name straight away.
January 16th, 2008 at 4:45 am
This doesn’t surprise me at all, because they have also always condoned Spam and criminal scams by their customers. I’ve reported HUNDREDS spamming and scamming domains to them (of which they were the registrar), and never ONCE did they do anything about it. They also give you the big run-around like there’s nothing they can do, and I have their TOS saved somewhere that I have to keep pasting into the complaint emails I send them, because I have repeatedly point out to them THEIR OWN TOS which clearly states they won’t tolerate Spam or scams! They ignore it. Even worse, is they give that “spammer/scammer privacy protection service” to their criminal customers so you can’t see their real whois information! They’re as bad as the Chinese registrars. The FTC needs to simply do away with them.
January 18th, 2008 at 3:31 am
we have been dealing with netsol for almost 10 years and we have had no problems at all and they were very cooperative recently when we moved a couple domains from netsol to other company and they have done it within the 5 days period.
But since netsol is a success it is normal to be criticized
be fair.
January 18th, 2008 at 10:14 am
Had to check it out for myself. Searched for “WeLikeLittleBoys.com” on Network Solutions. Started a new browser session. Searched again and it was still available, but this time for the great price of $34.99. Checked the whois info and now Network Solutions apparently likes little boys.
http://whois.domaintools.com/welikelittleboys.com
January 20th, 2008 at 3:06 pm
hey shashib, i call bull**** …
why? because it just happend to me today!!!!
and even worse, i searched and immediately went to buy the domain. NWS charged my CC (!!!!) and all seemed well until i got this email:
============================
Subject: Unable To Process Your Order
Dear Network Solutions® Customer,
Thank you for your order and for giving Network Solutions® the opportunity to serve your online needs.
Unfortunately, we were unable to process your request. None of the services in this order have been fulfilled, including items that have deferred payments.
We will refund the credit card you provided during your transaction, and the refund should be credited within 3-5 business days.
============================
no reason why it couldn’t be processed. nada.
so i go and do a whois on the domain name and what do you know, it’s now registered to Networksolutions and a “Under construction” page is up and a link where you can make an *Offer* to buy the name from them …
that has got to be the biggest ripoff ever!
i’m currently talking to my lawyer. this has to be criminal …
January 21st, 2008 at 12:45 pm
I registered and hosted my domain with network solutions. Due to constant downtimes and indian tech support i decided to move my domain to cphosting.com but guess what?, they refused to unlock my domain and cancel my hosting account. Finally after 2 months of hard work and constant emails to them they unlocked my domain and let it move to other registrar. After cancellation they kept billing me for 4 months. Finally to get ride of them i simply cancelled my card and got the new one. NETWORK SOLUTIONS sucks.
January 21st, 2008 at 12:56 pm
just experienced this first hand. MAJOR SCAM! everyone move your business elsewhere!!! NOW!!
January 23rd, 2008 at 11:30 am
They are still doing this. I made the mistake of searching for a name for a client today on their site and now I cannot register it anywhere -except- Network Solutions. In addition to this shady practice they also make it very difficult to transfer a domain from them once you do register with them. I hope this causes a severe backlash against them and that their business suffers.
January 24th, 2008 at 7:34 pm
I work at one of the biggie registrars.. cant say which of course.. but my nic may give you a hint.. (notice i said at and not for)
Some Solid Answers for all the above..
when you register a domain name, it has to be put somewhere. so you may see a single web page with lots of links on it.. this is a practice called cash parking.
it generates revenue for the registrar where it was bought, should the name owner not have that service intentionally put that or some other a web page put in its place.
Sure, you may not like it, if this is happening to you, but then you only licensed the domain name, not web hosting. (what’s the difference?.. you’re a web idiot for asking)
Read the terms of service, dont just agree or say you have to get an order processed!!! (this could take you hours)
Expired domain names can be reregistered by the last owner up to 80 days after expiration, and can also be lost as soon as 42 days after expiration if it goes to an auction.. It’s expired bub, you don’t own it now. Thanks for NOT keeping your domains contact info up to date, spuddy, i’ll take that name now.
Many domain names, com/net…, can be licensed for up to 10 years at a time, and must be for at least 1 year initially. This can be extended by months after purchase… I’ve seen it done through godaddy.
As for this front running thing..
NSI has gone insaine.
Absolutely, they are front running, only to release any name after 4 days, if not registered immediately after searching with them.
Because of this business practice, I’ve lost quite a few dollars in sales, as those who call me to buy it suddenly find that nsi snatched it under their bloody, puffy noses.
This smash u in the face practice puts many new businesses on hold and may even costs them thousands of $ because of other things that suddenly go on hold or are stopped cold because a domain name search showed it as available then 10 min later is not and shows nsi as the owner when checked via another registrar where that person is going to buy it at.
One case, 2 weeks ago, the caller said he was the ceo of some co, wanted several names which he said showed as available just before calling me, had to send 2 network ppl away, hired to perform their stuff after getting those names. MCSE’s are very expensive to send home due to rain.
So I say go ahead and search NSI for those other names, such as Disney, Viacom, and perhaps all the members in Congress names.org.ie.. then see how long this stays in practice.
Following the discovery of this tactic, many many names were searched for by ‘other friends’ to help prove this was not just a passing glitch by NSI.
as saddam once said to satan.. .i luv you.
January 24th, 2008 at 8:08 pm
After reading all of these posts, it sounds like ICANN and Network Solutions must be in bed together. I think the courts could do something about this if someone hires an attorney and makes the first move. I’m sure, if enough people who have been harmed by this practice, would jump on the bandwagon, it would make a difference in a courtroom. I have never used this service, and after all of this, certainly never will.
January 26th, 2008 at 12:49 am
I do not believe this shite! I did a search on netsol, since they allow multiple name searches at the same time, and now I am screwed for 4 f’ing days before I can register with a legitimate site. WOW! I am now having to make !@#$ up to my customer until this hold expires since netsol wants to be a bunch of jackasses so I can register the name they really wanted. I hope they all burn in hell.
January 26th, 2008 at 5:21 am
Their hosting serives is so basic and full waste of time.
January 26th, 2008 at 10:17 am
sue them, this is a scam fraud and i fell for it. anyone else interested in a class action?
January 26th, 2008 at 10:18 am
suensnow@networksolutions.com this is the email if you want to sue them
January 27th, 2008 at 9:35 am
I’ve been in fear such practice would happen every time I search for domain names. Never in my mind that the one who’s now practicing it is NetworkSolution. Too bad for such pioneer in the internet.
Well, pioneer who sucks you off from the day one
January 28th, 2008 at 2:58 am
Conveniently easier to bash “your” company’s competitor for your interests, eh? Hopefully you didn’t post that comment from the registrar you’re working “at”, as you say.
People here typically post whatever they feel like without bothering to check further. Not that anyone’s required to, anyway.
Class action? Better figure out what exactly to sue for first.
January 28th, 2008 at 5:07 pm
…to bash “your” company’s competitor..
i’ve ‘bashed’ as you say, my employer for having far more issues with is services than this one HUGE problem, and most have been fixed to client satisfaction.
it won’t be fixed if you dont let’em know its broke.
but i am really amazed those problems went so many years without being looked into for those problems.. or they just didnt care to before I pushed them out in the open.
i’ll just say that my employers service levels p.o.’d me enough to get a job there just to find out just how F’d up it really was. Then fix those problems, which i have had a hand in many of those fixes.
What nsi did is beyond dumb.. intentional domain kidnapping.
i like weeding out the stupid. businesses & those like you.
fin.
January 28th, 2008 at 6:16 pm
[…] story that has been a very hot topic over the past few weeks. Network Solutions has been accused of holding searched domains hostage! If you search Network Solutions for a domain name and do not register it at the time, you’ll […]
January 29th, 2008 at 3:35 pm
[…] domain tasting as we know it. The discussion was sparked in response to the scandalous practice of Network Solutions hijacking domain searches in recent weeks. Oddly enough, the industry can be thankful to Net Sol for getting the snowball […]
January 29th, 2008 at 11:14 pm
Well, then it might surprise you to know that Network Solutions is facing this exact same issue your employer reported at an ICANN meeting in Marrakech, Morocco years ago. You can verify that with TR.
And how exactly can NS engage in “intentional domain kidnapping” for something users don’t own, much more pay for? Do users own those search results?
TR asked an important question in that meeting I mentioned. Apparently Netsol decided to answer that with their current practice now while waiting for ICANN to do something about it ASAP.
January 31st, 2008 at 4:44 pm
From DomainNameNews “Domain kiting is now dead (as is NSI Front Running operation). There is no longer any way to register and drop a domain without incurring a fee. Tasting operations now have a higher cost to operate, but they have not been stopped. The ability to still make a buck off of domains seems to be alive and well.”
February 2nd, 2008 at 3:21 am
Today is Feb 2, 2008 and this practice is still going on. I just tried to search couple of domain names on netsol.com and they were available, when I tried to register via small business yahoo as price was 1.99 compared to hefty 34.99 of netsol.com, I got the message at yahoo.com that this is already purchased and not availabe. Whois search revealed that network solutions purchased it. When I try to purchase it from netsol.com, it allows the purchase but at the cost of 34.99 per year.
THIS IS MALPRACTICE AND UNETHICAL. WHERE CAN I COMPLAIN ABOUT THIS.
NETWORK SOLUTIONS SUCKS.
SID
February 5th, 2008 at 4:49 pm
Well, what if let say - 10000 people or more (which is not hard to be organized, just posts in few most popular blogs) are searching within 2-3 days for 50 domains per person - are NS going to register and take all these 500 000 domain names? What if this goes on for a month? They deserve all problems coming with this huge register/unregister, case what they do sucks. Just sucks.
February 8th, 2008 at 12:07 am
I just got nailed - I need to get the new site before a debut concert next week, and don’t have 5 days to screw around.
I used to be a NetSol customer, and the process to get ANYTHING done with these theives was so mind boggling that I transfered. (Transferring OUT of NSI was REALLY NUTS!!) Only THEN did I fiond out everyone was cheaper.
I was uneducated - I didn’t know other sites hosted who-is or the look up service so I made the mistake of using NetSol. NEVER AGAIN. I spent my $35 and as as soon as I can, I’m out of there again. They should be put out of business.
February 8th, 2008 at 3:00 am
Network Solutions are bastards and they hacking the domain names which users search on Network Solutions website. I searched 10 domain names and wihin 6 hours network solution has booked all these domain names.
I gonna bust this company. I will teach this company that what a user can do to shut this kinda company.
February 8th, 2008 at 3:30 am
To all users who are cheated by Network Solutions. Kindly register your complains at ICANN. here is the link where you can submit your complains against Network Solutions Company ( http://www.icann.org/general/contact.htm )
February 9th, 2008 at 12:32 pm
Damn! I just got a few of my domain searches locked by NetworkSolutions.com
A few of the searches are released in a few minutes, while the .com ones are still locked. It seems that I can only register it via NetworkSolutions.com…
Sigh…I should have come across this post earlier!
February 9th, 2008 at 7:56 pm
Floored! I had no idea. I used Network Solutions yesterday to look up a few domain names, as I went elsewhere to purchase them they were showing as taken. I just viewed the whois and sure enough they are now owned by Network Solutions with a date of yesterday. Of course, they’re still available if I wish to purchase them via NS. /sarcasm
What a pathetic business practice.
February 12th, 2008 at 9:58 pm
poor shashib. don’t try to defend your company kiss-ass kid. no matter what you say, these people are right. network solutions sucks!
February 13th, 2008 at 5:04 am
Hello Friends,
I am Dharm here once again to share something with you all. The above two comments are by me you read them too.
I am here to share and tell that i have got my all the domain which Network Solutions had hacked when i searched these domains on Network Solutions Website. I have booked all the domains on my name now. So definetely now i am relax after getting my names back.
But still i am not going to let this company go easily. I gonna bust this company out of net business for doing such a cheap practice openly.
I had filled my complain on their website through this link ( http://www.icann.org/general/contact.htm ) but it is so poor that ICANN has not even replied me back. It shows and proves that ICANN is supporting Network Solutions direct or indirect ways in this cheap net practice by this american company Network Solutions.
No matter if ICANN do anything in this regard or not, ICANN may have any problems or issues that they are not taking any action against this company. ICANN doing nothing on this issue, but peoples can do. And i will prove that how much peoples can do when they want to. Peoples can make this kinda fraud and cheating company out from their business.
Every day millions of peoples search and register thousands of Domain names. This type of cheating which Network Solutions is doing is a blackmailing to the peoples who searches the Domain names on Network Solutions Website. This cheating way Network Solutions forcing peoples to buy the domain names only from their company. There is no other option for peoples is to register the name to Network Solutions when this company Hijack these domain names to Network Solutions name.
Network Solutions this practice is ruining America name in international market no doubt about this. Before this incidence i was thinking that Network Solutions is a very reputed and trustable company working internationally. But when they hijacked all the domain names which i searched on their site, that day i get known that how cheap this company is. I never gonna do any business with this company. And will let all the peoples know and aware about the cheating of Network Solutions. I am from India and i will show Network Solutions that what an indian can do.
My work not stop here…i gonna teach a good lesson to this company. This time they mess up with a wrong guy.
I have a request to all the visitors who read my this message. Kindly bookmark this weblink and visit here back again in days gap… cause i will update here the latest which i will gonna do to expose Network Solutions cheating to the peoples all over the world.
I will neet support of all of you peoples who are cheated by network solutions and also who visit and read this article.
Peoples have changed the world…Network Solutions is just a company.
Will write u here again when my work will finish.
See you all.
Regards
Dharm
February 16th, 2008 at 9:49 am
February 16th
The process has not changed as of last night.
And the “short period of time before releasing them” shows as one year in the WHOis database.
NS and the others should be required to provide a notice of disclosure about such use of their search functions.
And then the persons responsible should be publicly flogged.
February 20th, 2008 at 3:59 am
[…] the article by Jay Westerdal at domaintools.com and another article from dotsauce.com including a response in the blog comments from Network Solutions reguarding the […]
February 23rd, 2008 at 8:59 am
Hmm, they actually added a notice about it in the middle right side of their front page a few weeks back. You mean it’s not showing for you? (unless it’s rotating…)
February 25th, 2008 at 2:34 am
Yup, I confirmed it to my self today. I wanted to register a web site and googled network solution and saw the post and which talks about them stealing domain names. so I tested it out with a bogus domain name and then went to goddady to see if I can register it there and sure enough I couldnt. I went back to network solutions and it was still available. I was so pissed off (and it was just a bogus name but still) so then where it said would you like to register other domain names up to 10, I said yes put 10 more bogus names and whether I want .net .org and 10 other extensions I said sure. I kept doing that for an hour I must have register like a thousand domain names. it must be costing them something, right? anyways appologise if you were planing or getting dasldijwieo12312.com today or anything that looks like it
February 25th, 2008 at 5:02 am
That is absolutely scandalous!
The big brother is looking for what we do but registering domains that have been searching is incredibly wrong.
I wonder how much money this tactic has brought in for these people!!!
Disgusting!
February 27th, 2008 at 10:33 am
That’s crazy and very shady
February 28th, 2008 at 12:44 am
Oh my.. Are other registrants doing the same?
February 28th, 2008 at 8:18 am
This is a very bad way to make money. And worse they lied about it and even post comment here with lies! Network Solutions is already in my black list!
February 28th, 2008 at 8:59 pm
I can not believe this - this is absolutely unethical. I just wasted money buying a $34.95 domain name because I did not see this first - I did not understand why Network Solutions had registered the domain I wanted…….until now. I immediatley applied for a transfer to my GoDaddy account. I absolutely refuse to deal with crooks. NETWORK SOLUTIONS: YOU ARE SHADY, SCAM ARTISTS.
I can not believe that I could have bought 50-100 prime domain names in the past anywhere else had I known this.
Absolutely unethical…
March 1st, 2008 at 12:35 am
Network Solutions doesn’t just steal domain names that are searched for on their own site, they steal them if searched for on a number of domain sites!!! The domain I wanted, a very unusual one I was sure would be available, was,sure enough, available!!! it was available for about 2. I had not found a webhost though, so i just kept doing my reasrch on webhosts, feeling secure that my unusual domain name would never be registerd. It was so unusual, –I’m not gonna say the exact one,– but it was something along the lines of GUIPKFhelpfiles666.INFO just something that would be private for myself that noone would ever type in. BUT… when I finally found THE webhost to use, it was somehow REGISTERED. keep in mind, I NEVER went to NetworkSolutions, AT ALL in any of my reaserch time on webhosts. SO…what did I do? I did a WHOIS on my domain, and sure enough, it was registered by Network Solutions!!!
So… to conclude: Either Network Solutions has multiple sites that are all subsidaries, if you will, of network Solutions, with the sol purpose of directing traffing to them, OR, they are teammed up with other webhosting companies, OR…they have some sort of bots that scan specific domain websites for domain searches that are unregisterd. if either, it has been searched for a certain number of times, or by a certain number of people, or whatever their criteria are, THEY SNATCH THAT SH1T.
Now my private domain name idea is ruined. It was reigtsered by one of those generic spammer ad search engines once it was rereleased.
March 3rd, 2008 at 8:40 am
I realize a lot of people feel that way. But seriously, how can Network Solutions steal what users don’t own to begin with, especially when using their resources?
Or do people find it conveniently easier to believe such unfounded nonsense?
March 4th, 2008 at 1:25 am
NS’s theft is horrible!!!
BUT I’m glad that all it takes to fix it is a call to their
customer service: 1-800 number on top right of their website. They remove the hold immediately.
March 4th, 2008 at 10:07 am
calling their customer service 1-800 number? what if the person who searched the domain names was outside the country? it just doesn’t make sense to make international phone call for requesting the ‘kidnapped’ domain names to be removed from their hold.
I am no longer trusting this Non-Sense so called ‘protection from front runners’ service. whatever they called it. they are the front runners themselves.
March 7th, 2008 at 7:20 pm
I got caught off-guard by this annoying tactic when searching a domain today. I called networksolutions 800 number as Alexei suggested and got the lock removed in less than a minute, then registered it with my preferred registrar. Thanks for the tip!
March 11th, 2008 at 12:24 pm
I just submitted a report to fox news to investigate and report this. I suggest you do the same to your local or national news orgs. There is no excuse for what they’re doing. And to call it customer security measures makes it even more egregious.
I shouldn’t have waste time to call them to release my desired domain name. For all I know, they will extend the reservation period, they’ve proven themselves to be underhanded like that.
March 12th, 2008 at 10:46 am
Even Go Daddy confirmed it’s happening to them when they first complained about it at an ICANN meeting in Marrakech, Morocco years ago. Various registrars have reported such occuring with them since then.
So far so good, Network Solutions has consistently held domains only up to 4 or 5 days because it’s still within the registrars’ add/grace period of 120 hours. Extending it to, say, a year might not be a cost-effective venture since there’s no guarantee someone will want to buy it from them at their prices.
March 13th, 2008 at 9:51 pm
If Network Solutions honestly wants to protect us, the consumers, and not just dishonestly raise more revenue there is a simple solution. They could prominently display a warning that any name searched for on their site would be locked down and unavailable to be registered elsewhere for 4 days. People wanting to register with them would continue. The rest of us would go elsewhere. Their failure to take this simple step heightens my suspicions about their motives.
March 15th, 2008 at 11:01 pm
If Peter feels that NSI has access to other Whois Look-up info, perhaps he will share which site he used for his initial search. We can be sure that NSI owns many subsidiaries. Investigating this issue indicates to me that there is a wild frenzy to control as many domain names as you can. I am seeing Investment Trusts buying up names by the thousands. Should be interesting how this all shakes out. ICAAN should get serious with the registrars that we are supposed to trust.
March 20th, 2008 at 12:56 am
They got me too. I will be sure to post on my blog about this.
March 31st, 2008 at 7:40 am
That Network Solutions bastard got me too. I was so shocked when I tried to register my domain on other registrar and found that it has already registered. I looked up on whois and couldnt believe that it is now registered to Netsol!
We got to boycott this pathetic company! There is NO EXCUSE to what they are doing!
April 13th, 2008 at 10:10 am
Please somebody tell me how to F*** those bastards & when’ll they free the domain again
April 15th, 2008 at 12:23 am
I’ve been a Network Solutions customer since the beginning of the Web and they have earned my trust so far.
I’m surprised by the uneducated responses on this blog–I thought perhaps you guys actually knew something.
Network Solutions is doing this as a way to protect against Front-Running–they do NOT profit by raising the price after you found a free domain.
In FACT, if you don’t like the fact that they are holding it, JUST WAIT 4 DAYS! Stupid people! Yeesh. It’s not as bad as you make it sound.
THANK YOU NETWORK SOLUTIONS!!
Tom
April 15th, 2008 at 12:24 am
AND, to add to my last post. Network Solutions really DOES NOT sell their search information.
I KNOW because I have done many searches through them that have never been snatched up by cyber-squatters, which I know could easily have been.
May 2nd, 2008 at 8:26 pm
[…] do not think (at least I hope not!) that they are following the footsteps of Network Solution. (here also) […]
May 3rd, 2008 at 4:57 pm
I still can not believe they are doing that. Talk about breaking the trust of your customers. Also they put up ads on unused sub-domains, of domain names registered through them.