I had something similar to that happen to me a few years back.
 I registered the domain 'eplanetmarketing.com, and was using it
 for a business venture.  When it came time to renew the registration,
 the registrar wouldn't let me saying that the domain was now the property
 of someone else.   I never did get a reasonable explanation as to why or
 how it was taken, and I never did get it back.  The last time I looked at
 whois ragarding that domain, it appears as though the current 'owner' is 
 just sitting on it.  It is very unfair, and if I had the money, I would
 have fought it.  But I didn't, so I'm the loser.

                                                     Regards,

                                                       Jim
 


> 
>> I don't understand it. If you are the legitimate owner of a domain
>> name, eg Telecom (as happened in NZ) and then the company
>> that became Telecom got really big and wanted (demanded) your
>> domain name, how can it be just snatched off you ?
>> 
> 
> Yep, i'm pretty sure big companies can do that - I think the US has
> laws that allow them to, not sure about Oz? It helps your chances a
> //lot// if you're actually using the name for something. There's a
> Japanese-American fellow, a Mr Uzi(?) Nissan who owns nissan.com. Last
> time I looked he was being leaned on severely by the Nissan car company
> who want the name. They're stuck with nissanmotors.com (?) @ the mo'
> but Mr Uzi runs a computer shop from _his_ website so he's able to give
> Nissan a run for their money. Good on him is what I say! :) It's a
> problem for small operators with business names generally, not just on
> the web. Some years ago in Melb when Planet Hollywood opened @ the
> casino, they found there was a "Planet Hollywood" fish'n'chip shop out
> in Melbourne's depressing western suburbs. :)) The owner was a greek
> guy who'd run the biz for something like 20 years and then finds he's
> getting all these legal threats from a posse of US lawyers. :o So best
> advice probly is .. if you don't wanta lose ---> use it!
> Just my 20c worth - Debbie 
> 
> 
> 		
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