Afternoon Folks!!

Just because someone says they are a domainer does not make them a domainer. Take this case and let's make it clear to the world that this is NOT A DOMAINER but in fact a CYBERSQUATTER. We as an industry need to take the lead on things like this.

Now I am the first to admit there is a fine line and it is the fine line that we are disputing and fighting the good fight over. The fight is exactly where that line is drawn. In my view of the world this is clearly cybersquatting with a malicious intent. It is WAY over that fine line that is slowly being defined with these Reverse Domain Name hijacking decisions as well as bona fide complaints of trademark holders.

The CNN.COM Article brings Donald Trump on one side and what I clearly see as a cybersquatter on the other. However the entire industry of 'Domaining' has been used with the same brush and that is worrysome. So I want to be clear of where I stand on this case.

The court will rule and I have a hunch it will cost this chap $400,000 for his business tactics. JMO and we will see. Maybe they we settle before it gets that far. I kinda doubt it.

'Yung, a self-described 'domainer,' acquired four Trump-related domain names, including trumpmumbai.com and trumpindia.com, in 2007, the year the Trump organization announced plans to build Trump-branded hotels and condominiums in Mumbai and Bangalore, India.'

But there is clearly a difference between a domain owner, domain investor, domainer, domain developer and an actual cybersquatter. They are not the same and those that try to lump all together usually have an agenda behind their actions.

So, on the record, for the record to the general public......This young man is NOT a domainer in any way, shape or form. He, in my professional opinion, is one degree worse than a cybersquatter when you add in his particular use. We will follow up on this when a ruling or settlement comes down.

Sadly, there are many, many, many more cybersquatters than there are professional domainers. Professional domainers and others that RESPECT and UNDERSTAND trademarks and laws surrounding them as well as the intent and the spirit of them.

When there is reverse domain name hijacking they need to be called out and when they are CLEARLY violating a trademark they must also be called out.

Rick Schwartz