| Most companies have little knowledge and | | | | allow registrars to correct the occasional typo and |
| understanding of domain tasting, cybersquatting or | | | | spelling error in registrations, speculators realized that |
| typosquatting. Most businesses don't know their | | | | this allows them to try out any domain for five days |
| internet business, web traffic and revenue is being | | | | for free. |
| diverted each and every second of each and every | | | | As soon as the speculators (who call themselves |
| day. Many are oblivious to the fact that their famous | | | | "domainers") figured this out, they started using |
| trademarks are under attack in cyberspace and that | | | | automated software to register domains like crazy. |
| their customers are being diverted to their | | | | They put up web pages full of pay-per-click ads, |
| competitors. | | | | keep the few that make money during the five |
| John Levine is one of the most knowledgeable | | | | days, and refund the rest. Many of the speculative |
| commentators on ICANN policy and domain issues. He | | | | domains are expiring ones, since those might already |
| has commented on domain tasting and offers one of | | | | be indexed in Google and have some traffic, others |
| the most cogent definitions of domain tastings I have | | | | are slightly misspelled versions of existing domains to |
| read. | | | | catch traffic from people who make typing errors. |
| So-called domain tasting is one of the more | | | | Domain tasting is worse than bad. It is undermining |
| unpleasant developments in the domain business in | | | | the legitimacy of ICANN, legitimate domain |
| the past year. Domain speculators are registering | | | | monetization practices, public confidence in the |
| millions of domains without paying for them, in a | | | | internet and potentially internet commerce. Our |
| business model not unlike running a condiment | | | | corporate clients suffer the financial consequences of |
| business by visiting every fast food restaurant in | | | | domain tasting and cybersquatting. Our legitimate |
| town and scooping up all of the ketchup packets. | | | | domain monetization clients get stained by the mud |
| Since 2003, the contract between ICANN and each | | | | being slung against any business that doesn't have |
| unsponsored TLD registry ... has added an Add Grace | | | | pre-existing trademark rights in a domain. The bad |
| Period (AGP) of five days during which a registrant | | | | actors drag everyone down. ICANN needs to end |
| can delete a newly registered domain and get a full | | | | domain tasting now. |
| refund. Although this provision was clearly intended to | | | | |