What can buyers do to research domain names before buying them?

Ari: So, you know, there are a number of things you can do, and I think one--I think without, you know, forgive me for plugging myself or plugging attorneys, but I think it does make sense in this situation, if you’re buying a domain name, go to an attorney, pass that research off to someone else, but you can do a little bit of the research on your own. You know, first of all, ask some questions, you know, how’d you get the domain name, how long have you had it.

Monte: Right. Do you have proof of --

Ari: WhoIs--

Monte: --ownership?

Ari: --Source is a fantastic service, they provide historic who is. Take a look at the old “ WhoIs” records. Have there been 30 changes in the domain name over the past two weeks? That might give you a clue.

Monte: Right. Bouncing around registrars, do you have proof of ownership, can you show--

Ari: Exactly.

Monte: --a receipt?

Ari: Exactly.

Monte: You know--

Ari: Take a look, you know, just do a little research on the company, go to Archive.org, see what used to be at the website.

Monte: Right.

Ari: Was there some company that’s no longer there? Look at the e-mail addresses. Have a good contract that has representations and warrantees that represents and warrants that this domain name, you know, that the person selling it has the authority, that they control the admin contract. Just, you know, all of these different things can really help. Contact the--if the name has changed hands within the past couple years, contact the prior owner. I represented someone in a purchase of a domain name for about $250,000 earlier, in early 2004. We checked with the old owner, we wanted to make 100% sure that we were, you know, paying for the domain name--

Monte: Right.

Ari: --that was truly owned by the person selling it to us. So, you know, be very cautious, ask questions, use your research tools, WhoIs Source, Archive.org.

Monte: Right. That Wayback Machine’s a great--

Ari: Wayback Machine’s fantastic.

Monte: Yeah, it’s a great tool, if you go to Archive.org, go to the Wayback Machine, you can see what--you can see all pages and content on a website from years ago.

Ari: Exactly.

Monte: [Inaudible] great.

Ari: It’s a phenomenal tool. And Alexa.com is good, as well, because Alexa shows--

Monte: Shows--

Ari: --goes very--goes way back to give you the ownership information of a domain name. So do those things, and you can feel somewhat safe, and having the contract is good, too. Don’t just go buy a domain name and do it without a contract. I’ve heard of people buying names with cash, and you have no record whatsoever. That’s not gonna look good when the old owner comes looking to you saying that, you know, you knew what you were doing when you bought this domain name. Get a contract, at least, it’ll go a long way to protecting you in the event you’re challenged in court down the road.