Need advice for acquiring a .biz domain

by Mo Martin <momartin(at)forpaws.org>

 Date:  Fri, 14 Jun 2002 21:01:58 -0700
 To:  hwg-business(at)hwg.org
  todo: View Thread, Original
When the .biz domains became available, I made an "IP claim." Several 
others also placed IP claims, understandable since we are not the 
only company with this name. We received the IP claim and a few 
others did as well. We were third in line.

Someone else sought to acquire the name (seems to be a cybersquatter) 
and the IP claim processes began. We were third in the priority queue 
and finally we bubbled up to the top so we have a limited time to 
make our claim. The bureaucracy of this system is pretty awful but 
basically, I had to choose an arbitrator who represents us in the 
claim. They charge $1100 to arbitrate it.

We do have IP rights to this name so I am guessing we would prevail 
but do not know for sure and do not know if there will be additional 
costs as the process moves on.

The domain registrar (squatter, I think) who applied for the name has 
offered to sell it to us for the price we would pay the arbitration 
company.

My question: Should I buy it from the squatters? Will that end it or 
can someone else then move in and challenge my ownership? Should I 
proceed through the arbitration process?

Will the arbitration process likely give us what we want, or is this 
one of those situations where they will then need to do some 
additional step and want more money? Anyone been this route?

We do want the name. I don't think it is worth it but company 
managers do and my job is to get it, so I am trying to learn the 
simplest way to secure it.

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