Explanation of the illegal occupation of domains

The thing that bothers me the most on the subject of domain names is when I try to find a domain name for a new site only to find that most of the names I can think of are already in use. Even more annoying is that these names are not used for a site related to the domain name.

Domain squatting or cybersquatting is the term used for someone who unintentionally registers a domain that would otherwise be used for a site related to the domain name.

Let me give you an example, I recently had an idea for a site and there were a couple of domains that were ideal, keyword1keyword2.com and the plural version, so I checked to see if they were available. I found out that the two names I thought would be perfect were taken. Both domain names were directed to a generic search page whose sole purpose is to make money from direct type entries.

Now I have not given the names because I don’t want to reveal my idea and I don’t want to give free publicity to the sites. This is not a one-time issue, but something that happens quite frequently, especially with domain names with good or popular keywords. This activity is not illegal unless you use a trademark name, but it is against Internet ethics.

There is a difference between domain squatting and domain parking, and that difference is intent. If you register the domain with the intention of using it in the future for a purpose related to the domain name, then you have just parked the domain. If you register a domain with the sole intention of making money by reselling it or earning money from the people who write the domain name, that’s domain squatting.

As I’ve explained, it’s not illegal, it’s just unethical, it’s a free market economy and people are motivated by profit. I don’t agree with domain squatting as it forces webmasters like me to use domain names that are far from perfect. Take this site in domain names, this name was far from my first choice. It also misleads Internet users as they expect a site to be related to the keywords in the domain name, making the Internet less user friendly.