30 January 2009

"Cybersquatter"

So I spent about 12 seconds researching the concept of inactive but unavailable domain names (I have a really short attention span) and learned a new word: Cybersquatter. This word is funny to me. And it seems like it defines someone who snagged a name that they think (or hope) someone else will want to buy for a pile of money. I don't think it describes someone who just started a website then lost interest...does it?
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2 comments:

  1. Heather and StephenFebruary 4, 2009 at 11:04 AM

    I think you are right. They have "squatter's rights" to that domain and they are waiting for someone to want it. *eye roll*

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  2. JellocatFebruary 4, 2009 at 8:31 PM

    Back in the day a cybersquatter would buy up a bunch of domain names they thought would be popular. That way, when the big corporations started building websites they would pay out huge amounts of money to the squatters to give up the domain name. It worked for a while. There were people that purchased hundreds of domain names (and back then they were pricey) such as tissue.com, pets.com, toilet.com, toothbrush.com - and on and on - any common word they would add .com to and hold on to it.

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