COZA Domain Squatter [email protected]

mh348

mh348

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I was looking to register a domain that was about to be deleted and monitored it for the past few days.. It was due for deletion today 24/08/2013.. Yesterday it was registered to someone else, but today when I checked It was already registered by a US company.. The domain is a person's name so it can't be something think that will be used for someone in USA. According to the whois is was registered this morning around 05:30AM even though the Uniforum schedule shows that today's domain deletions are still in progress (as at 16:30)..

I did a search on the registrant email address and see that they own several old/deleted coza domains and according to one site I found are charging exorbitant fee's to sell the domains back to the original owners..

I was wondering if there is a way to monitor Uniforum/co.za for domains that are going to expire/be deleted, seeing as this company and others are able to snatch these domains so soon after being deleted.
 
Stop talking sense, people won't be able to answer you :)
 
mh348 said:
I was looking to register a domain that was about to be deleted and monitored it for the past few days.. It was due for deletion today 24/08/2013.. Yesterday it was registered to someone else, but today when I checked It was already registered by a US company.. The domain is a person's name so it can't be something think that will be used for someone in USA. According to the whois is was registered this morning around 05:30AM even though the Uniforum schedule shows that today's domain deletions are still in progress (as at 16:30)..

I did a search on the registrant email address and see that they own several old/deleted coza domains and according to one site I found are charging exorbitant fee's to sell the domains back to the original owners..

I was wondering if there is a way to monitor Uniforum/co.za for domains that are going to expire/be deleted, seeing as this company and others are able to snatch these domains so soon after being deleted.
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Is this legal though I wonder..?
 
Solitude said:
I see it happened to these people too: http://blog.soundidea.co.za/home/index.php?ipkArticleID=84

:(
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Yeah, I saw that article also..

Zenbaas said:
Is this legal though I wonder..?
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Probably is.. According to some sites I read, they run scripts on a daily basis to get lists of domains that are going to expire and snatch it as soon as it gets deleted so that's probably how they know which domains to grab.. Not really sure how they manage to do it with coza domains (and others) since Uniforum blocks your ip if you search for more than 10 or so domains within a specified amount of time, it times out and you have to wait around 60 seconds before being allowed to search for domains again.
 
Ive noticed they dont get all domains, only some. So I assume they have a predefined dictionary of domains they keep hitting the whois servers with. Ive enquired how much a domain would cost and you are looking at R12500 for a domain.
 
mh348 said:
Yeah, I saw that article also..



Probably is.. According to some sites I read, they run scripts on a daily basis to get lists of domains that are going to expire and snatch it as soon as it gets deleted so that's probably how they know which domains to grab.. Not really sure how they manage to do it with coza domains (and others) since Uniforum blocks your ip if you search for more than 10 or so domains within a specified amount of time, it times out and you have to wait around 60 seconds before being allowed to search for domains again.
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Its actually quite easy to have an automated script. With the whole old co.za system being email update based you can register domains automatically with an email :)

Best bet is to get hold of co.za and state your case, they frown upon squatting and will give it to you if you can prove you have a legitimate claim
 
From what Ive seen. Domain speculation is big big money. Ive seen how many domains are bought in one go. Ive also seen known investment companies funding these purchases. Apparently people see a lot of value in purchasing these domains.
 
http://www.uniforum.org.za/adr/faq.shtml

Alternate Dispute Resolution (ADR) Frequently Asked Questions

What are the ADR Regulations?
What domains are they applicable to?
What purpose do they serve?
How does this affect me as a domain registrant?
How is a dispute submitted?
Who are the accredited dispute resolution providers?
Will I need a lawyer to assist me?
What are the costs involved?
What rights will I as a Registrant have?
What are the potential outcomes of a dispute?
What are the ADR Regulations?

The ADR Regulations have been introduced in terms of Chapter 10 Part 6 of the Electronic Communications and Transactions (ECT) Act. They were gazetted on the 22 November 2006 (GG29405) by the Minister of Communications.
What domains are they applicable to?

The ADR Regulations are currently only applicable to all CO.ZA domain names.
What purpose do they serve?

The ADR Regulations are intended to provide legitimate right holders with an efficient and cost effective means of protecting their rights. It seeks to balance this protection against the rights of the current domain name Registrants, making provision for such issues such as reverse hijacking.
How does this affect me as a domain registrant?

It is vitally important that you check and confirm that your domain name contact details are accurate and complete. Not only is this necessary for you to receive important notices from UniForum SA, such as statements and suspension notices, it is also important because any notification of a Dispute will be sent to your listed email addresses. Should you fail to receive these important notices, you could lose your domain name.
How is a dispute submitted?

A dispute needs to be submitted to an Accredited ADR Provider. These organisations are accredited by the .za Domain Name Authority (ZADNA), and the exact process may vary from provider to provider. Exact proceedures can be obtained from each provider.
Who are the accredited dispute resolution providers?

Currently two providers have been accredited by ZADNA, namely:
The Arbitration Foundation of South Africa (AFSA)
The South African Institute of Intellectual Property Law (SAIIPL)
Will I need a lawyer to assist me?

No. It should be possible for the layman to lodge and/or defend a dispute. Legal representation may, however, be beneficial.
What are the costs involved?

Currently, a single person Adjudicator costs R10 000.00, and a panel of 3 Adjudicators costs R24 000.00. These fees are payable by the Complainent, except where the Respondent elects to have the complaint adjudicated by a panel of 3 Adjudicators. In this instance the Respondent will assume a portion of the ADR fee. No cost orders will be awarded in terms of the Dispute Resolution Process.
What rights will I as a Registrant have?

The ADR Regulations provide the Registrant an opportunity to respond to the Complainant's claims. A Dispute Resolution Provider is compelled to provide a Registrant with a response template, in terms of which the Registrant is provided guidelines on how to structure a response.
What are the potential outcomes of a dispute?

An Adjudicator may either elect to deny the Dispute or to rule in favour of the Complainant and have the domain name transferred. In the event that domain name registration constitutes an offensive registration, the Adjudicator will determine that the domain name be deleted and prohibited from future registration. Again, there are no monetary damages applied to domain name disputes in terms of the Regulations.
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Nothing too much about squatting but if you ask them and show them trying to charge you R12.5 I think they will have an easy decisions. Not sure if you have to pay those fees tho.
 
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They make it too easy to get a domain name (form submitted with email, pay them.... it could anyone.
Here is what I propose:
Either you have a registration number at the companies registar of south africa (cc or pty etc) or you have and RSA ID and (RICA / FICA, whatever) in place.
But they like ripping people off, so they will never have a better solution.
 
Honestly wish that ZACR would take a firm stance against the registrar who is responsible for allowing such activities.

these guys are quick, ruthless and expensive.

Dont let your domains expire!
 
server-admins.net said:
Honestly wish that ZACR would take a firm stance against the registrar who is responsible for allowing such activities.

these guys are quick, ruthless and expensive.

Dont let your domains expire!
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Why should they? The client has time to pay the domain (in fact an entire year as you can pay a year in advance). Then there is still a month long redemption period after the domain has expired. If someone has ignored all messages to pay for their domain, lets it expire and lets it get through the redemption period then they clearly are not interested in the domain.
 
ghoti said:
Why should they? The client has time to pay the domain (in fact an entire year as you can pay a year in advance). Then there is still a month long redemption period after the domain has expired. If someone has ignored all messages to pay for their domain, lets it expire and lets it get through the redemption period then they clearly are not interested in the domain.
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Not too sure if its a case of them not being interested in the domain. I think its more a case of the legacy system allowed them longer to "attend to these invoices later"

Either way, paying $2000 and the escrow fees for a R39 domain is a hefty price.
 
server-admins.net said:
Not too sure if its a case of them not being interested in the domain. I think its more a case of the legacy system allowed them longer to "attend to these invoices later"

Either way, paying $2000 and the escrow fees for a R39 domain is a hefty price.
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Aaah yeah, the legacy system was a bit harsh in its cut offs. I lost a brilliant 3 letter domain thanks to the new cut offs, but the new EPP system is more than fair.

Either way, paying $2000 and the escrow fees for a R39 domain is a hefty price.
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The cost of the domain is not really where its value lies.
 
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