closed .Info Inquiry by Mail from Germany...

[DryHeat]

This is the first time I've received an inquiry in regular mail on the company/institution letterhead. Following is the excerpt from the letter:

"As we are looking for a suitable internet domain for our ClearingHouse project, we found out, that you are listed as the holder of "Clearinghouse.info". At present, the domain is not used in the internet. Therefore, we would like to know, if there is a possibility to transfer the domain rights to us.

Below you will find some information about the ClearingHouse institution in Germany that may be useful for your decision making.

The ClearingHouse is a cooperation between the leading organizations of the federal German health insurances and the German Cancer Society. Other relevant German health institutions like the Deutsche Krebshilfe, the Deutche Forschungsgemeinschaft and the Federal Ministry of Education and Research are also participating.

Please advise how should I respond?

 

[DomainNameFactory]

Tell them that you haven't really considered selling. That you purchased the domain to develop it. You may consider selling depending upon the offer. Don't mention price...let them make the first move. DO NOT email them again after your first response until they get back to you.

 

[William9]

In most situations I would go along with Domainnamefactory. However, I think Heat’s gut feel and my gut feel is the same on this one. We were unable to reconcile that someone with deep pockets wrote you – yet did NOT mention remuneration? Huh?

It would be as if I wrote Domainnamefactory:

“I see you are the title holder of a beautiful Corvette. At the current time, the Corvette is sitting in you garage unused. Is there any chance you could transfer the title to me?”

Was that dumb? Would you put that in writting?

I believe communism lost in Germany years ago and they are well aware that they need to speak with $ if they want to obtain a prime info domain like yours. I would write them back - but NOT NOT NOT mention anything about an offer. It has the smell of trap, but maybe it is not. Again, my gut is that in this case it would be a mistake to put in writing that you are looking for an offer.

Instead, just say it is currently under development. You would continue the development unless you had a good reason not to. I would also congratulate them on their clearinghouse. Finally, keep a PHOTOCOPY of what you send them.

Good luck, I think it can work out well - if you proceed cautiously.

 

[opencg]

interesting I think DomainNameFactory is right do it that way good luck.

 

[DryHeat]

Dear ...........

I am in receipt of you letter dated 11/11/02, indicating your interest in acquiring the rights to the domain-name ClearingHouse.info. We have spent a good deal of resources, monetary and otherwise, initially on acquiring the domain-name and then researching and preparing for its development. We will be shortly finalizing our plans in this regard. We have not, and are not, offering the domain-name for sale; however, any serious offers to purchase the domain will be given due consideration. Please submit your offer to either the above-noted postal address or preferably the following e-mail address: xxxxxx

Sincerely"

??

 

[GiantDomains]

Originally posted by DryHeat
Dear ...........

I am in receipt of you letter dated 11/11/02, indicating your interest in acquiring the rights to the domain-name ClearingHouse.info. We have spent a good deal of resources, monetary and otherwise, initially on acquiring the domain-name and then researching and preparing for its development. We will be shortly finalizing our plans in this regard. We have not, and are not, offering the domain-name for sale; however, any serious offers to purchase the domain will be given due consideration. Please submit your offer to either the above-noted postal address or preferably the following e-mail address: xxxxxx

Sincerely"

??

Naah.. BS never flies...

Just tell them the price, short and sweet.... I hate the BS approach.

 

[DryHeat]

I'd sleep on it; I'd have to write a regular letter anyway.

Doberry just sent you PM about re-seller account.

Good night!!

 

[cxz]

.

 

[TrafficMonsterRRR]

"Since you are not using your domain, please sell it to us for nothing. We are a worthy cause - if you want look for yourself. In fact we are not only worthy, we are also rich, powerful and you will never match our prestige. So hand over the domain mr or mrs foreign-land Nobody.

SIncerely,
THe ClearingHouseAuthorityofTheWorldinCheepness

PS We know you have no use for it so go on make our day. Be nice."

ANSWER:
-----------
I have a better idea. Since the domain is not for sale, you seem to need it and I dont, we don't you lease it off of me? You appear to be an insurance consortium representing large conglomerates, so why don't each one of your participants throw a couple of grand a year into the rent pot and the domain will be yours to use until your project is finished. I ll even pay the cleaning lady at the end.

Regards,
Joe

PS I love you too.

 

[mmmhome]

Hi Iam a german and I dont know this firm!

 

[options]

Not sure if this is the same owner, but you can check this:

https://joker.com/index.joker?t_whois=clearinghouse.de&tool=whois&Submit=go

 

[TrafficMonsterRRR]

If you don't know any of the names thrown, then could it be a prank?

Watch it domain owner

 

[William9]

Heat indicated:

“Please submit your offer to either the above-noted postal address or preferably the following e-mail address: xxxxxx”

I suggest being more tactful, lets say:

“Please submit your further COORESPONDENCE to either the above-noted postal address or preferably the following e-mail address: xxxxxx”

doberry indicated that “BS never flies.” However, has doberry researched to determine if the individual holds a German trademark? Regardless of whether it is BS, an offer will be made in response to Heats letter IF THE INQUIRY IS SINCERE. If the inquiry is some sort of trap, Heat’s TACTFUL response is appropriate.

Good luck.

 

[debath]

After reading all the posts so far, I have to agree with William9's first suggestion. I would not mention anything about a sale either, could they be looking to trap you if they have trademarked the name "clearing house"? In any case, it never hurts to be cautious.

Good luck with it.

Debbie

 

[wohl]

Originally posted by William9
Heat indicated:

“Please submit your offer to either the above-noted postal address or preferably the following e-mail address: xxxxxx”

I suggest being more tactful, lets say:

“Please submit your further COORESPONDENCE to either the above-noted postal address or preferably the following e-mail address: xxxxxx”

doberry indicated that “BS never flies.” However, has doberry researched to determine if the individual holds a German trademark? Regardless of whether it is BS, an offer will be made in response to Heats letter IF THE INQUIRY IS SINCERE. If the inquiry is some sort of trap, Heat’s TACTFUL response is appropriate.

Good luck.

but it would be a lie, don't ethics count for anything in this game?

 

[DryHeat]

So the first question would be:

Is it ethical for a member of the general public to register a highly generic, descriptive, word/term in an open tld for speculative reasons?

If the answer to the above question is Yes, the second would be:

Is it ethical for big businesses/corporations/entities to deprive legitimate domain owners of their "cyber property" simply because they happen to have a trademark on that highly generic and descriptive word/term?

Now, if one has in reality "spent a good deal of resources, monetary and otherwise" in acquiring the domain (hours of time & paid pre-registrations thru multiple registrars during landrush), and actually "have not, and are not, offering the domain-name for sale (domain is not listed "for sale" anywhere) so then, whats unethical about being tactful in responding to the inquiry given that there're plenty of examples where domain owner were trapped by inquiries like these?

Ethics do NOT exist in vacuum, imo.

 

[crabby]

The same thing happened to me with ADA.INFO. I received an email from a "disability advocate" asking me if I was willing to "give" the name to him for use on his non-profit site.

Then I ran a Yahoo search on his name, and it turns out he only told me half the truth, he also owned a for-profit company as a lawyer who sues the government on behalf of disabled individuals.

I replied to his email: "I haven't thought about giving the name away. In fact, it's being developed into a site."

I never heard from him again. Obviously he wasn't interested in buying the name, and it could have been a trap.

 

[Manic]

Originally posted by TrafficMonsterRRR
"Since you are not using your domain, please sell it to us for nothing. We are a worthy cause - if you want look for yourself. In fact we are not only worthy, we are also rich, powerful and you will never match our prestige. So hand over the domain mr or mrs foreign-land Nobody.

:laugh: I believe you've hit the nail right on the head!

...you forgot to add:"Hand it over immediately, and with an apologetic smile upon your rudimentry features."

From my point of view, it is quite clearly an attempt at a scam.

Dryheat, I think you have some good advice above from other members on how to proceed.