Intro Hello

[robert]

Hi guys. Thought I'd introduce myself.
My name is Robert. I run domainbrokeraustralia.com.au
I've been helping clients choose good domain names for their businesses for several years. I'm pretty good at SEO. So I decided to start a domain broker business this year to take things to the next level for my clients.
We're based in Perth and if this forum turns out to be a great place to celebrate all the good things about Australian domain names, as well as be a great place to receive constructive criticism, I could be here quite often.
Nice to meet you all.

 

[FirstPageResults]

Welcome Robert, it's good to have you here.

FYI you're website was mentioned here:
https://www.dntrade.com.au/general-domain-discussion/9391-goodies-v-baddies-2.html

You might like to have a read. I hope that you will stick around and contribute. Some of the best .au names are owned by members here.

 

[Cal]

Welcome to DNTrade Robert.

Thanks for the introduction and it's great to have you here

 

[Suzabro]

Welcome Robert

 

[petermeadit]

Hi guys. Thought I'd introduce myself.
My name is Robert. I run domainbrokeraustralia.com.au
I've been helping clients choose good domain names for their businesses for several years. I'm pretty good at SEO. So I decided to start a domain broker business this year to take things to the next level for my clients.
We're based in Perth and if this forum turns out to be a great place to celebrate all the good things about Australian domain names, as well as be a great place to receive constructive criticism, I could be here quite often.
Nice to meet you all.

Hello and welcome to Australia's domain name community, and the discussion forums.

 

[Data Glasses]

Howdy Robert, welcome

 

[robert]

G'day all. Nice to meet you.
Thanks FirstPageResults for the link.
No need to worry, I'm not a cowboy. I just buy names I like the sound of. I've bought a few names that some people will think are silly, but at this point I am relatively new to the industry and want to see what happens.
I've only been what people deem "a domainer" or "domain broker" for a few months now.
Yep, I bought Givenchy.com.au and adidas.net.au - which may be silly, as they are famous companies - but what's even sillier is... why are they allowed to be bought in the first place?
To be honest, I didn't expect to win them with the amount of money I put on them. I basically wanted to see what would happen.
I did want to buy Flybys.com.au to use as a fast delivery service website (I also own onehourdelivery.com.au - my delivery service in perth) and for some reason I was targeted by auDA for that name because it is on the prohibited misspellings list. This doesn't make sense to me, as Flybys is a word in its own right.
What I am becoming frustrated with, is that Netfleet appear to be selling these names, then the names are being taken off the purchaser by auDA, and then Netfleet are selling them again.
Where I come from, this is called double-dipping and I wrote a blog about it today here - http://domainbrokeraustralia.com.au/netfleet-auda-complaint-2014
Apart from this - I have purchased 37 domain names so far from Netfleet and, apart from this current debate I am having with them, I enjoy their service.
I don't mean to make enemies.
I do mean to be professional and honest.
I do mean to test the system because I can already tell it's far from perfect and I don't think it is completely fair.
I do mean to voice my opinion and shake things up.
I feel that healthy debate and constructive criticism can make an industry better.
I have various types of backgrounds (musician/author/technology geek/entrepreneur) and I legitimately enjoy buying premium domain names and SEO'ing my customers' sites to the point that their businesses grow enough to make them feel more secure in their lives.
I haven't made my mind up yet about auDA. I have sent a few messages back and forward to Vanessa Stanford - who doesn't appear to be a real person - as I only seem to get template responses. From my limited experience with them, trying to have a conversation with them about why I purchased Flybys.com.au - it seems that they think they can do whatever they want, are completely in the right and no correspondence will be entered into. That doesn't feel right to me.
Anyway, like I said, I'm here for healthy debate and constructive criticism and won't be getting involved in any negative unprofessional street fighting.
Nice to meet you all again and I hope to be able to pick some of your brains for opinions again soon.

 

[chris]

Hi Robert,

Welcome to DNTrade and thanks for your intro, good to have you here

I did want to buy Flybys.com.au to use as a fast delivery service website (I also own onehourdelivery.com.au - my delivery service in perth) and for some reason I was targeted by auDA for that name because it is on the prohibited misspellings list. This doesn't make sense to me, as Flybys is a word in its own right.

PD's are a very common topic of discussion. If you search previous posts, you'll find lots of similar examples.

I haven't made my mind up yet about auDA. I have sent a few messages back and forward to Vanessa Stanford - who doesn't appear to be a real person - as I only seem to get template responses.

I can confirm Vanessa is a real person and I've personally found her very helpful.

If you're serious about .au domains and policies, I would recommend joining auDA. It's not much to join and auDA encourages people to get involved. Quite a few members here are members and have contributed to many policy changes.

Nice to meet you all again and I hope to be able to pick some of your brains for opinions again soon.

Great to meet you too!

Cheers,
Chris

 

[segator]

Hi and welcome Robert.

 

[FirstPageResults]

Well you've come to the right place. Most people make mistakes when they first start out, myself included

I would also say that auDA is more friend than foe, providing you stay within the policies.

Anyway, good luck with the brokering.

 

[James]

Hi Robert,

Welcome to the forum,

You may want to do a trademark search for domains prior to buying them - http://www.ipaustralia.gov.au/get-the-right-ip/trade-marks/search-for-a-trade-mark/ Usually if a domain is a "well known" trademark you do not want to touch it with a 10 foot pole.

Because all it takes is one simple complaint and the trademark holder takes the domain down. I know how easy it is to take domains down after launching these complaints numerous times in the past for companies like Optus, Virgin Mobile & CitiBank in my past job.

Anyways good luck with the domain brokering business, I hope you make DN Journal sometime soon.

 

[eBranding.com.au]

Robert, I've got to say that I'm very surprised you're a domain broker.

The domains you're registering are blatant trademark infringements.

I've seen your details on loads of these domains recently and frankly there's no excuse for stuff like: anzinternetbanking.com.au, westpaconlinebanking.com.au, givenchy.com.au, adidas.net.au

No need to worry, I'm not a cowboy. I just buy names I like the sound of. I've bought a few names that some people will think are silly, but at this point I am relatively new to the industry and want to see what happens.
I've only been what people deem "a domainer" or "domain broker" for a few months now.
Yep, I bought Givenchy.com.au and adidas.net.au - which may be silly, as they are famous companies - but what's even sillier is... why are they allowed to be bought in the first place?

I get that you're new to this, but suggesting that you're infringing on registered trademarks 'because you can' and that 'the domains shouldn't be able to be registered' is ridiculous in my opinion.

Are you suggesting that they should 'lock down' every single domain related to every single trademark, so that cyber-squatters can't register them? What happens when the genuine TM holder wants to register their brand, what happens when TMs lapse, what about adding all the new TM registrations as they occur - I guess there will be some processes for that? It would be an administrative nightmare and it's not going to happen.

Trademark laws exist to protect brands from people like you, because they can take action to enforce their intellectual property rights.

Doing something wrong because you can, doesn't make it right, I'm sorry but that's a ludicrous proposition.

You could end up facing legal proceedings for what you're doing:
http://www.ipaustralia.gov.au/ip-infringement/enforcing-your-ip/legal-remedies/

My advice: delete the TM infringing domains and change your behaviour. At the very least do it for your own benefit, given that:

1. Successful brokering services are built on reputation - so don't trash yours just as your starting
2. You could face legal proceedings, it certainly won't help point 1 above and it could cost you $
3. You're raising a big red flag for auDA to investigate your whole portfolio

 

[robert]

Thanks for all the great advice guys, especially from Neddy, James and FirstPageResults.

The thing is, when you're new to an industry, you don't "know better" until you "know" in the first place.

I'm on a steep learning curve here. Just like every new domain broker that will be coming on board in the next ten years...

And now that I know what I know, I am currently auditing my own domain name profile and will be dropping many domain names I don't think I should own later today.

And then they will all appear on Netfleet. And then some new people to the industry will buy them. And Netfleet will sell them, knowing full well that they are name misspellings and trademarks. And the rollercoaster will continue.

If new domain name buyers (like myself) were made aware of these rules and implications by the companies selling these domains in the first place, of course we would not purchase these domain names in the first place.

 

[petermeadit]

Thanks for all the great advice guys, especially from Neddy, James and FirstPageResults.

The thing is, when you're new to an industry, you don't "know better" until you "know" in the first place.

I'm on a steep learning curve here. Just like every new domain broker that will be coming on board in the next ten years...

And now that I know what I know, I am currently auditing my own domain name profile and will be dropping many domain names I don't think I should own later today.

And then they will all appear on Netfleet. And then some new people to the industry will buy them. And Netfleet will sell them, knowing full well that they are name misspellings and trademarks. And the rollercoaster will continue.

If new domain name buyers (like myself) were made aware of these rules and implications by the companies selling these domains in the first place, of course we would not purchase these domain names in the first place.

Some people may still be entitled to these depending on a range of issues not the least of being their trademark entitlements.

 

[robert]

That's true Peter. I just wish Netfleet would give people more background information on a dropped name, and why it was dropped, and if it appears on any auDA lists.

 

[eBranding.com.au]

And now that I know what I know, I am currently auditing my own domain name profile and will be dropping many domain names I don't think I should own later today.

Good on you for actually listening and learning.