The domain aftermarket has a big problem - Domain Name Wire | Domain Name News
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Domain aftermarkets need to clean up their inventory. Let me start this rant with some good news. This month, I sold a domain name for $6,500 that I found through Domain Academy’s Afternic advanced search tool. I bought the domain for less than $100. Now for the bad news: I spent a lot of time […]

Here’s my take:

The domain aftermarket has a big problem… it exists. This market shouldn’t ever be allowed to exist in the first place. ICANN should’ve blocked this bullshit a long time ago and forced registrars to just let domains expire and free the space. Also add a few provisions about unused domain names and about selling them.

  • @CortEnglish
    20•9 months ago

    I even recall a time I negotiated back and forth on Sedo to buy a domain name, and it turned out the seller didn’t own the domain.

    I’m sorry, how is this NOT fraud?

    I agree with OP. Domains should just expire if they’re not renewed.

    And honestly, I’m against the hoarding and resale of them too. They’re a finite resource and should be limited to a fixed number per human being. And only transferred for free not resold.

    • @TCB13OPEnglish
      12•9 months ago

      They’re a finite resource and should be limited to a fixed number per human being. And only transferred for free not resold.

      While I don’t agree with the free transfer I agree with the the other part. ICANN should fine and obliterate registrars that keep domains for themselves and individual hoarders.

    • @VelociCatTurdEnglish
      8•9 months ago

      Even if they are finite, the number would be so impossibly large that for all practical purposes this would not be the case.

      • @CortEnglish
        9•9 months ago

        While you’re technically correct (the best kind) I’d still argue that the subset of finite addresses that are human readable and relayable is significantly smaller. If you disagree just fill out a form on my website:

        complaints.dng8jeispqo9rjrjejqkfns6gusjehrjrow7pwjqlqejtbdkwo0118999 8819991197253fja3k1wjri55foem8wms.co.biz

        • @VelociCatTurdEnglish
          2•9 months ago

          Sure and I know that you meant. But I also think that with a little creativity and compromise it’s also not difficult at all to get something that’s not that long and also easily said.

      • @CortEnglish
        -2•9 months ago

        I think it could be accomplished. If any income from the sale or transfer of a domain, above the standard registration fees, is taxed at 100% that would stop most, especially businesses. No it wouldn’t be perfect, but no tax system is.

        • @jkjustjoshingEnglish
          3•9 months ago

          ICANN doesn’t have the authority to levy a tax. I’m not sure how you would enforce a system like that.