With the recent deaths of Ed McMahon, Farrah Fawcett and Michael Jackson, eBay® has been cluttered with domain name squatter’s trying to profit from them. So Sad!
Often called "Cyber Squatters" are people who register domain names and try to profit off a trademark or likeness of a company or person. This can include simply selling the domain name or having ads on a site using the domain name.
Cyber Squatters should not be confussed with legit domain name owners that own web properties they have every right to own. This includes mainly generic domain name terms or terms they hold trademarks for themself.
Anybody can do a Free Public Trademark Search using a government run site USPTO.gov. Click Trademarks, Search TM database (#3), New User Form Search (Basic), type in the term and click Submit Query. Doing a search for Michael Jackson, there is a Live Trademark since 1993.
Using public Whois Database records, here are some of the current cyber squatters info, price and domain names they are trying to sell on eBay.com:
~ $50,000 Buy It Now. MichaelJackson
Whois Admin Contact: Robert Hasty, info@hillclimbersforum.com ~ Domain parked at Sedo.com
~ MichaelJacksonPerished.com Item number: 320389516545 Seller User Id: redsoxticketoffice
Whois Admin Contact: Mike B. jgonzo100@yahoo.com
~ $10,000 Buy It Now: MichaelJacksonAshes.com Item number: 390062074492 Seller User Id: ajconsignments07
Whois Admin Contact: Jamal Braich braich77@yahoo.com
~ MichaelJacksonsLastDays.com Item number: 120440484679 Seller User Id: ellenmd1
Whois Admin Contact: Ellen Degregorio homes508@gmail.com
~ MichaelJacksonLivesOnForever.com Item number: 270415916766 Seller User Id: babiesarecute
Whois Admin Contact: Julie Chang julie_chang@hotmail.com
Sadly, I could go on and on with all these people that should Really be ashamed of themselves by registering and trying to sell these domain names! Karma, Karma, Karma….. eBay always seems to turn a blind eye on these listings as well, but they are making Profits from them also. Domain registrars need to tighten up on TM terms as well, as they profit from not only the domain registrations, but the "standard" parking pages if the domian happens to get left on the standard parking pages and gets traffic and clicks.
I know this kind of stuff will never go away, but if YOU consider registering a domain name like this, do not do it! Trying to profit of somebodies death is SICK!



It is indeed very sad. All we can hope for is none of these domains would sell. To most people, there is already a misconception that all domain investors are Cyber Squatters. With this kind of practice, it is even harder to clear the misconception!
June 26th, 2009