Re: the Sex.com ruling

[Chicken]

Now, I know that a final ruling on sex.com (http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/06/13/1055220757856.html) has been decided, however I have a couple of questions regarding the article. Maybe I missed this part but does anyone know anything about the below...
Cohen allegedly usurped the domain name by sending a forged letter to a private firm called VeriSign, then known as Network Solutions Inc, which registers domain names, and transferring Sex.com into his own name, according to Sex.com and widespread industry media reports.

In return for the forged letter and $US1,000 ($A1,500), the company transferred ownership of the site name to Cohen, prompting Kremen to launch the long legal battle to win back the name he registered in 1994.

But, according to internet industry media reports, Cohen claimed that he owned Sex.com before Kremen first registered it and that he should therefore retain ownership of it.
First, why did NetSol require the letter (forged) and $1,000? What's the $1,000 about? Second, if Cohen owned sex.com before Kremen first registered it, how did Kremen get it? What's that about? I'm guessing it's not about much as the court ruled in favor of Kremen, but...

[eMax]

First, why did NetSol require the letter (forged) and $1,000? What's the $1,000 about?

That's funny because when I was watching techtv and they were talking about that. I feel it is kinda of a pay off, bribe.

"Hey you, Ill give you $1000 bucks and you transfer the name to me..hehe"

Don't know honestly, seems logical.

[Robert]

the transfer fee. Because of it's value (3 characters - good work, etc) NetSol valued the domain at that cost for transferring - at that time Netsol was the only place around, so they could do whatever.

[allan]

Originally posted by Robert:

the transfer fee. Because of it's value (3 characters - good work, etc) NetSol valued the domain at that cost for transferring - at that time Netsol was the only place around, so they could do whatever.

No, I worked a lot with NetSol in 95/96 and they didn't do anything like that -- transfers were all free. The quote from article you read is misleading, the $1000 was not paid to Network Solutions:

http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/archive/15061.html


The case hinged on a claim by Kremen that Cohen forged a transfer of ownership document for sex.com and sent it to domain registrar Network Solutions. Cohen, who has served time in prison on a bankruptcy fraud conviction, said he obtained the sex.com domain lawfully, after paying $1000 to a firm called Online Classifieds, which held the site registration.

[DarktidesNET]

I wish I could go back in time and register domains like this.

[nameslave]

Originally posted by DarktidesNET:

I wish I could go back in time and register domains like this.
LOL! Probably not sex.com. :D

[Static]

Probably not sex.com, but weren't domains free long ago?

If so, I would have registered tons of names for 10 years. :D

[Chicken]

Yep, back in the day. I missed the whole prime domain buying years :( Even in 1993/4, my girlfriend (at the time)'s brother had a directory of email addresses, or maybe it was a web site yellow pages, something like that. At that time, many good domains were still available and I wish I took some time to understand it. I was clueless about the internet at that time.

[DarktidesNET]

I'd still buy sex.com. It's probably worth a fortune.

[nameslave]

Originally posted by TracyLJ:

... but weren't domains free long ago?

If so, I would have registered tons of names for 10 years. :D
True, domain names were free before Network Solutions started charging $100 per 2 years; but back then you were not able to register 10 years in a row. Moreover, not many people really care about domain names in 1995.

[nameslave]

Originally posted by DarktidesNET:

I'd still buy sex.com ...
... and pay a fortune going to courts?

[DarktidesNET]

I don't see why you'd have to go to court if you originally owned it.

[nameslave]

Originally posted by DarktidesNET:

I don't see why you'd have to go to court if you originally owned it.
LOL! Back to square one (http://www.hosthideout.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1780): you may want to read the WHOLE story this time. :D

[DarktidesNET]

I thought it said it dropped or something similar.

Been a few days since I browsed it. :D

[allan]

Originally posted by nameslave:

True, domain names were free before Network Solutions started charging $100 per 2 years; but back then you were not able to register 10 years in a row. Moreover, not many people really care about domain names in 1995.

I tried to register my first domain in 1994, and the whole process was so confusing I couldn't even begin to understand it, and it seemed like no one else understood it either :).