Article: A new racket in Chinese domains?

[bwhhisc]

http://www.networkworld.com/community/node/33905

Over the past few days, I've gotten email from two different Chinese domain name registrars. In each case they've notified me that somebody wants to register the Chinese version of one of my domain names, and suggests that I instead register it first, to protect my trademark and so on. One even helpfully named the outfit that wants to register the name, and points out that it's a domain name investment firm.

So far as I can tell, there are three possible explanations for this:

Coincidence.
A small wave of Chinese domain name squatting activity.
An attempt by registrars to drum up business, by stampeding domain name owners into also registering .cn domains.
As for my guess as to which is most likely, perhaps that can be surmised from the following part of one exchange.

Them:

Dear Curt Monash:

Thank for your letter. According to our investigation, Wenda company is a domain name investment company. They must want to get some profits from registering your company's domain names. As domain name registrar, We are obligated to inform you of this matter.Because we found www.dbms2.com have been registered by you, we informed you in time.If you think these domain names are useful for your company or it will take some bad effect aftet being grabbed, we can help your company dispute these domain names back and register for your company,we will send application form and register procedure to you,you can assist us and finish the registration. If these domain names would not affect your company, you can give up.We will finish registration of Wenda company. Hope get your decision ASAP, so that we can handle the next step. If you have any questions,please contact me.

Kind Regards,

Peter Zhou

Fax: ---

Email: ---

Shanghai Chooke Network Information Technology Co., Ltd

website:www.chooke.com.cn

Me:

Hello,

I can't get your web site to load for me, in Firefox or Internet Explorer alike.

I can't find evidence on the Web that a domain name investor named Wenda exists, nor can I determine whether, if it does, you are affiliated with them.

Perhaps because your site doesn't load, I can't find out whether you ever signed the Convention on the Self-Discipline of the Internet Address Registration Service Industry.

All things considered, it is very difficult for me to proceed.

Best regards,

CAM

[thefabfive]

A couple of businesses I deal with have received the same letter. They tell you someone is trying to register your brand and recommend you employ their services (at outrageous prices) to register the names first.

[Rubber Duck]

If a complete stranger is offering to help you on an unsolicited basis, you can be pretty sure you are about to have your eye's taken out.

[Miguel]

Nice to know that there are con men far away from Washington, DC and Wall Street

[bwhhisc]

I was researching the China Internet Network Information Center (CNNIC) -- the supervision and enforcement organization of the "Convention on the Self-Discipline of the Internet Address Registration Service Industry".


http://english.sina.com/technology/1...02/144676.html

[mulligan]

I've had at least one similar email .. In Chinese though

[cyllabus]

Here's our letter:
Dear sparkawards:
We are Shanghai Chooke Network Information Technology Co., Ltd, which is the domain name register center in China.I have something need to confirm with you.
We have received an application formally,one company named "Wenda (China) Investment Co.,Ltd" applies for the domain names(www.sparkawards.cn,www.sparkawards.com.cn,etc.) ,and the Internet keyword(sparkawards) on the internet October 30, 2008. We need to know the opinion of your company because the domain names and keyword may relate to the copyright of brand name on internet.
We would like to get the affirmation of your company,please contact us by telephone or email as soon as possible.

Kind Regards,
Peter Zhou
Tel: +86-21-62416070
Fax: +86-21-62597835
Emaileter.zhou@chooke.com.cn
Shanghai Chooke Network Information Technology Co., Ltd
website:www.chooke.com.cn
------

At first I responded that our site was active and copyrighted. Then I sent him Dan's article and suggested he was getting famous, and to cease and desist, lest I alert Chinese authorities. Ah the wild world of the web!

[alexd]

I receive several emails like this every so often. I found it so nice and helpful that these nice people are letting me know someone wants to register the .cn version of my domain name. I am sure all registrars could learn from this very helpful and informative behaviour.

When I see the words ...

Domain Registrar
.cn
Your domain name

in my email message I usually hit the delete button.

Alex