iEstates.com

Just about 48 hours after one of the worst Tornado’s in US history hit the ground in Moore Oklahoma killing children, adults and causing over $1 Billion in damage, we found over 30 .com and .net  and .org domain names registered which gives the indication they are for charitable or relief purposes.

However scanning though all the registrations and sites on the domains only three seem to have been set up by charities or good doers.

We start with the good:

The domain name Mooreoklatornado.com, encourages people to donate to the American Red Cross and has the RedCross website and short code to text contributions and it appears to have been registered by a Good Samaritan by the name of Qlossal Media

Tornadorelieffund.com, is being directed to the American Red Cross and seems to be have registered by a Good Samaritan, Brownstone Strategies

The domain name Mooretornadorelief.com is being directed to Charity International which says its a 501-c-3 charity but the site is directed for the collection of money for the poor not the victims of the storm.  While the registrant is a charity I’m not sure that it is any better than anyone else who registered a domain to park it, since the funds collected would not appear to be going to the victims.

Now for the Ugly:

Helpmooreoklahomatornadovictims.com, was registered under privacy and goes to a site for a building contractor out of Tampa, which also operates the site restoringfloridahomes.com

Oklahomatornadorelieffund.com is going to a commercial, totally unrelated website, that we can only assume is trying to get extra traffic from the disaster.

Oklahomatornadofund.org is likewise also going to a commercial, totally unrelated website, that we can only assume is trying to get extra traffic from the disaster.

Okctornadodonate.com website says “I purchased this site to prevent a bogus donation scam. ”

“If you are a legitimate charity contact me to purchase this domain. Otherwise go to redcross.org to donate.”

Hum maybe you should offer to contribute the domain name to a legitimate charity if you really want to help.

As for the bad, these domains are being parked with the registrants making money from people searching for information on the disaster and some are also listed as being for sale:

usatornadorelief.com

tornadosoklahoma.com

tornadodonation.com

oktornadorelief.com

okctornadorelief.com

usatornadorelief.org

The rest of the domain names are either going to a registrar placeholder, not resolving and in general not doing anything that is going to help the victims of the disaster (of course they could have been registered to take them off the market as well).…

The domain name of actress Pam Anderson official site  PamAnderson.com dropped todayand was picked up by one of the registrars that works with NameJet.com where it is currently at auction.

According to Screenshots.com,   PamAnderson.com was updated in just this past January.

The domain name was acquired by and owned by CMG Worldwide, Inc. in 2010, through a UDRP.

CMG Worldwide according to its site “represents the intellectual property of celebratory individuals from then, now and forever”

Well maybe not forever.

According to its site, CMG represents Ms Anderson, as well as celebrities from Marilyn Chambers to Marlyn Monroe.

The domain name went into redemption period in March.

The domain name dropped today and is in auction on Namejet.com with 37 people (including myself) who placed backorders.

There is a site on PamelaAnderson.com which also says its her official site, however that domain name is owned by “HostGator, Adam Farrar” which definitely doesn’t look as “official” as the former registrant for PamAnderson.com

If Ms. Anderson or the management company decided not to renew the domain for $10 rather than direct it to the longer PamelaAnderson.com well that was bad call.

Yesterday we wrote about the domain name ReggieBush.com which served at its the NFL’s players official site which also dropped and got picked up by a NameJet.com registrar and is currently in auction.

Again as always in these cases we wait until the drop is over before publishing information on the domain and we point out as with any famous person there are UDRP panels that have awarded domain names to the person or the estate of the celebrity if deceased,  so buyer beware, especially here where the domain was already transferred to the actress by a UDRP.

Of course there is more than 1 person in the world named Pam Anderson and the domain name does have a Google Page rank of 4/10.

 …

The domain name ReggieBush.com dropped today and was picked up by NameJet.com where it currently at auction.

The domain name had 61 backorders placed on it, and as usual in the cases where famous entertainer or athletes domains drop, we do not report on it until the backorder time closes.

The domain name was the official site of Reggie Bush according to Screenshots.com as recently as 2010.

If you don’t know who Reggie Bush is he is a former Heisman Trophy winner, who later voluntarily forfeited his Heisman Trophy due to sanctions placed on his college USC by the NCAA,  won a Super Bowl with the New Orleans Saints, then played for the Miami Dolphins and now is a member of the Detroit Lions.

The domain name was owned by 691 enterprises, llc. C/O The Agency Sports Management and the administrative contact was Reggie Bush but the email address went to theagencymgmt.com.

Either Reggie ended his relationship with the agency or someone screwed up.

In any event this is another domain in a long line of entertainer/sports figures who have lost their domain for their official site and you can read some other famous people who have lost their domain name here and here and here.

Its also a good lesson for anyone famous or not to hold their domain name in their own name and keep correct and current whois contact info on the domain record.

Of course any buyer needs to be very careful of what they do with the domain name after they acquire it and its always subject to a UDRP claim by Mr. Bush if he wakes up to find his domain gone.

 …

Tourism Fiji, the official travel and tourism agency of the government of Fiji, has registered the name Fiji.travel and has now launched www.Fiji.travel as its official tourism website.

According to the Registry other country governments have made the same move to .travel.

Germany.travel, Colombia.travel, Egypt.travel, Ecuador.travel, and Canada.travel are all now using the .travel extension for their official tourism sites.

Many countries, cities and states have been using visit…..com domain names for their official tourism sites.

This maybe a growing trend to move to the right of the dot as new gTLD’s get ready to launch.

What are your thoughts about the move?

 …

A UDRP was just filed yesterday the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) on the domain name SM.net

The domain name is owned by a M.A. Stenzel (info@topname.com) of  Kahului, Hawaii and has been owned by him since at least 2003 but could go as far back as 1999.

The domain name is parked and not surprisingly goes to a page full of adult links as S & M is well known as being an abbreviation for Sadomasochism, but actually stands according to Wikipedia.org, for a ton of topics outside of the adult world as well.

The complaint was filed by Fundación Santa María-Ediciones SM, out of Madrid, whose official site seems to be fundacion-sm.com which was first registered in 2006.

We will watch this one.

 …

Yesterday we published a blog post about Pinky Brand’s prediction for how many domain names will be in existence by the end of 2016

Pinky’s prediction was 408.5 Million domain names in the zone files by the end of 2016 including 73.6 million from new gTLD’s

Current there are 252 million domain names in existence including all the TLD’s and ccTLD’s but obviously the new gTLD’s are yet to launch.

So the question we have for today is how many domain names will be in existence by the end of 2016?

You can make you selection on the poll on the right and for bragging rights place your prediction in the comment section as well.

 …

Zynga (Nasdaq: ZNGA) newest game is Running With Friends.

The domain name RunningwithFriends.com is owned by a charity out of Arizona.

The domain is owned under privacy at Godaddy.com but forwards to UnitedFriendsSchool.org

The United Friends School (UFS) “is a preschool through eighth grade coeducational, independent Quaker day school in Quakertown, Pennsylvania.  Established in 1983, UFS serves and buses students in the Upper Bucks and Lehigh Valley regions. UFS has a progressive, exciting academic program with the highest educational standards.  We assess students’ achievements in authentic ways, without using standardized tests, and offer extracurricular programs from sports to art, music, Spanish, summer camps, and more. Notably, UFS’ open-minded, loving, family-centered approach honors students of all cultures, backgrounds, and beliefs. We care for our local community and inspire students to social action, working within the foundations of democracy.”

I’m sure they can use a few bucks especially since the domain name is just pointing to them.

I actually like the …..withfriends.com type of domains and have long held pokerwithfriends.com waiting for the US to legalize online poker.  As the net becomes more social these sites are naturals as they add a social component.

 …

According to krebsonsecurity.com, Network Solutions has seized more than 700 domain names “belonging to various Syrian entities, including a prominent Syrian hacker group and sites associated with the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad”.

According to the story the seizures all occurred within a three- to four-day period in mid-April.

“The apparently coordinated action ended with each of the site’s registration records being changed to include Web.com’s Florida address, as well as the notation “OFAC Holding.”

OFAC is short for the Office of Foreign Assets Control, an office of the U.S. Treasury Department‘s  Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence. OFAC administers and enforces U.S. economic trade sanctions against targeted foreign countries, including Syria.”

“The domain seizures came to my attention after reading a report produced last month by HP‘s security and research team, which noted that individuals associated with a pro-Assad hacker group known as Syrian Electronic Army were complaining that NetworkSolutions had seized their domains, including syrian-es.com, syrian-es.net and syrian-es.org.”

“The vast majority of the 700+ domains were hosted at Internet addresses assigned to the Syrian Computer Society (SCS).

We have covered stories before when domain names that were on the OFAC list were seized by Registrars.

Here is a quote from the story:

“US companies need to be aware of our sanctions program,”  Treasury’s Sullivan said. “A very important part of doing business is that they do not enter into financial transactions with sanctioned parties. And OFAC is very active about pursuing enforcement cases where they need to happen.”

Here is the list:

almarkazaldowali.net, almasera.net, almashreqltd.com, almimase.com, almouayadceramics.com, almoubaraka-sy.com, almouietrading.com, alnadacereal.com, alnajem-sy.com, alnorco.com, alomaraa.com, alquabed.com, alrafehatedal.com, alsaadyco.com alshaala.com alshamcenter.net alsharq-arbitration.com alshera3.com altaher-co.com altajdeed.org altarabulsi.com altareqco.com alwajeeh-co.com alwardi-yeh.com alwataniya.org alwataniyamf.org alwaten-syria.com alwessam-re.com alyatter.com ameesoft.com, amict.org
amreet.net
apsos.net arabesquefm-sy.com arabic-friends.com arabic-in-damascus.net arabicteachinginstitute.com arabunionre-sy.com arc-sy.com, arcadsac.org archirush.com arfangroup.com artvillealeppo.com asaadfirm.com asmaa-al-assad.com assafagency.com attal4electric.com, avoidregister.com aytamhama.com babalfaraj-co.com badin4heating.com badri-co.com bahrainair-sy.com baitalsh3r.com ban-tours.com bankofstudents.com barakatco-sy.com bashar-al-assad.org bashar-seif.com basselsaadi.com bdpgroup-me.com bedrossian-jewellery.com benaproperties.com benaproperties.net betinjaneh-sy.com bilsan-magazine.com bilsan-magazine.net blueopal.co brilliant-shk.com brilliantmar.com broker-business-syria.com bt-syria.com cargo-express.org cargoexpress-sy.com cbs-bank.com cbs-bank.info cbs-bank.org, cbssyr.org
cdcaj.com cempharma.com chaccour.org chamchemicalplant.com chamholding.org chamraint.com chasebankcapital.com chattahi.com chereiki.com chidiac2001.com chm-3t.com cneeds-sy.com compassshipping.org csn-tu.com, cvrow.com dabbousi.com dakka-kadima.com dam-eng.org damakmaritime.com damancham.com damascs-gov.org damascushills.com damascushills.net dampress.org dandashi-moda.net, daoudinsuranceagency.com dar-alsaada.com dar-alsaada.org daraacci.com daraljawdeh.com daralsaada.com daralsaada.org darragehospital.com deferential.net deirali-ccpp.com deltamed-sy.com dgmo-db.com diar-exchange.com dih-syria.com dijla-petroleum.com directmedia-sy.com dlilona.com dryoussefzeitoun.com dsulaiman-edu.com dubai-ctour.com dwl-art.com, dyvt.net
e-kabak.com eagle-tc.net echotech.co economictv-syria.com economictv-syria.net economictv-syria.org edleb-edu.org edlebkids.org efor-sy.com ehabomaro.com elissacompany.com ello-wel-mlek.com elyaassoub.net emadtaleb.com emotic.net empyreal-tech.com, endlessartgallery.com eng-nashwan.com engtartous.com eschoolsy.com espergroup.com estedama.net etc-syr.com etech-co.com eti-damas.com eti-damas.org f-jazaerly-trans.com f1-technologies.com faddoul-trade.com fadel-group.com fadelfadelsons.com fashionshowsyria.com fashionsyria.com fenks.net ffdm-penumat.com fireline-sy.com focusprog.com, g-lb.co
galileo-syria.com gapar.net gardeniarei.com gcbc-co.com gdp-sy.com ggmaritime.com ghania-mag.com ghassan-wannous.com ghls-group.com global-syria.com gmscompany.net goc-sy.org golden-advantage.com golden-advantage.net golden-network.net goldenlinegroup.net gpc-sy.com grandoqa.com grandstar-b.com group-shipping.com groupalhassan.com grouporfahly.com gulfsands-sy.net h-alsharq.com h-t-marine-services.com, habeel-hospital.org, hajjar-int.com hajsaleh.com hala-plast.com halabi-dairy.com haladairy.com hama-chamber.org hamadah-shipping.com hamdi-co.com hamdi-medical.com hammoush.com hannof.com happylandsyria.com haraba-s.com hasakabar.com hatounshipping.com hemaia.net hewarsyria.com hewarsyria.net hinox-sy.com hitechmarine-sy.com hmishogroup.com hoc-sy.com homsagric.com homskids.org hosumat.com housami.com housami.net, humsi.net hutteen-clu.com hyde-tools.com ibdaasyria.com ibdaasyria.net ibdaasyria.org icatu56.org icfcl.com icsr-steel.com idlebtourism.org ilc-syria.com imagesyr.com impa.info impadev.net impaguarantors.net impainnovation.com impainsurance.net impaproviders.net impaservices.net, impasolutions.com impasolutions.net impatpa.com inanagroup.net int4telecom.com intermarkets-syria-web.com international-company.net inventor-alaa.com, iofrc.com ior-syria.com is-sy.org isbsyria.com ismailmaritime.com ismailshipping.com isolutions-me.com isoluxcorsan-sy.com issamyoussef.com jaalouk.com jablah-oc.org jablawi.com jasmine-sy.com jayrudcouncil.com jcilattakia.org jebal-alnammas.com jebrini.com jradco.org kaadanco.com kabakdent.com kadmoos.com kanakri.com kanawat-society.org kapco-sy.com kardou.com kareemhawash.com kattachgroup.com kh-tr.com khatibco.net khebzwmelh.com khoshaifatee.com kingtex-b.com kitos-group.com kmjcom.com komale-roj.com kubangrains.com kuriha-group.com lababidigroup.net lahdojewelry.com, lat-edu.org
latakiac.org lattakia-weaving.com lattakiakids.org lattakiatv.com lazawardalcham.com lebbadimaritimeco.com leengis.net lepto-quark.com levantsansf.com licti-scs.org linkcom-sy.com lms-co.com longer-syr.com lt-ct.com lutossgardens.com lyceefrancaisdalep.com m-alrajab.com m-fattouh.net m-s-marinesurvey.com, ma-tar.com ma3danly.com, maachaalcompany.com mabygroup.com machaalcompany.com maibtex.com maildamasuniv.org majdalbstan.com mallisho.com mandalounhotel.com manlatex.com marayas.com marketingcorner.net max4dzn.com mea-me.com mechemicals.com medtrans-co.com megatradingco.net mgggroup.net mgp-sy.com mhc-water-daraa.org midsyria.com midsyria.net minaamrit.com minaamrit.net minagroup.co mis-sy.com, missbeautysyria.com missfashionshowsyria.com missfashionsyria.com missmodelsyria.com missstylesyria.com misssyria.net misssyria.org misstopmodelsyria.com mk-mt.com, mla-sy.org mlaebona.com mlaebona.net mobilitop.org modedesoiree.com modelsyria.com modtrdco.com moe-ict.net mohammadalezz.com mokhlalati.com monogram-eyewear.com mouazzenpharma.com mounshaathama.com mouzayekgroup.com mrclinico.com mshtawy.com msk-tradegroup.net mtc-syr.com mtr-adv.com muhieddineshipping.net myhomeinsyria.com mylovesyria.com nached-akhwan.com nached-bros.com nachedbros.com naeemsat.com najmeh.net najmtravel.com nashed-akhwan.com nashed-bros.com nashedbros.com nawlo-starcom.com ncbt-sy.org netco-co.com newgate-tech.com newhorizons-syria.com newprotect.net newsme-sy.com, newvision-group.com niasd.org
nidalsaleh.com ninawanews.net nisreen-press.com noramargarita.com nour-co.com, 
nuss-de.com
, nuss-sy.org
, ohodfoods.com, 
omllab.org
, oniondehy.com, opalmall.net, 
opalstone, net
orfalia.org
, orient-co.com orient-hyundai.com otec90.com overseasarab.com p-systems.biz palestine2day.com panda-sat.com passion-syr.com peacetonature.com perd-sy.com premiumtec.net proline-sa.com promedia-sy.com pscollege.net pure-essence-perfumer.com qadmoos.com, qlessuae.com qnb-syria.com qsyssyria.com quark-ft.com qunaitradoctors.com radionafm.net rarfze.net rasoulchemicals.com rawafedagri.com rayahgroup.org redhatit.com rennewcomer.com retired-dr.com riamar.org ritver-paints.com ritverwoodcover.com, rizbarakat.net roadhouse-restaurant.com roadhousediner.com sa3ed.org saabtrading.com saad-syr.com saadtahan.com safa-groups.com saharalahbab.com sak-ets.com, salamieh.org salloumdental.com salvatio-sy.com sama-syria.com sama-syria.net samacompany.com samidaya.net samtico.com samurra.com sana-syria.com sar-dis.com sayouhlawoffice.com sbdco-sy.com sc-markets.com scopedecoration.com scs-damascus.org scs-edleb.org scs-hama.org scs-homs.org scs-itexam.org scs-latakia.org scs-telecenters.net scsforep.com sdp-sy.com sea-syr.org seaturtles-sy.com sedcsyria.com sejec.com sesp-sy.org sfdaco.com shaamexpo.org shadirwan.com shahen-c.com shaka-sy.com shallah-tec.com shdamascus.com shehadah.com, shipcosyria.com shoneez.biz shoneez.info shorouk-eng.com shruokart.com sis-me.com siveco-int.com skhiehcenter.com skyeducation-sy.com smart-appliances.net smrs-sy.org sofiamall.net spc-sy.com ssc-soufi.net sskoc.com sssquality.com sssquality.net sssquality.org steel555.com steel555.net stylezcandle.com sug-net.com sugn-ads.com sugsb.com sun-valve.com suriana.net svuonline.com svuonline.net swaidagrapes.com swaidakids.org swaidanow.com sweidaedu.org syrcomparty.org syria-times.com syria-tpa.com syriadiplomats.com syriaeconomyart.com syriafoods.net syriahewar.net syrian-arab.com syrian-directory.com syrian-es.com syrian-es.net syrian-es.org syriancp.org syrianengineering.com syrianequestrian.org, syriani.net
syriankids.org syrianopinion.com syrianopinion.org syrianopinioncenter.com syrianopinioncenter.org syrianpearlair.com syrianpearlair.net syrianpearls.com syrianrealestate.net syrianroads.com syrianscolors.com syrianvanguard.org syrianyouth.net syriaolymp.org syriascope.net syriatpa.com, syrivf.com, 
syropedia.com syropedia.net syropedia.org syrtech-it.com taheragha.com tajhalab.net tajmiehandmansour.com talhoom.com tanganyikaoil.com tar-culture.org tartous-tech-services.com tartous-tech-services.net tartous-tech-services.org tartouscity.com tartouscity.net tartouscity.org tartousdent.com tartousedu.org tartoushealth.com tartouskids.org tartoustourism.org tashyeed-sy.com taweelplast.com taweelprint.com tawsse.com, tcci-sy.com tcci-sy.net tclsyria.com tco-sy.com, tcsyria.net
tea-lat.com technicalbuildingsystem.com techno-beton.com technodoors.com technologyhouse-sy.com teeba-adico.com
teqaniat.com
thebest-sy.com tishunivsyn-syr.org topfilters.net topmodelarab.com topmodelarabic.com topmodelsyria.com trendy-sy.com trustcentralstation.com,  twcsyria.net
u-tech.org
, ubesy.com
, uecsyria.com, unicopetroleum.com, unipat-syr.com
, unitedgrains.biz, 
utcc-sy.com
, vartanian-sy.com, venture-training.com, viewsyria.com, 
viewsyria.net
, vision-id.net
wals-co.com,warrenfamilyfuneralhome.com warrenfamilyfuneralhomes.com,  warrenjnewcomer.com,  warrennewcomer.com, worldta.net, 
yazigigroup.com, 
yourrow.com,  yousef-ahsaneh.com, youssefco.com
, zahnico.com,  zainagricultmod.com,  zakzouk.net zaytunetalchamhotel.com zeinbros.com zen-rollshutters.com zenobians.com, zero-av.com ziadhotel.com zirconia-sy.com

 …

According to a blog post, Secure.me a company that just started up in late November 2011 has been acquired by Avast.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

According to the company, Secure.me is the number 1 security app on Facebook with more than 90 Million Facebook profiles scanned to protect the privacy, security and reputation of users of the biggest social network worldwide

Secure.me was purchase for just $7,000 on Afternic in August 2011.

The company was covered by TechCrunch.com in December of 2011.

Here is some of the blog post:

“I couldn’t be more thrilled to share the news that as of today, secure.me has joined AVAST Software, maker of the world’s most popular antivirus.”

“When Christian and I started our business together, it was our vision to bring privacy protection to the forefront of the IT security industry and that the two – privacy and security – will ultimately blend: Whereas antivirus software protects the user’s valuable data on a device, personal data protection solutions are needed to secure sensitive data in the cloud, on social networks, in apps, and on the Web.”

“I am overwhelmed that our vision has reached its destination, the deal with AVAST is the most crucial milestone in our company’s history. This new set up will allow us to design security for the user to protect their data independent from which device is utilized and from where it is being accessed from. Our mission will remain the same: We will continue our dedication to provide a safe and carefree online experience for everyone; we can now do this at a much wider scale, with even more power and at a higher speed.”

 …

An article just published in Forbes asks the question,  “Should a Startup Spend VC Funding on a Domain Name?”.

It’s a must read article for all domainers.

The article is written  by David Teten who is “Partner with ff Venture Capital and Founder and Chairman of Harvard Business School Alumni Angels of Greater New York. I’m cofounder of the Venture Capital Access Program”

The “ff Venture Capital portfolio is evidence of how much we believe this, e.g., our companies Alerts.com, Gobbler.com, Identified.com, Patents.com, Phone.com, and Plated.com. The awesome story of how CEO Joe Fernandez bought the Klout.com domain is one of many reasons we were excited to lead the seed round in Klout.  I was formerly Founder/CEO of a domain name investment bank, and still own about a hundred domain names personally.”

Here are a few highlights:

“If you’re a VC-backed startup, you should conceal your personal information when you initiate the negotiation process for a good domain name in order to detach the valuation of the name from your status.  However, if you’re an unfunded college student, you should emphasize your current, presumably low-cash, status.”

“”I am comfortable endorsing spending six or seven figures on a good domain name, but only after you have proven a significant market exists for your product, you have achieved product-market fit, and you have either earned a lot of cash in the bank (the best!) or raised tens of millions in venture capital.  It will dramatically lower your marketing costs in the long run. But remember, great dot-com names often sell for well below their market value; it usually isn’t necessary to pay a large sum, because there are few buyers who will pay the highest possible value for a given name.  23andme.com bought geneticscreening.com for $2,200.”"

“”My recommendation is to start your company with a free or very low-cost domain name, with a strong preference for dot-com.  ”

“Note one of the key ways VCs filter the deluge of companies raising funding is their domain name. ”

“I’m much less likely to even open your deck if your domain name looks pathetic.”

This is the first part of a two part story and as I said a Must read.…