The Wall Street Journal discussed gripe sites, sites set up by consumers to complain about big companies, using the name of the company in their domain name.
WSJ cited starbucked.com, ihatestarbucks.com, boycottwalmart.org and againstthewal.com.
The article went on to say that companies are handling these types of sites differently.
Xerox, for example, bought or registered about 20 unflattering domain names, including xeroxstinks.com, xeroxcorporationsucks.com and ihatexerox.net.
Other companies, such as Dell, have taken a more hands-off approach. DellisEvil.com, MyDellSux.com and IHateDell.info are for sale, but the computer maker says it has no interest in buying them.
The WSL states
“While companies can’t pull down a negative YouTube video or erase a critical Twitter post, they have more power when it comes to domain names.”
However the article did not cite or discuss any companies that attempted to take domains through legal proceedings.
Instead the Journal cited a study, by FairWinds Partners, a Internet strategy consulting firm, which looked at sites that end in the word “sucks.com.” According to Fairwinds there are approximately 20,000 domains on the Internet in that category.
Of the companies surveyed, 35% own the domain name for their brand followed by the word “sucks.” They include Wal-Mart Stores, Coca-Cola, Toys”R”Us, Target and Whole Foods Market.
Some 45% of these domains have yet to be registered by anyone.
The study found that the majority of companies that do own these domain names publish no content on them.
However some companies have put up content on their owned gripe sites.
Loewssucks.com (a reference to the AMC Theatres chain) sees a guest-satisfaction survey.
Visitors to Southwestsucks.com are directed to the customer-service page on Southwest Airlines‘ site, where they can submit official complaints.
An interesting article indeed.
Wouldn’t hurt any of us with names we have or are going to develop to also reg the ever-popular “sucks” version of such names.
I do.
Fairwinds also is the company that founded CADNA.
I’ve always been a proponent for companies to explore alternative ways to protect their brand and possibly also lost traffic, even though I am of course also for open customer feedback.
If there’s a new brand/company out there, they should make sure to register or purchase typos, variants and descriptive generics for their business.
Purchasing typos before someone else registers them, is much cheaper than than filing UDRPs.
People should be allowed to publish online their personal experiences in dealing with Company’s.
I think Dell Computers are the BEST – I own two of them but when it comes to dell taking (stealing legally) domain names via trademark infringement lawsuits against domain name owners I think they are Crap.
To me it is Very important before I purchase something:
1) the quality of the product
2) the company ethics
3) the price of the product
In the next 3 months I want to buy another laptop pc but I am not sure will it be a Dell since they do not appear to have the Right ethics
So if Michael Dell is reading this post you should teach your Executive Management at Dell to be TRUE leaders with ethics and not scavengers.
Damir, how about Apple?
Fairwinds=CADNA
Another self-serving piece of spin designed to paint domainers as evil doers that Fairwinds will help you kick out of dodge (for a healthy fee of course). Gotta give them credit for repeatedly getting their side of the story heard in WSJ- us?
“but when it comes to dell taking (stealing legally) domain names via trademark infringement lawsuits against domain name owners…”
Very scary perception. When intellectual property is infringed upon its a crime. Period.
Yes guys Fairwinds is CANDA.
However the story did not really discuss domainers, nor did it talk negatively about the practice of registering such names.
It was an article really geared towards corporation to go out and register defense domains before someone else does.
I’m sure Fairwinds wanted the article to take on a negative slant towards those who registered such domains, but it certainly did not
“DellisEvil.com, MyDellSux.com and IHateDell.info are for sale, but the computer maker says it has no interest in buying them.”
If I read this right, those domains were regged for the purpose to SELL them…not as gripe sites.
That is just plain wrong.
Patrick
Yup. But Dell decided not to bite, so their respective registrants are practically out their registration fees…unless they found suckers…err, willing buyers.