During last year’s election, were you hoping to read-up on Barack Obama’s abortion stance? Too bad, if you went to Obama ForPresident.com. It featured crossword puzzles and fantasy football rather than public-policy papers. Were you looking to volunteer for U.S. Senate candidate John Sununu? If you visited JohnSununu.com, it allowed you to sign up for a free online dating service but not to sign on to a political campaign. Did you want to help finance John McCain’s bid for the presidency? During much of the 2008 campaign season, a contribution submitted through the official-looking JohnMcain.com would have supported a man in Houston, Texas, without one nickel funding McCain’s run for the White House.

All three of these web sites were intuitively linked to prominent U.S. politicians, but none were owned by the candidates or their campaigns. These sites exemplified a broader trend. Without any legitimate affiliation, people nab rights to web sites that evoke politicians’ names. They do it for profit. They do it for spite. They do it to broadcast criticisms. They do it out of egotism or to indulge their idea of fun. Most importantly, they do it often and they do it everywhere. “Political cybersquatting,” as this practice is known, is occurring with increasing frequency around the world.

This article discusses political cybersquatting’s causes and proximate harms. The next section offers necessary background information on Internet processes and governance. The following section describes the politicalcybersquatting problem by showing that (1) candidates are seriously injured by cybersquatting, (2) candidates are exceptionally exposed to cybersquatting, and (3) candidates cannot rely on existing preventive and remedial methods to consistently solve their cybersquatting problems. Finally, the article proposes a new specialized top-level domain, “.pol,” as a way to mitigate political cybersquatting’s
harms.

To read this article by by Matthew T. Sanderson in the Election Law Journal
www.liebertonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1089/elj.2008.0013

[Update: 122109 Did these guys beat me to it or what! http://www.sprixi.com, Can't imagine the domain name is going to help them, but... great site.]

Hear me out now. Sure, one of the most obvious mistakes a domain noob can make is … [visit site to read more]

On June 25, 2009 –  Omri Casspi “The First Ever Israeli Basketball Player In The NBA” was drafted in the 2009 NBA draft in NY city.

Omri was drafted in the 23 pick (First Round) by the Sacramento Kings.

Now let me take you to the beginning of 2008.

Back then, I was not aware what is “CyberSquatting”, I registered a lot (about 50) TRADEMARK or CELEBRITY Domains.

One of the domains was “OmriCasspi.co.il” (co.il = Israel ccTLD).

I had a filling that if someone (Israeli guy) will play in the NBA, it will be “Omri”.

After a year, when the domain was almost expired, I renew it in the day Omri got picked by Sacramento Kings.

When I renew the domain, I wasn’t aware what is CyberSquatting, but my plan was to create a fan club with zero advertisements on the site.

Couple days ago, I decided to try and contact Omri.

Throw Facebook, I succeed to touch base with his oldest brother (Omri manager).

I ask from him to talk with Omri and tell him about the fan site and also ask him if he agree to that.

We talk a lot in Facebook and Omri told his brother “No Problem and Thank You”.

Now his brother want me to teach him some SEO and to explain more about the world of domains. LOL

Bottom Line – It start with CyberSquatting and become friendship… Guys Please dont do it (CyberSquatting), If you decided you want to do something with a Trademark or Celebrity Name because you have a passion for this subject, Please talk with the company or person before, You never know what good things can happened from that.

Thank you and Great week to everyone.