Wanted: Domain Appraisal .co.uk puchase for .com

[hm123]

Hi,

New on here.

I have a quick question, I have a .co.uk domain name that corresponds to a .com domain name.

The .com domain name is used by a British Company (very large plc) for a project that is due to be ongoing for the next 10 years at least.

Recently the project has been announced via press etc, and a week later I have someone contact me to buy the domain.

I dont know who this person is - but I think it may be a speculative buy with the intention of selling the domain on.

So far this person has made several offers.

Just wondering what channels I need to go through if I was to get in touch with the .com owners to see if they are interested?

Any other advice would be appreciated.

What do you think it could be worth if the .com owners also wnat the .co.uk domain.

Thanks,

Harris.

 

[Takwa]

go to their website and find the contact us page, you want to contact the PR officer, advertising department, or even their marketing director, I found the last one is the most effective.

It depends on the offer, if it's just low balling you i.e. under a thousand then it's probably a reseller, then maybe contacting the company will do you a better deal. Make sure you're not infringing their name first though.

 

[BREWSTERS]

Before you contact the company, you must check that they don't hold any trademarks relating to the domain.

http://www.ipo.gov.uk/types/tm/t-os.htm

 

[Ashton]

Also might be worth checking if the company have any history of going after domains.

 

[TinkyWinky]

Although a trademark infringement becomes very loose if you registered the .co.uk way before they regged the .com / started the project (i.e. years before not weeks). This is especially true if you are not showing a parking page tailored to competitors of their product (which never pleases large corporations) !

If the above is true and you regged way before, I would approach the Marketing Director first to gauge their interest.

Value could depend on a range of factors including whether it's a generic .co.uk name that describes their product but that could legitimately be used by some other manufacturer (e.g. windturbines).

Too many factors to comment without knowing the domain (which I woudln't post here if I were you!)

TW

 

[hm123]

If anyone feels they can help me in a serious way (for a % of the successful sale -) then PM me. Serious/Successful domain sellers only.

Thanks,

Harris.

 

[Takwa]

hmmm... maybe you should contact Dougs,Rob,ScottJ and even Azooza(helped me on my very 1st domain sale) they sold some very high value names.

Apologies if I missed out anyone else...

 

[namealot]

No way contact them at the start....? Unless your 100 % sure they could not make claim to the name

I'd Check registration dates, trade marks , company formation, trading history etc Who owns the other TLD’s cctld’s e.g. .fr .de ( more potential customers higher the price ) Do they progressively seek out infringements of there “company”? How generic is it ..? Check out disputes with similar types i.e. large corporations vs. co.uk holders, You have not said they have contacted you doesn’t mean they don’t know you exist…? They could quite easily be waiting till you do something to help with any dispute,

If you have nothing on the site that could in anyway be conceived as a breach or there competition adds etc on it and can justify why you registered it, setting up or trading as it, pets name anything..? (Although not a must all helps,) Check there site stats and your own. They would calculate what traffic/ clients may be lost and what that cost them. If it's a particular project to them or brand other's could not use it without risk of losing it...? But them not having it may loose them financialy and to an extent in business standing (ego) These all helps when selling.

If they are a large company they will know of its existence the trick is making them see they need it..?
But unless its very generic don’t approach them first even then be cautious so many people roll over when they get involved with a Dispute or thought of one and just hand things over... Companies, legal bods know this and may try and take advantage of it....