Is this a scam attempt to make me register a domain?

cockus

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I have a .com domain website, i will not reveal my domain name and will just call it "banana.com" in this case.

This is the email I got. Is it a scam attempt?


"
Dear Manager,

Based on your company banana.com having no relationship with them, we have already suggested that they should choose another name to avoid this conflict, but they persist in this name as China domain names (banana.cn, banana.com.cn, banana.net.cn, banana.org.cn) and internet keyword. In our opinion, maybe they do the similar business as your company then register it to promote their company.

As is known to all, the domain name registration based on the international principle is opened to company and individual. Any company or individual have the right to register any domain name and internet keyword which are unregistered. Your company haven't registered this name as China domain names and internet keyword, so any company is able to obtain them by registration. But in order to avoid this conflict, the trademark or original name owner have priority right to register China domain name and internet keyword during our dispute period. If your company is the original owner of this name and want to register these China domain names (banana.cn, banana.com.cn, banana.net.cn, banana.org.cn) and internet keyword to prevent anybody from using them, please inform us. We can send you an application form with price list to help your company register these China domain names and internet keyword during our dispute period if you want to register them."
 
I could be wrong, but at a first glance it sounds like Chinese propaganda... "oh, you should not use [whateverdomain].com because Chinese companies might need the [whateverdomain].com.cn version of it and you should leave it to us"

That's how I interpreted this message, and it sounds like a scare tactic to me.

But then again, I'm not a lawyer, so I have no idea what (internationally recognized) laws there are with regards to .cn TLDs, maybe someone knows more than me and can clue us both in.

Of course, if the word "banana" is trademarked you should drop this domain to avoid any complications. But if it's not trademarked they have no rights to sue you
 
They want you to buy domains from them. It's their business model.

Ignore them.
 
I have a .com domain website, i will not reveal my domain name and will just call it "banana.com" in this case.

This is the email I got. Is it a scam attempt?


"
Dear Manager,

Based on your company banana.com having no relationship with them, we have already suggested that they should choose another name to avoid this conflict, but they persist in this name as China domain names (banana.cn, banana.com.cn, banana.net.cn, banana.org.cn) and internet keyword. In our opinion, maybe they do the similar business as your company then register it to promote their company.

As is known to all, the domain name registration based on the international principle is opened to company and individual. Any company or individual have the right to register any domain name and internet keyword which are unregistered. Your company haven't registered this name as China domain names and internet keyword, so any company is able to obtain them by registration. But in order to avoid this conflict, the trademark or original name owner have priority right to register China domain name and internet keyword during our dispute period. If your company is the original owner of this name and want to register these China domain names (banana.cn, banana.com.cn, banana.net.cn, banana.org.cn) and internet keyword to prevent anybody from using them, please inform us. We can send you an application form with price list to help your company register these China domain names and internet keyword during our dispute period if you want to register them."
The English is so horrible that you don't need to read beyond the second sentence to realise this ain't legit.

Just ignore.
 
Ignore. Known scam, other examples after a quick search: "China domain names scam" - makeuseof . com/tag/spot-chinese-domain-name-scam/ (2014)
(Edit: seems bhw doesn't like the site as url?)
 
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