Bullet-proof domains, or only bullet-proof hosting?

Hi guys, long story short. I have one "grayhat" site (spun content) that is getting really good rankings and traffic in Google, as well as income. But it is currently dealing with massive DMCA copyright complaints, specifically spun articles (but they are > 50% unique and ALL pass Copyscape). My current US-based webhost has told me to take those particular pages down (or they'll cancel my hosting), which I did for now (I have locally saved versions on my hard drive), but those articles constitute a significant portion of my daily traffic and income (about 60% of my income).

Currently I am in the process of moving to a bullet-proof webhost located in Russia that will disregard all DMCA and copyright complaints. After I'm done re-uploading everything, the high-traffic pages will go back up, and all DMCA complaints will no longer negatively affect my income.

But here's my question: Do I need to transfer to a bullet-proof domain registrar too? Or do I only need a bullet-proof webhost? I am new to all this bullet-proof stuff. I currently have a US-based domain registrar for the domain. If the original author can't take my website down by contacting my Russian webhost, will he be able to take my website down by contacting my domain registrar? I just need to know if I'm safe with a US-based domain registrar like Namecheap or Godaddy and adding whois privacy, or if I need to have a China/Russia-based domain registrar. I have already chosen my Russian webhost, but I do not know any Russian or "bullet-proof" registrars I should go with.

P.S. The original author has already issued a DMCA complaint to Google, but he published a blog post on his blog saying that Google replied to their complaint and said they couldn't do anything because my articles all have unique content (I spun the articles to over 50% unique content each so Google is letting me keep them but my current US webhost still wants them taken down)

Oops, I think this thread should be moved to /blackhat-seo/f94-web-hosting/ ?

Sorry, can't post URLs yet

I don't think you'll have any problems with the domain, as long as it's not a trademarked domain.

The other issue to look into is how you're making money...if it's Clickbank or CPA, they could potentially take this all the way to the affiliate programs..

but I'm no lawyer.

If I were you, I'd stick to my guns..you have over 50% uniqueness on the articles, I don't know what the authors problem is.

Interesting story, however, making money from something that isn't totally yours will always put you under the spot light somehow (I did and still do, people get upset), I think people will also run for your registrar in the future so is better to be prepared.

dotthei said:

I don't think you'll have any problems with the domain, as long as it's not a trademarked domain.

The other issue to look into is how you're making money...if it's Clickbank or CPA, they could potentially take this all the way to the affiliate programs..

but I'm no lawyer.

If I were you, I'd stick to my guns..you have over 50% uniqueness on the articles, I don't know what the authors problem is.

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Thanks, I've just been up all night worrying about this. I don't care if they take those down, I can still monetize (even if I have to sell my own product lol) because the articles I took down receive lots of traffic and have high rankings on Google already.

I just need some reassurance here though, this is the first time a DMCA complaint has ever been filed against me. The domain isn't trademarked, but how do I know for sure they can't complain to my domain registrar? How do I know for sure my domain registrar won't care?

Would appreciate it if you could clarify on some details.

thetraveller said:

I think people will also run for your registrar in the future so is better to be prepared.

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I've never had experience with this before. How will they "run for my registrar", and what will they do? And is there anything I can do to prevent that from happening? I currently make half my living from this greyhat site of mine so I absolutely need to know

TBH, I *think* you would be ok, BUT I'd recommend protecting yourself as much as possible. Given the recent US gov seizures of domain name just indexing torrent files (aka: nothing illegal about the sites other than referencing copyrighted stuff) you're better off finding a registar as far as possible, and also seeing about getting matching domain names that aren't .com (under US jurisdiction) so the US gov/whoever can't touch them without massive international action.

Layers my friend, layers. Make it so hard to get to you they give up trying.

hackNstuff said:

...

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I see. I have no idea how I've come this far in I M but am still a newbie at domain-related technicalities. I've never personally had to file a DMCA complaint against anyone so I don't know how I would go about looking up and complaining to someone's domain registrar (although I do know how to look up their hosting provider). How would someone convince my registrar to take down my website? Is there legal paperwork involved, etc?

Sorry, newbie question, but how do you find out someone's domain registrar if they have whois privacy enabled? (And have a different webhosting company)

Shit, just did some googling. Scroll down to the last comment on this page (by username Anime):

hxxp://w*ww.d*omainbits.c*om/p*rotecting-domains-offshore/

I'm having registrar problems, as well. An American Anime licensing company, FUNimation, keeps sending DMCA complaints to my registrar. What's rebel's stand on DMCA's regarding posting a video to a website like youtube? would we have to remove it or will the whole domain be suspended?

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Edit:
Okay, I found a different offshore registrar (not Rebel). Will see how it goes.

Edit:
Also found some more info at blackhat-seo/black-hat-seo/9842-safe-place-buy-domains.html

the future is in shutting down sites at the registrar... anyone can get a new webhost and get back up and running the next day. Its that or going after the money trail.. those would be your two biggest problems to protect

420lounge said:

the future is in shutting down sites at the registrar... anyone can get a new webhost and get back up and running the next day. Its that or going after the money trail.. those would be your two biggest problems to protect

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What do you guys think of katzglobal dot com? Just searched around BHW, lots of people recommend using this.

You could always give them a nice massive Xrumer blast and keep those pain in the @$$ people dealing with spam complaints against you until they leave you alone (perform at your own risk).

--> Pick registrars in far away countries w/ different languages.
--> Check your spam emails and look at who the spammers are using, usually a great way to locate shady hosts & registrars.

You could always give them a nice massive Xrumer blast

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I'm actually thinking of going Google bowling just for fun. Never paid for any Xrumer services before, but I've heard mixed results, and the Google dance from Xrumer is supposed to be devastating.

good registrars:

http://www.ename.com
http://www.net-chinese.com

ChangBeer said:

good registrars:

ename dot com
net-chinese dot com

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I may transfer to one of these.

Can DMCA take down websites whose registrars are located in China and Taiwan?

Edit: I don't see a transfer option on either of those registrars.