Former Web Developer won't give back domain?

Corydoras007

Regular Member

Sep 17, 2012

495

91

• Jan 20, 2019

• #1

Long story short... former web developer for a friend won't give back domain.

Domain is aged over 18 years with proper branding and natural links.

Friend was stupid enough to hand over login details for the developer to handle. From my understanding, they had a huge fallout over the work. Now the webdev is holding the domain for ransom.

I checked the domain and my friend's name is still registered as the registrant but the administrator is the web developer.

How to go about this without paying the webdev?

Thanks.

 

jazzc

Elite Member

Jan 27, 2009

2,964

14,717

• Jan 20, 2019

• #2

Start by contacting the registrar and provide some proof of having bought that domain (email records, payment records).

 

Corydoras007

Regular Member

Sep 17, 2012

495

91

• Jan 20, 2019
• Thread Starter Thread Starter

• #3

Thanks. I will relay this info.

From my understanding though, the webdev moved the domain to a different registrar.

Maybe contact the original registrar anyway?

 

illuminateme

Power Member

Feb 24, 2016

774

369

• Jan 20, 2019

• #4

consider lawyering up or at least check out those lawyer subscriptions, show 'em you mean business. i wouldn't leave anything up to chance if it's a brand worth protecting

 

jazzc

Elite Member

Jan 27, 2009

2,964

14,717

• Jan 20, 2019

• #5

Corydoras007 said:

Maybe contact the original registrar anyway?

Click to expand...

Nothing to lose as a first step, although if it's moved things can get much harder.

 

Corydoras007

Regular Member

Sep 17, 2012

495

91

• Jan 20, 2019
• Thread Starter Thread Starter

• #6

illuminateme said:

consider lawyering up or at least check out those lawyer subscriptions, show 'em you mean business. i wouldn't leave anything up to chance if it's a brand worth protecting

Click to expand...

Already in the process. WebDev is not budging. I think this will actually go to court as the webdev is also lawyering up.

 

illuminateme

Power Member

Feb 24, 2016

774

369

• Jan 20, 2019

• #7

Best of luck, and i hope you have the name trademarked in the countries you're operating in and the bad dev is operating in, it would likely give you another way to regain the domain...

in case it hasn't been done yet, get into the google search console and start redirecting stuff to your temp. domain for now if it's still accessible. same for bing admin

 

illuminateme

Power Member

Feb 24, 2016

774

369

• Jan 20, 2019

• #8

oh yeah, pick your battles, if they are lawyering up as well that usually mean they know what they want.... consider the costs of fighting it legally (including lost business) vs just negotiating....

you can make them pay some other way later

 

davids355

Super Moderator

Moderator

Executive VIP

Jr. VIP

Apr 25, 2011

19,849

28,315

• Jan 20, 2019

• #9

jazzc said:

Start by contacting the registrar and provide some proof of having bought that domain (email records, payment records).

Click to expand...

I have done this successfully in the past - if the domain is registered to your friend AND they have exhausted all reasonable efforts to reclaim it from the domain admin.

Thread moved.

 

Rafael Marques

Junior Member

Aug 19, 2018

170

69

• Jan 20, 2019

• #10

I really hate that kind of "professional"

Wish you luck bro!

I know that for a .com.br it would be kind of easy to get back the domain...

 

Corydoras007

Regular Member

Sep 17, 2012

495

91

• Jan 21, 2019
• Thread Starter Thread Starter

• #11

Rafael Marques said:

I really hate that kind of "professional"

Wish you luck bro!

I know that for a .com.br it would be kind of easy to get back the domain...

Click to expand...

Thanks but how is a .com.br easy to get? Any different from a TLD or ccTLD ?

 

J

jack121400

Junior Member

Apr 22, 2010

103

17

• Jan 21, 2019

• #12

you are probably going to lose the website content unless they can figure something out. You can contact the domain registrar to deal with the domain.