Al Gore Wants My Domains ClimateProject.com

[trader]

Those who want to give discounts or feel sympathy to non-profits likely do not realize most everything about them is similar to big profitable corporations (except their IRS tax filing status).

Nonprofit charitable organizations typically pay their staff, execs and officers very well, with very good perks and benefits.

For example, on a TV show a few yrs ago it was revealed how the Girl Scouts pay their hundreds of local scoutmasters around the nation well over 100k a year, and how the local chapters have built costly upscale office buildings, etc. But the local scoutmasters do little real work as the real work is done by all the moms and girls working free to sell girl scout cookies and other fundraising activities.

Al Gore and his group are very wealthy. Assuming it is not a potential trademark issue if I sold them that name I would charge them even more than someone else, certainly not less.

p.s. I would also make a small website about the subject and run ppc ads on it and possibly even suggest to Al Gore they pay for a link. That assumes you did not reg the name because you heard about that project. However, if you did reg it due to that then you should sell them the name at a low cost, maybe even give it to them if they can win a Wipo case due to first use.

[aclass]

Originally Posted by namestrands

Selling it and donating part of the money, would appear futile if they are to spend that donation on PPC advertising and other expenses instead of acutally giving it to the people who need it.

I do understand that only $0.15c in every dollar we donate gets to its cause.

I have made a decision not to sell; regardless of cost. The decision was based purely on what I perceive to be the right thing to do given the circumstances. However I will ensure that they are no longer parked and for the moment they will redirect to The Climate Project homepage.

I believe that either way it is a case of "damned if you do, damned if you dont"

I would just put a splash page telling that the address of the project is the .org with a link to it. This way they will still keep the traffic and you will keep the domains and tell people where to go next time.

[acronym007]

Al Gore's goals and values are and have never been great. The guy is a joke, the inventor of the internet, come on now. No one believed he invented the internet so now he wants everyone to think he invented gloabal warming. LOL. For real, he's a celebrirty that is like most celebs he wants attention and fame. Has anyone heard of global warming before Gore mentioned it? I know I have and I'm sorry Gore it looks like you missed the global warming boat too.

[namestrands]

Originally Posted by trader

That assumes you did not reg the name because you heard about that project. However, if you did reg it due to that then you should sell them the name at a low cost, maybe even give it to them if they can win a Wipo case due to first use.

I have owned for 2 years

[copper]

Humm...
How about letting them use it as lease for free with some conditions such as...

Have them find out if there'll be any tax benefits for you.
Have link on the bottom of the page mentioning your URL.

[SouthernTn]

i think the appraisal idea and contacting them and saying i would like something close to this is the best idea. I wouldnt give it away for free though, not this type of domain, nope

[trader]

Originally Posted by namestrands

I have owned for 2 years

How long you have owned it is not as relevant as the question on how long Al Gore has been using that term? Does his use predate your registration? Perhaps it is not an issue.

P.S. Strangely, the dot-org site seems to be sending something related to spyware according to one of my security programs which automatically blocks viewing the page.

[H2FC]

Originally Posted by namestrands

I have made a decision not to sell; regardless of cost. The decision was based purely on what I perceive to be the right thing to do given the circumstances. However I will ensure that they are no longer parked and for the moment they will redirect to The Climate Project homepage.

I believe that either way it is a case of "damned if you do, damned if you dont"

I think you have made the right decision especially since you have decided to redirect the traffic to their homepage. Its the right thing to do in my opinion because I feel its a very worthy cause. Many people don't realize it now but this global warming thing is not going away, in fact its going to mushroom into something much, much bigger. There is no stopping it and as this climate project grows, which it surely will, the dotcom version of the name will become even more valuable later on, unless of course, the Al Gore group happens to start using some other net address for this arm of their campaign.

As for the talk about Al Gore getting rich from global warming, I think its just the opposite. I've read where he used much of his own money to keep his campaign going....especially in the early years. I also read where every penny he receives goes toward bringing the global warming threat to the worlds' attention. I don't think he's making money on it, I think he strongly believes in what he's preaching and he's doing it because he feels its the right thing to do.....and I for one, agree with him 100%.

[JuniperPark]

Sell quick --

Record cold, snow and storms along the entire Pacific coast from Canada to Mexico already this year, central USA getting it's 3rd massive winter storm, ice flows in Canada growing southward at a record rate, trapping boats in the process, 2006 was the first hurricane season in many years with ZERO hurricanes coming ashore...

Al Gore's Global Warming myth has been thorughly debunked.

I gotta go find a heater - it's 30 in San Diego, far, far colder than normal.

[hugegrowth]

If I didn't know the background you provided, and since the domains really have no obvious commercial appeal, I would have said 1k max per domain would be reasonable.

if they appraise at more, you could donate the domains as a charitable donation and get a receipt to use for your taxes. It would be a win - win if they are a charity like you say. good luck

[whitebark]

If these were my domains I would ask for what I paid for them and nothing more beyond a permanent link from their existing website(s).

It might cost you a bit now in $'s but it could reap you more later. Think of the good press - by them and what you can create on your own through press releases etc.

And for the usual suspects yelling - there is no global warming - your own hero president is about to adopt a whole new approach to global warming. Even the man in the pocket of big oil is now on side.

[Creature]

I doubt Al Gore is working at a lower rate or donating his free time to the Climate Project. The same for all those at his office. I understand that there are billions of $'s going in to the Climate Project and since your domain will probably be the face of it........no discount imo. If you really want to give them the domain for a knock down price, then how about they give you a job at the Climate Project. Sorry if all that sounds a bit harsh, but as you want to be so generous, perhaps they should be too. Creature.

[namestrands]

I truly appreciate all your comments, it is a testament to the vast spectrum of individuals from all over the world that use this board.

Your comments and suggestions are always an inspiration to me, I feel as if I know you all like work collegues.

I would love sit down in a bar with you all and discuss the issues of the world, I am sure it would be a very interesting and educational experience, if I could harness the minds and individualism of each of you we would be able to change the world.

DNF is like its own global village, and it does have its fair share of village idiots (aka Cooldomain).

The best suggestion I have heard so far is that I sell the domains and with the revenue I throw a DNF party at Hooters.

I have decided not to sell, and it really is a personal choice it is not a selfless act nor is it one of galantry. It is, because it is.

Again, Many Many Thanks for all your comments and suggestions.

[Onward]

Sell. If you are a domainer, it is what you regged the name for unless you were planning to develop.

Basically you have the dream enduser with skeletons knocking at your door...those skeletons they are hoping are your conscience (sp?).

If your roots are as a domainer...and you still try to do the right thing... 5k for the pair is a win win,

my 2 cents.

[Terminator]

If Namestrands decides to not sell, that of course is his choice.

From what I read on this Forum, there are many of you that take these domain inquiries WAY to personal for whatever reason, whether it be politics or what have you, we need to remind ourselves that were in this business to make money, to provide a better life for ourselves and family, for those who have already achieved their wealth, by all means donate.

Originally Posted by whitebark

If these were my domains I would ask for what I paid for them and nothing more beyond a permanent link from their existing website(s)

From a business standpoint, this is complete nonsense to say the least.

[Duckinla]

Namestrands, Please do yourself a favor and try to think 3 years into the future. These could be very big and very high traffic sites. If you had the chance to sell wikipedia 7 years ago, knowing what you know now, what would you have wanted other than cash?

Possibly: Links and free advertising could prove to be more valuable than cash as whitebark said. (not one link, but many in return for a generous price).
Another possibility (if you could get away with it) would be to lease them the domains for 2-5 years at a very generous price. You could defer the selling decision and possibly have control of a very big asset in 5 years. Even if you just got the residual traffic when the project ended (assuming it would end) that could be worth more than the 10-20K you might sell for now.

Recently a land owner in Arizona was approached for his land as the place for the new Arizona Cardinals stadium. Rather than sell the land, he did something clever and far-thinking. He gave them the land for free in return for the rights to run the parking lot. Now he and his family will make huge cash flow selling parking spaces, food etc at the ball games. Consider if you owned a banner add at the bottom of each page and you could use them or lease them as you see fit. That could be worth a whole lot of money.

[Bender]

Recently a land owner in Arizona was approached for his land as the place for the new Arizona Cardinals stadium. Rather than sell the land, he did something clever and far-thinking. He gave them the land for free in return for the rights to run the parking lot. Now he and his family will make huge cash flow selling parking spaces, food etc at the ball games.

that is one smart land owner.

[Raider]

Originally Posted by Duckinla

Recently a land owner in Arizona was approached for his land as the place for the new Arizona Cardinals stadium. Rather than sell the land, he did something clever and far-thinking. He gave them the land for free in return for the rights to run the parking lot. Now he and his family will make huge cash flow selling parking spaces, food etc at the ball games. Consider if you owned a banner add at the bottom of each page and you could use them or lease them as you see fit. That could be worth a whole lot of money.

I can see where your going with this, but the land owner bet on a sure thing, The Cardinals is the only Pro football team in AZ and usually sells out every home game, climateproject is in its infancy and could flop at anytime, far from a sure thing.

[Duckinla]

But it would solve his (unnecessary) moral delima, yes?

[Raider]

Originally Posted by Duckinla

But it would solve his (unnecessary) moral delima, yes?

Yes, + your right about it being "unnecessary"