Someone is using our .org domain for porn

[aboutusnow]

We have a .com website for a local fire department with citynamefire.com. The .org counterpart (which we don't own) links to harcore porn. Is there anything we can do?

 

[Deleted member 322971123]

If you have some kind of trademark registered you can discuss with your lawyer and take the control in your hand after completing the legal process. Just my two cent I am not lawyer.

Alternatively,

Buy the .org domain name.

 

[accurate]

We have a .com website for a local fire department with citynamefire.com. The .org counterpart (which we don't own) links to harcore porn. Is there anything we can do?

Wow, that's crazy.

Are people going to the .org and getting confused?

 

[oxhagener]

LOL. Think this site will become even more popular. I think you can just contact the site owners and ask them to move to another domain.

 

[Biggie]

Someone is using our .org domain for porn​

Hi

since you don't own it, then they are not using "your" domain for porn.

maybe take advice of @Furquan, if you have legal means to do so.

imo...

 

[bhartzer]

Someone is using our .org domain for porn​

Hi

since you don't own it, then they are not using "your" domain for porn.

maybe take advice of @Furquan, if you have legal means to do so.

imo...

Agreed, the .org domain name isn't really "your domain". If there is no trademark involved, then I agree that they have that adult content on "your brand", but that's just about it.

The only things that you could do here, not necessarily in order of importance:
- file a UDRP
- wait to see if they renew the domain (I would be placing a backorder on the domain on several sites)
- approach the current owner of the domain to see if they're willing to sell the domain.

 

[base]

How would having a trademark change anything? Same names, different extensions, and separate uses. The fire dept would have to have porn as part of the service being protected by the mark.

Or the porn people would have to offer fire-fighting services along with their other "services".

 

[bhartzer]

>> How would having a trademark change anything?
It would change a LOT. For example, if the trademark was already in place prior to the current .org owner registering or purchasing the domain (perhaps when it expired), then you could show that the registration of the .org or the purchase of the .org domain was done "in bad faith", and a UDRP could be filed. There would be the likelihood of them winning the case if they could show "bad faith" registration or purchasing of the domain.

Proving "bad faith" in registration could potentially be done without a trademark in place, but it does help.

The content of the website doesn't necessarily matter at all.

 

[base]

>> How would having a trademark change anything?
It would change a LOT. For example, if the trademark was already in place prior to the current .org owner registering or purchasing the domain (perhaps when it expired), then you could show that the registration of the .org or the purchase of the .org domain was done "in bad faith", and a UDRP could be filed. There would be the likelihood of them winning the case if they could show "bad faith" registration or purchasing of the domain.

Proving "bad faith" in registration could potentially be done without a trademark in place, but it does help.

The content of the website doesn't necessarily matter at all.

Yes that would have to be proven even before being accepted for a UDRP filing. In the context of the limited info the OP gave, it's tough to say either way. Domains can mean different things to different endusers.

 

[bhartzer]

I agree, it all comes down to "bad faith", first and foremost.

 

[Proved SEO]

You first want to make sure you still own and control your domain name by logging into your domain name registrar account, where you bought the domain name, and making sure your DNS settings are correctly pointing to your web hosting account, where your web pages are located.

Continue and make sure all of your contact information for the domain name is correct. Then change your password for both your domain name account and also your web hosting account. If you can turn on 2FA, do it for both accounts.

If you use Google’s Search Console, and you should be, you can add your ownership to your domain name by adding a TXT record via your domain name account, verifying it, and then checking other relevant information from the console.

And as a last resort, clean your browser’s temporary files and reset your browser’s setting. Also, run a full antivirus scan on your system.