Someone or some people appear to be watching to see what new businesses are coming into the Junction, probably by looking at renovation work being done on store fronts. These people are then registering the Internet domain names of new business in various forms.
Then when the new business owner attempts to register the name - it is unavailable to them unless they purchase it from the domain squatter.
One of the most insidious parts of this, is the registering of different variants of the name, making it even harder for the new business and probably the "fair use" possible register to get something even close to their store name.
Although the CIRA Dispute Resolution Policy (.ca) is available it is very expensive for a small business and probably more so than paying the scam price of the domain squatter
A few businesses in the Junction have reported this occurring.
So if you think you want a Junction related domain register it before your plans are known.
Update: 3:55pm
This post has generated 1 telephone call wondering about the issue and three emails from different Junction web companies all thinking they were being referenced in the post - although the blog posted no names.
Just to let everyone know who posts like this occur.. the blog gets emails from many people about issues and or suggestions for posts, usually the blog starts and drafts (currently there now 83 are such drafts) and sits on the idea until further information comes in, and if enough interest or surprising info comes in - the item gets posted, the 1st draft for this post came about about 3 mths ago.
Darian of comfusers.com who was not one of the emailers posted a comment which is good reading, we have moved the 1st pargraph up into the post here...
In regards to your internet squatting post above, it is terrific that this is being mentioned. Though your definition source for the term “Cybersquatting” is not the best, the basic idea is correct. Specifically, a company will in BAD FAITH and with the sole intention of profiting from the purchase the name or brand likeness of another company. This most definitely is cybersquatting and on the low side of ethical business practices. Reputable web design companies do not promote this type of behavior.
