org vs .com

[wamboid]

I've had a problem come up that is easily solved a couple of different ways, but I'd get some opinions. I'm beginning work on a non-profit organizations site. Someone else was working on it, but after 8 months has absolutely no work done other than buying a domain name. That company is upset and won't give up control of the domain name they bought. The organization is named after two long dead individuals and the domain name in question is basically name1name2.org. The organization wants me to buy name1name2.com, since they actually like that better. Someone from the company that owns the .org has threatened them saying that a non-profit can't own a .com and they would report them.

Never heard of that, is it true? I would think the other company would have more legal problems since they are basically squating on a domain name that has nothing to do with them. I had actually suggested they buy both (.com now and .org when available) since it is so cheap. As a last resort, we could always buy name1-name2.org if necessary. Any suggestions?

[tracknut]

I'm always amazed at some of the quibbles that happen in the domain space.

#1 Anybody that has a company/organization/group/whatever and wants a web site, sound buy the domain name *themselves*. Why they have a third-party web developer buy the domain name is beyond me.

#2 The guy with the .org has no clues, that I can see. If he wanted to spend the $8 he could just buy the .com domain and screw the non-profit folks even more, but somehow he's turning this into an argument and "telling Mom" on them

#3 I know of no "mandate" that would not allow a non-profit to use a .com domain. Yes the initial guidance, and what makes the most sense is for them to be in the .org TLD, but I would find it quite humorous to see what happens when they get "reported" (and to whom this report would go).

So I guess I recommend that you tell the actual non-profit to buy their domain, not have you buy it, and to get on with it. Whether they use .org or .com is up to them, they should probably just consider it a learning experience that this other guy is going to sit on the domain they prefer. Heck, all of us would like to have some nifty domains if some other bozo didn't beat us to them. :)

Dave

[wamboid]

Thanks. I was sure this was the case, but just wanted to run it by everyone here before giving any advice. As far as buying it themselves, you wouldn't believe how many people are scared to do this. I just charge extra for it, often using their own credit card for the transaction.

[22Pixels]

get "reported" (and to whom this report would go).

To the internet police of coarse!

I remember being told not to research information found on any other domain name other than .COM because .ORG, .NET and others were unreliable.

I'm glad my generation is growing up with internet experience and won't be so ignorant.

[wamboid]

I'm glad my generation is growing up with internet experience and won't be so ignorant.
Funny you should say that. Is it obvious that everyone envolved with the non-profit I will be doing this for is retired or will be soon?

[webfinity]

There is no problem with a nonprofit using a .com. I actually recommend nonprofits to get both the .com and .org because most people type in .com by instinct.