Won top domain name for client: Need advice

[Reesa Marchetti]

Hi,

I'm a Webmaster. After a year on back order, a highly desired domain name was registered to me through GoDaddy. I had ordered it on behalf of a client.

I never thought I would get it because the client's company name had been the subject of a lawsuit. Although my client won the rights to the company name, the defendant had registered the domain name (which wasn't mentioned in the lawsuit).

Now that I have the domain name, I'm trying to figure out what to charge my client. I don't want to rip him off, but I feel confident this name is worth $10,000 at a minimum (probably more).

I can tell you it's the name of a well-known entertainer from the 1960s. I don't want to say the actual name because of the previous contention.

So what would you do? I'm really not looking to get rich on this; I just want to be paid for my time and effort. But then I don't want to feel like I'm getting ripped off either.

[cspelts]

You call this person your client - doesn't that mean you registered the domain name for him, which means you should give it to him for a normal mark-up? And by normal mark-up I mean maybe two or three times what you paid. You even say you "ordered it on behalf of a client." If I was your client I would not be happy if I found out you registered it on your own, instead of doing it for me.

Also if the domain is someone's name then don't they or their estate own the rights to it?

In my opinion, if you plan to charge them much more than double what you paid, you better be prepared to lose the client and to face a lawsuit.

[Reesa Marchetti]

Hi CSpelts,

Thanks for your input. I agree, I do not want to charge my client an exhorbitant price. But I didn't explain everything, not wanting to put too much detail into my post.

My client is a senior citizen who knows very little about computers and the Web, let alone domain name registration. I spent a lot of time researching and negotiating on his behalf to get this name. And I will spend more time to link it to the Web site I already created for him.

That said, I would hate to see this domain get taken over by someone else who does not have his best interests in mind. So I'm thinking about adding his name to mine and setting the name up with a dual registrant.

I'm really just trying to figure this out. Right now, I'm leaning toward charging him only for my expenses (back order, transfer and registration fees) and hourly charges — whether I turn it over completely to him or make it a dual registrant setting.

Any further feedback is greatly appreciated!

[cspelts]

I have several clients where I'm the primary contact for the domain - so I don't find that at all unusal. They're the named owner, but I'm the contact. Some clients just prefer to not be involved!

I also think you should definitely charge well for your time and effort!

[Reesa Marchetti]

Cspelts,

A little more about the company name: it's the name of a band in which the famous main member/front man is dead.

Two former members share the trademark to the band's (not the front man's) name. They used to work together but they have split up. Now each one gigs separately, but both use the same band name.

Ahhh, those golden oldies :-)

Also if the domain is someone's name then don't they or their estate own the rights to it?