Reporting fraud to MelbourneIT

BAlfson · #1 (**permalink**) 06-29-2009, 07:04 PM

Can any of the Aussies on here tell me how to get the attention of these folks?

I have searched in vain for a place on thier site for someone to submit a complaint about a domain name that violates trademark and copyright laws. I was ticked off because it was obviously con artists trying to get me to sell them stuff on account.

One of the subsidiaries of Cascio Music Company joined me in submitting a report via email a month ago, but no action has been taken.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

Cheers - Bob

RFCat_vk · #2 (**permalink**) 06-30-2009, 11:14 AM

Hi Bob,
their coporate arm is in the US, the AU arm is for small companies and individuals.
I will get the e-mail address of the US arm for you tomorrow.

We had a similar problem with a mob in HK sending a renewal request to our marketing lady, we just handed the whole box and dice over to our VP in charge of intellectual property. We do manage our own AU domains.

Ian M

Scott_Klassen · #3 (**permalink**) 07-01-2009, 05:08 AM

About the only thing you can do Bob is to retain an attorney in their host country to send a cease and desist letter. Of course when you do this, you have to be willing to take it to court if they ignore the letter, which can be a very expensive proposition.

Simon Shaw · #4 (**permalink**) 07-02-2009, 10:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BAlfson

I have searched in vain for a place on thier site for someone to submit a complaint about a domain name that violates trademark and copyright laws. I was ticked off because it was obviously con artists trying to get me to sell them stuff on account.

What's the domain in question?

If it's a .com.au domain, then they should not be able to register it without a valid ABN. (Australian Business Number).
An ABN is issued to any company paying tax basically. Any domain registered has to be substantially similar to the company name associated with the ABN.

If they have a valid ABN and company name IS similar to the registered domain name, you'll have a hard time fighting it. You would have to show a trademark registered in the countries concerned etc etc.

We had a domain name stolen from us by an unscruplous business partner and because they had our company name registered we were basically stuck until we get a trademark ruling in that country.

With domain names, ownership is 9/10ths of the law. Unless you are Sony or Coca Cola or someone and can afford to send hired goons around with writs.

I get tons of spam from Asia asking me to esnure I register .cn .hk domain names etc because, "Some XYZ company wants to register them soon".

It's basically a modern version of Nigerian spam email and can be safely ignored.
(Especially when some of the domains they mention are ALREADY registered with another company).

BAlfson · #5 (**permalink**) 07-02-2009, 03:17 PM

MelbourneIT seems to be the registrar of choice for this type of criminal. They register a domain name from a fake address in the US and pretend they're an existing US company. Something like CocaColaInc.com so they can pretend they're CocaCola.com. Then, they proceed to "buy" things on credit or with stolen credit cards.

I'll suggest your idea to Cascio, Simon.

Cheers - Bob