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TheDomains.com

OnlineNic Settles With Microsoft: Appeals Verizon Decision

March 12, 2009 by Michael Berkens

According to reports, Microsoft Corp. and OnlineNic have reached a settlement in a case where Microsoft accused OnlineNic of registering numerous domain names that infringe Microsoft trademarks.

The Judge of the Microsoft case, Marilyn Hall Patel, of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California signed off Monday on a joint stipulation of dismissal without prejudice that the two companies submitted in February. An attorney for Microsoft said Wednesday that the parties had reached a confidential settlement.

Microsoft filed suit against San Francisco-based OnlineNIC in October.

In December, Verizon Communications received a $33.15 million default judgment against OnlineNIC in a similar case, which Verizon described as the largest cybersquatting judgment ever.

OnlineNIC has moved to set aside the default judgment, arguing that it only became aware of the suit three days before the default judgment was entered.

On Monday, Verizon filed a memorandum in opposition of OnlineNIC’s motion, accusing it engaging in “misrepresentations and gamesmanship” to delay litigation and avoid responsibility for cybersquatting.

On Wednesday of this week, Judge Jeremy Fogel issued an injunction in the Verizon case barring OnlineNIC from transferring assets, destroying documents and transferring any domain names.

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Filed Under: Uncategorized

About Michael Berkens

Michael Berkens, Esq. is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of TheDomains.com. Michael is also the co-founder of Worldwide Media Inc. which sold around 70K domain to Godaddy.com in December 2015 and now owns around 8K domain names . Michael was also one of the 5 Judges selected for the the Verisign 30th Anniversary .Com contest.

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Comments

  1. D says

    March 12, 2009 at 3:45 am

    Hm I have there some domains from Snapnames if that dogcunt Verizon laywer will block me transfers I will find where he lives and shit on his door

  2. Dave Zan says

    April 14, 2009 at 4:36 am

    @D

    While that feeling is understandable, it’s not likely to convince them to let OnlineNIC transfer your domains.

  3. Battlegoose says

    April 15, 2009 at 8:54 am

    May I be the first to suggest a class-action lawsuit against ICANN & OnlineNIC forcing them to reliquish control of the non-disputed domains?
    What they are doing is discriminatory and illegal- they are implying guilt by association and judging innocent people that made use of OnlineNIC guitly as charged!
    I would glady lead the lynch mob, but I am on the other side of the world and so cannot practically help.

  4. MHB says

    April 15, 2009 at 9:04 am

    Battle

    I can’t even get people to cough up $295 to send to the ICA the only group representing domainers, who is going to put up the hundreds of thousands to fund this?

  5. Battlegoose says

    April 15, 2009 at 9:10 am

    So much for the wonderful justice system in America then.
    I hope ICANN at least has free samples of Vaseline for the people they are screwing over.

  6. Ed says

    May 4, 2009 at 11:39 am

    I don’t see any response from ICANN. What do these people do? Do they do anything to protect general public? Now what is going to happen to thousnads of customers of Onlinenic? We can not transfer any domain out from Onlinenic. Shouldn’t ICANN do something?

  7. MHB says

    May 4, 2009 at 12:03 pm

    Ed

    Assuming your domains are not part of the suit, any domains you have at onlineNic domains should be protected.

    If ICANN withdraws OnlineNic’s credentials, their customers will go up for bidding by any interested ICANN accredited registrar.

  8. Cleverdot says

    May 6, 2009 at 11:14 pm

    Cleverdot.com is a top reseller and marketer of China OnlineNIC.

    Cleverdot does not offer phone support. It won’t reply to any support emails regarding unlocking a domain for transfer.

    Also, it rejects transfer requests with no response to domain owner. A direct violation of ICANN.

    ICANN should immediately remove OnlineNIC as a registrar and impart better standards for resellers such as Cleverdot…

  9. Cleverdot says

    May 6, 2009 at 11:24 pm

    And some more information about these characters of unethical composition:

    Cleverdot.com the promoter of ONLINENIC, INC. D/B/A CHINA-CHANNEL.COM

    OnlineNIC’s “front” office in the us: 415-665-6387

    Name: OnlineNIC, Inc.
    Organization: OnlineNIC, Inc.
    Address 1: 351 Embarcadero E.
    City: Oakland
    State: Oakland
    Zip: 94606
    Country: US
    Phone: +1.5107698492
    Fax: +1.5107698492
    Email: kitty@onlinenic.com

  10. Solly says

    May 7, 2009 at 9:43 am

    According to the recent lawsuits (Verizon and Microsoft) and the pending one by Yahoo, China-based OnlineNIC and Cleverdot.com appear to have caused a lot of problems not only with small customers but also with large U.S. corporations.

    For users wanting to transfer a domain to another registrar, OnlineNIC will reject the request. Verisign, ICANN, Cleverdot and some other registrars are aware of OnlineNIC’s practice.

    Cleverdot.com is one of the main promoters of OnlineNIC, so be very careful. Cleverdot is based in Israel, and uses branch offices in U.S., similar to what OnlineNIC does.

    ICANN might remove OnlineNIC imminently as a recognized registrar, which will enable customers to switch registrars.

  11. Domain owner says

    May 11, 2009 at 6:50 am

    Onlinenic is irresponsible. And Verizon is shabby. They take many domain owners hostage. The management of the judge is irrational.

  12. V for says

    May 12, 2009 at 8:31 pm

    ICANN is actually monitoring and replying, yes, replying to domain owners who contact them about domain transfer problems with onlinenic.

    onlinenic (china-channel.com)’s stating transfers are being rejected because of ‘software’ issues is an outright lie. Prognosis negative for onlinenic as a going concern, at least in the U.S.

    ICANN’s response, as of early May 2009:

    “Dear Sir/Madam:

    Thank you for contacting ICANN concerning your transfer issue with OnlineNIC. OnlineNIC is currently involved in a legal dispute. A court order was issued in this case and OnlineNIC has interpreted the court order to mean that it is prohibited from transferring any domains at this time. ICANN is closely monitoring the matter and upon receiving updated information, we will provide that information to you via e-mail. We will continue to work with OnlineNIC representatives to resolve registrant complaints. “

  13. Connie Lindley says

    May 14, 2009 at 3:18 pm

    We have found ourselves caught in the middle of this mess also. I just got off of a lengthy chat with live chat support at onlinenic and in that chat there was no talk of what was really going on only that it was up to the tech people. I found the chat support person “Dustin???” rather testy also. He actually told me to “have a good time” when I said I was going to look into my options.

    ANYWAY! what I really want is truthful information about what is happening and when onlincnic domains are beginning to transfer out again. I also would like to know where to watch for acurate information about what is being done and what, if anything, I can do to help.

    Thanks

  14. Aris says

    May 14, 2009 at 8:11 pm

    I got the same problem. I have being rejected 7 times while trying to transfer out from Online NIC. I think they are Hijacking Domain names……

    They answered me today :
    ————————————————————–
    Thanks for contacting OnlineNIC!

    You have my apology for the inconvenience caused!

    Recently, we are adjusting our transfer programme with the good intention of serving you better. During this period of adjustment, the transfer-out is likely to be affected negatively. However, please understand OnlineNIC, do not block or reject transfer-out on purpose. We are striving as much as possible to fix this issue!

    Thank you much for your understanding!
    ———————————————————

  15. Ross in Iowa says

    May 27, 2009 at 6:23 pm

    ICANN has posted an advisory that OnlineNIC’s failure to transfer Domain Names has been subject of another Court Ruling. I too am stuck with a Domain Name that I cannot get transferred, cannot get errors corrected in the Registry, cannot get the Supposed ‘Partner Company’ to even receive communications. This entire house of cards seems to be a sham, and an international conspiracy of shadow companies for Online Piracy. ChallengeHost and DataNeuron seem to be co-conspirators in this Fraud. We may need an act of Congress to Sieze all Assets of these companies on US Soil, and block them from Ever doing business here again.

  16. MHB says

    May 27, 2009 at 7:34 pm

    Ross

    Did you see this:

    http://www.thedomains.com/2009/05/15/icann-issues-advsiory-to-customers-of-onlineniccom-you-can-transfer-your-domains/

  17. Battlegoose says

    May 28, 2009 at 1:33 am

    My domain has just been transferred from these f*****g criminals. I suggest everyone get onto doing the same thing ASAP before OnlineNIC tries some new shit to screw everyone.
    AND PLEASE WARN EVERYONE THAT YOU CAN NEVER TO DEAL WITH THESE CRIMINALS OR THEIR “PARTNERS”. EVER!

  18. lucky piggy says

    June 30, 2009 at 11:51 am

    ICANN has been no help – they even posted some bulls*** notice that ONLINENIC was now transferring domains. I have been trying to transfer 2 domains (now all 50) since may 20th and it keeps getting rejected. The fact that they are complete liars is the worst part.

    We need an attorney to help us with a class action against the crooks. And Verizon is just as much to blame for this.

  19. MHB says

    August 27, 2009 at 11:26 am

    UPDATE

    The Appeals Court has upheld this judgment against Online Nic:

    http://news.prnewswire.com/DisplayReleaseContent.aspx?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/08-27-2009/0005084108&EDATE=


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