3. The autoresponse system is your system and not some freebie from somewhere on net. Check out these examples.

A. Your own Sales Manager message looks like:

Hi John, thanks for requesting information on our opportunies.

Here is information with our url and our professional looking email addresses

etc.

B. This is what a free autoresponse system looks like:

Hi John, this message is brought to you by

-------------------------------------------------- Joe Blows FREE autoresponse system. We are free and you should click on our link without even reading further. Here is our url www.oururlforyourfreesystemlikethis.com

We have other free items listed here too etc. ----end advertisement for autoresponse company----

Sorry John we forgot about you because free company put their ad up first before we could tell you about our products. Oh, if you missed their ad just check bottom of this message as they have added it again.

Are you sure you don't want to buy something from US? Please, because if you do we can afford our own domain and sales manager system...

Do you get picture as it unfolds more and more. No domain=NO CREDIBILITY!

4. Listservers are going to make 99% of your sales. Listservers allow you to communication to past clients and subscribers ever single day. The cost for a listserver should be around $200 per year and allow you UNLIMITED postings. Again, free listbot type systems will pepper your message with their ads leaving you with little chance of success. And, it makes you look cheap and unprofessional.

Owning your own listserver promotes your domain and YOUR ads, no ifs and or buts!!

But company that I am with won't let me have my own site. Remember that statement? I bet it doesn't make much sense anymore does it? You should be telling that company:

"My domain generates leads and if I feel your products meet MY specifications I may tell me hundreds of leads about site url you gave me, but first they will be directed to my company"

Nothing like being professional and having pride in your business first. At least you know for sure that you will be around in 10, 20 even 30 years, WILL THEY BE??

If you would like to find out about how to get tools you need for success with your own domain just email:george@worldprofit.com with subject: I want my own domain!

A common problem is identifying culprit. In Jan Tallent- Dandridge’s case, for example, only information about perpetrator is:

offers@NameRegister.com Registrant: Dave Web (JTDBIZOPPS-COM-DOM) Buy This Domain 5 Tpagrichnery St ., # 33 Yerevan, Armenia 375010 AM 208.978.3555 208.978.3555 offers@NameRegister.com

Call me skeptical, but somehow I doubt that’s a real name and address. Fortunately, Act has anticipated this problem:

“The owner of a mark may file an in rem civil action against a domain name [an “in rem” proceeding is an action against thing rather than against a defendant - in this context, it means that court can make an order in relation to domain name itself rather than against Dave Web personally such as ordering him to surrender domain name] ... “.

And as for remedies, assuming you are able to identify your particular scumbag, these include injunctions and damages (either actual or, in a case where your individual name is at issue, statutory damages of between $1,000 and $100,000 per domain name).

=> Generic Legal Avenues

Whether or not you can pursue an action under Act, there are a number of legal avenues open to anyone in Jan’s situation (and by that, I mean, someone who is using domain name to point to a site that damages your reputation).

First off, let’s recognize this practice for what it is. Extortion. Pure and simple. It’s a crime. So is criminal defamation. Write a strongly worded cease and desist letter to offender, threatening to report them to District Attorney and/or police and Federal Trade Commission as well as instituting a civil suit. You are more likely to get a result if letter comes from your attorney.

If offender doesn’t comply, report them. As for what action will be taken, your guess is as good as mine but at least you’ve done what you can.

If you have resources to do so, you can also bring civil proceedings against offender on same grounds. The conduct in question is egregious enough that you may well get punitive damages awarded in your favor.

Finally, and I HATE to even suggest this, most cost-effective option of all may be to pay what is demanded. That at least gets domain name back under YOUR control where it belongs. And there’s nothing to stop you turning around and reporting individual in question to DA, police, FTC etc.. In fact, paying over money may be your best chance of identifying perpetrator so you can initiate a criminal prosecution.

Of course, all of this is damage control which is a VERY poor substitute for prevention. So go back to Item 1. and calendar your domain name due dates to avoid getting into this mess in first place.