Since 2001 when .maori.nz was introduced there have been at least 34 cases of cyber squatting that i am personally aware of. The biggest culprit bulk registered a number of tribal names the second .maori.nz was introduced, then put them up for sale often at 100 times the original price. We the Maori Internet Society went to the media and exposed this guy who ended up offering all of the domain names back the rightful owners.
There have been other examples on a much smaller scale especially after the launch of Maori TV. None were successful in making a profit that i am aware of.
This month with the public release of Google Aotearoa another cyber squatter:
Marcus Lowe
51 Goodall St
Auckland
+64 21 2883999
marcus.lowe@xtra.co.nz
registered “google.maori.nz” and then tried to unsuccessfully re sell it on TradeMe.
The best advise is to not deal with cyber squaters. If your tribal or ither inportanat name has been registered by a cyber squatter, don’t purchase it, seek advise from recognised Internet experts.
If you purchase any domains of these people you encourage them to be more pro active in their deceitful business.
I would also strongly urge anyone with an interest in google.maori.nz to reconsider as Google is a Trademark, something Marcus obviously realised when he put a no reserve on the domain name sale at TradeMe.
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