I know it was my fault because I hesitated in renewing, but I thought there was a grace period after it expired where I could renew. Apparently the grace period started before the expiration. Anyway, about 5 minutes after it expired, someone grabbed it, presumably using the 5 days free feature that registrars. Now when I go to the site, I see a search screen and an email link to get it back. I assume that I would have to pay a considerable amount to get it back. I consider this to be blackmail, so the question is what to do?
Any suggestions?

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Time flies like an arrow.
Fruit flies like a banana.

Your only option is a claim through ICANN, I think. Whether or not doing this would be cheaper than ponying up, I can't say.

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And you, to whom adversity has dealt the final blow
With smiling [faces] lyin' to ye' everywhere ye' go
Turn to, and put out all your strength of arm and heart and brain
And like the Mary Ellen Carter, rise again.

Mine was renewed automatically even though it says it's not automatic. No helpful advice but I sure wouldn't play their game unless it's ebay.com or something. I'd get something similar and move on. It's domain camping or domain extortion. Sounds like one of those 'get rich from the internet' things.

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You're a coward and a liar and a thOOF - Bart Sibrel

That's what I'd do. Expecially if they have a 5-day-free trial. Set up a new, similar one. Maybe even point it out to them. "Oh, no thanks, you can have it. Best of luck to you!" type letter.

Then wait. If they're using the free trial, chances are they'll see you're not going to play their game and they'll give it back up. Worst case scenario, you end up with a different domain, but you make those you-know-what's have to pay for a domain that you're not interested in buying.

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I'm like one of those idiot savants...well, except for the savant part.
"In order to increase awareness of the homeless, security have been given binoculars."

They won't get a penny from me. I may check in 5 days to see if it is still being held hostage. I just checked the whois database and I'm still listed as the owner. Maybe that doesnt change until the registration is permanent. Meanwhile, I'm leaving the site alone in the hopes that the extortioners decide it isn't profitable. In all likelihood, I'm just going to abandon it (and my email address with it).

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Time flies like an arrow.
Fruit flies like a banana.

I don't know if you can presume this. If it happened immediately, it's probably an automatic program of some sort, and they can camp out forever. Just part of the business plan.

I'm curious to know how much they would charge you to release the name.

Slate features today an article concerning this discussion: Drop-Catching Domains - Big Business

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What brings us together is stronger than what pulls us apart

Thanks for the info. It looks like I will never get my domain name back, although I will try to do after the 5 day grace period is over.

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Time flies like an arrow.
Fruit flies like a banana.

J, little bro says that campers and ISP's are both guilty of this crap. Campers will read lists of domain names about to expire and wait on them to do so.

ISP's that have that search functions that allows you to see if a domain is taken have been proven to use this very same function to automatically register untaken, searched for, domain names under the presumption you will want to buy it. The FBI is looking at that one real hard under their sleazy practices laws.

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In your rush to call everyone "entrenched" or closed-minded or "limited" you fail to note that the "limit" here has a very natural boundary: that point at which the evidence stops. - JayUtah

Science fiction was never meant to be an educational tool. - Editor Amazing Tales

Is there an actual list of about-to-expire domain names, or do they build those lists from whois queries?

I have a domain name that will expire tomorrow. I had to register it for a class project. I'm looking forward to seeing how long it survives.

From what I found investigating my problem, ALL expired domain names are grabbed within seconds of becoming available. There are apparently 2 or 3 rogue registrars that automatically register any expired domain. Post a reply tomorrow to let us know if it actually did get snatched up.

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Time flies like an arrow.
Fruit flies like a banana.

hmm, the whois record still says it's registered to me. Very strange. This is 2008, right?

It's 2005. Wait... nevermind. Forgot about relativistic distortion.

been driving fast, have we?

The Municipal Court has me on a first name basis and knows me by sight.

Did you try to access the site? My name is still on the whois record but if you go to the site, you get an ad page.

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Time flies like an arrow.
Fruit flies like a banana.

Only because you're so blue in the face as you arrive, and so red with embarrassment as you leave.

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Relight the Firefly!

"It is quite clear that Occam's razor does not sharpen in your pyramid." (Nicolas)

"Still, a man hears what he wants to hear and disregards the rest." (Paul Simon)