For those who have been following new gTLD projects, I am sad to say that the wonderful dotVinum project for .WINE domain names which was started 3 years ago will soon come to an end. My “partner” is applying for .WINE without me. As he wrote it to me a few days ago: “We have made no contractual commitments to you at any time as you are fully aware”.
According to the journalists and specialists I have spoken to recently, I was told it often happens. But when you want to move forward with no money, you accept to trust those who have it, without signing formal documents.
I decided to put an end to this “partnership”; when it is a one way deal, there is something wrong.
There was a risk and I took it. For 5 months, I accepted to provide a certain number of key figures, information, potentials of the .wine Top-Level Domain, my strategy, my rules ... I even accepted to have them changed for maximum profit ; I found candidates for Premium domain names for hundreds of thousand Euros, I found registrars on the starting blocks ...
The result is that:
- I worked for free;
- They adapted their .WINE application to their strategy, thanks to my help, my knowledge and my information;
- They persuaded me not to seek openings with other interested parties and possible partners;
- They gained time so that they would manage to keep my mouth shut until the opening of the new gTLD application window.
For those who follow my news, I will appreciate your help in these ... difficult circumstances. I am also looking forward finding the advice of a lawyer, to discuss the issue with him and see whether, the company should or could be sued.
I was “failed” (as Henry VIII said ...), and fooled.
Part 2 soon to be published.
