Network Solutions, a domain name firm that registers internet addresses used in its own searches, said it is doing nothing wrong and in fact prevents domain name scams.
The company said it prevented so-called front running, in which scammers take advantage of a five-day trial period domain names without paying for them.
“This is a customer protection measure to protect customers from frontrunners,” said Susan Wade, spokeswoman for Network Solutions.
The company has attracted negative attention however because it tracks terms entered into its search field and registers them itself before selling them for a higher fee.
Vice president of the company, Jonathan Nevett, said in response: “Due to no fault of registrars, front runners purchase search data from internet service providers and/or registries and then taste those names.
“Some folks may not agree with our approach,” he said, “but we are trying to prevent this malicious activity from impacting our customers.”
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