Thursday, December 29th 2011

The GoDaddy Boycott: It Worked

Dec 29th, 2011 21:18 Discuss (26 Comments)

The GoDaddy boycott over their support of the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) legislation, which took effect today, appears to have worked. The initial fallout over GoDaddy's support for it, resulted in a furious backpedal and then a bit of dirty tricks to stop customers leaving. However, this backpedal stopped short of actually criticising it. The boycott, called by a user on Reddit and aided by Jimmy Wales of Wikipedia, appears to have focused GoDaddy's mind on what's right and what's wrong. They have finally given us that criticism of SOPA that they should have made in the first place, as CEO Warren Adelman, said in this statement:

We have observed a spike in domain name transfers, which are running above normal rates and which we attribute to GoDaddy's prior support for SOPA, which was reversed. GoDaddy opposes SOPA because the legislation has not fulfilled its basic requirement to build a consensus among stake-holders in the technology and Internet communities. Our company regrets the loss of any of our customers, who remain our highest priority, and we hope to repair those relationships and win back their business over time.

Yes, so there you have it, they've 'changed their mind' simply because they've lost customers, not really because they've seen the error of their ways. Eating so much humble pie must have been quite humiliating for them. Now, contrast this with their initial statement supporting SOPA:

This bill cannot reasonably be equated with censorship. This bill promotes action pursuant to preexisting criminal and civil laws. Not only is there no First Amendment concern, but the notion that we should turn a blind eye to criminal conduct because other countries may take oppressive steps in response is an affront to the very fabric of this nation.

Quite a U-turn, isn't it? This is another fine example of the power of the internet, which companies ignore at their own peril.

There's lots more detail on this story over at c|net.

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26 Comments on The GoDaddy Boycott: It Worked

DannibusX

They should have never supported SOPA in the first place.

STCNE

Nah, they still support it. They've only learned not to openly support it.

DonInKansas

This makes them look even worse for flip flopping. Stick to your guns, you pansies.

qubit

Overclocked quantum bit

STCNENah, they still support it. They've only learned not to openly support it.

Exactly. Makes you wonder what behind the scenes backroom deals they've made with the media cartels, doesn't it? Believe me, that won't change. The only fix in my book, is for all of their customers to leave them and kill the company. It's quite obviously been infiltrated by Big Media and is now corrupt right down to the core. Having them around now is like a cancer, as the corruption will spread. Damn, I should have said this in the article...

v12dock

Block Caption of Rainey Street

I stop registering my domains with GoDaddy

INSTG8R

Vanguard Beta Tester

WOW what load of crap that is. This is the kind of company that needs to go under before this SOPA nonsense gets any further. Because it is companies like this that are obviously willing to just "sell out" there customers....

newtekie1

Semi-Retired Folder

With GoDaddy's "We'll wipe your domain name records if just one person complains about the content of your site" policy, who needs SOPA?

Seriously, people should boycott GoDaddy because they are a terrible company, regardless of their support or not of SOPA.

Deadlyraver

I just want SOPA gone, it has already done some damage.

qubit

Overclocked quantum bit

newtekie1With GoDaddy's "We'll wipe your domain name records if just one person complains about the content of your site" policy, who needs SOPA?

Seriously, people should boycott GoDaddy because they are a terrible company, regardless of their support or not of SOPA.

What a terrible f* policy. Makes for a double wammy of boycott, doesn't it? :shadedshu

#10

Ahhzz

Eh, F them.

#11

theubersmurf

Destructoid used to be hosted by GoDaddy, but they've released a press release saying they're moving to another provider.

#12

newtekie1

Semi-Retired Folder

qubitWhat a terrible f* policy. Makes for a double wammy of boycott, doesn't it? :shadedshu

Yep, and the fact that they blatently violated ICANN rules means they should get slapped around a little in court, and IMO loose their ability to register any new domains with ICANN, but we all know that won't happen...

#13

burtram

I transferred my domain to namecheap the other day, I've seen how shady godaddy can be (a friend had their domain expire, and when they went to renew, godaddy sold it to a "third party" whom sold it back to her for over $400, she had to pay at the time, since it was a work portfolio site). Plus, namecheap gave me another year on top of my current time for free.

#14

Fitseries3

Eleet Hardware Junkie

that reminds me... i need to move my site off of their hosting and on to a better host... any suggestions?

#15

all of this internet censorship is telltale signs of the US ratcheting up efforts along with the proposed legislation for martial law to turn the US into a fascist police state. I am pissed

#16

DaC

I bought a 3-years domain with them a couple of months ago... how can request my money back and move my domain to somewhere else..... although it's only knew by me and a couple of people, but anyway.... I don't want business with a company like that.....

#17

qubit

Overclocked quantum bit

DaCI bought a 3-years domain with them a couple of months ago... how can request my money back and move my domain to somewhere else..... although it's only knew by me and a couple of people, but anyway.... I don't want business with a company like that.....

I don't blame you. Simply choose which company you want to transfer to and look at their website for help, or give them a call - believe me, they're all falling over themselves to help you out!

#18

DaC

qubitI don't blame you. Simply choose which company you want to transfer to and look at their website for help, or give them a call - believe me, they're all falling over themselves to help you out!

Yeah... I'll take a look at that early next year..... godaddy is the only one I know even now and prices seemed pretty fair to me.... but I'll search a little... I see some people talking about namecheap...

#19

FordGT90Concept

"I go fast!1!11!1!"

burtramI transferred my domain to namecheap the other day, I've seen how shady godaddy can be (a friend had their domain expire, and when they went to renew, godaddy sold it to a "third party" whom sold it back to her for over $400, she had to pay at the time, since it was a work portfolio site). Plus, namecheap gave me another year on top of my current time for free.

Any DNS provider that does that doesn't deserve any business. The "third party" is always them or someone affiliated with them and they base the "value" on the traffic. It's where they rake in the big cash and it is little more than a scam.

#20

qubit

Overclocked quantum bit

Fxall of this internet censorship is telltale signs of the US ratcheting up efforts along with the proposed legislation for martial law to turn the US into a fascist police state. I am pissed

Yup, absolutely. The price of freedom is eternal vigilance and it looks like our 'free' and 'open' western countries are turning into the dictatorships they've recenty been toppling. Anyway, let's not stray into politics too much here. If you would like to start a proper conversation about this, then please start a thread over at GN and link back to it here, then we'll all pile in. :)

FordGT90ConceptAny DNS provider that does that doesn't deserve any business. The "third party" is always them or someone affiliated with them and they base the "value" on the traffic. It's where they rake in the big cash and it is little more than a scam.

This shit has to be illegal. I'm sure if that victim got it properly investigated (requires money :rolleyes: ) she'd get all her money back and they'd be up for criminal charges.

#21

newtekie1

Semi-Retired Folder

Fitseries3that reminds me... i need to move my site off of their hosting and on to a better host... any suggestions?

I've had good experiences with both BlueHost and HostGator. I'd probably recommend BlueHost over HostGator though, simply because their tech support has been very knowledgeable the few times I've had to talk to them.

qubitThis shit has to be illegal. I'm sure if that victim got it properly investigated (requires money :rolleyes: ) she'd get all her money back and they'd be up for criminal charges.

Unfortunately it's not. If you don't keep your domain registered it is just like the bank foreclosing on your home. They can sell it to someone else, and if you really really want it back, the person that bought it can sell it to you at whatever price they want.

#22

Nyte

qubitYup, absolutely. The price of freedom is eternal vigilance and it looks like our 'free' and 'open' western countries are turning into the dictatorships they've recenty been toppling. Anyway, let's not stray into politics too much here. If you would like to start a proper conversation about this, then please start a thread over at GN and link back to it here, then we'll all pile in. :)

This shit has to be illegal. I'm sure if that victim got it properly investigated (requires money :rolleyes: ) she'd get all her money back and they'd be up for criminal charges.

Easy there Mr. Wing Commander.

#23

qubit

Overclocked quantum bit

newtekie1Unfortunately it's not. If you don't keep your domain registered it is just like the bank foreclosing on your home. They can sell it to someone else, and if you really really want it back, the person that bought it can sell it to you at whatever price they want.

Sure, you have to keep your registration up to date (ie pay them) to avoid losing it, but the bit to me that seems illegal is that the person/company buying up those expired domains is part of or affiliated with GoDaddy and then flogging it back to you for an extortionate sum. Isn't it?

#24

newtekie1

Semi-Retired Folder

qubitSure, you have to keep your registration up to date (ie pay them) to avoid losing it, but the bit to me that seems illegal is that the person/company buying up those expired domains is part of or affiliated with GoDaddy and then flogging it back to you for an extortionate sum. Isn't it?

Nope, banks often sell foreclosed homes to companies they are associated with. Honestly, I don't see GoDaddy at any fault in this situation. The person should have kept their domain up to date, and GoDaddy gives plenty of warning it is going to expire. I just recently had a domain with them that I didn't want anymore because the company went out of business and GoDaddy sent me an email 6 months before it expired, 1 month before it expired, 2 weeks before, and 1 week before. So if it expires it is no ones fault but your own.

#25

cdawall

where the hell are my stars

Fitseries3that reminds me... i need to move my site off of their hosting and on to a better host... any suggestions?

hostgator TX based ;)

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The GoDaddy Boycott: It Worked

26 Comments on The GoDaddy Boycott: It Worked

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