Mike Mann plays along with PETA.
Sex.com investor Mike Mann is playing along with PETA’s request that it get the Sex.com domain name.
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) grabbed some publicity earlier this month when it requested the domain name Sex.com be donated to it instead of auctioned for millions of dollars.
As it turns out, one of Sex.com’s investors — Mike Mann — is a long time vegetarian. He says he’ll accept PETA’s request, but under one condition: The IRS gives him a tax deduction for it:
Mann, a world expert on domain valuation, estimates the Sex.com domain name to be worth $50 million. As long as the IRS agrees to recognize the $50 million tax deductible donation, then Mann will donate his share of to PETA for their charitable works.
Other than getting the IRS to recognize a $50 million tax deduction, there’s one other problem: Mann doesn’t own the entire domain name or the company that owns Sex.com. As we found out yesterday, Mann has sunk more money into Sex.com than any of the other investors, but he is still just a part owner.
Unless his ex-wife gets her hands on it first, of course.
Who has the freakin time to play games?
in order to get an irs deduction you have to provide a bona fide appraisal i seriously doubt it if mann can provide a legitimate 50 million appraisal…however i can see a figure substancially lower than this amount maybe 5-8 million as an irs official write off.in addition more than a controlling interest will be required all parties will have to agree or mann buy the entire domain and control its distiny..talk is cheap
If peta wants it please send a $1mill check to the auction house to get your bidding card. Then you can bid on the name just like everyone else.
Is Michael Mann being honest here? I am still having a hard time figuring out this whole situation. Is he trying to rip people off? I just can’t tell.
Poor PETA. They have no idea that they’re being used for publicity and will never see a dime from this guy.