Top stories: Dead people get domain names

Four famous people got their domains posthumously in 2019.

Some of the most popular stories on Domain Name Wire are about famous people. In 2019, four famous people got control of key domain names posthumously. (OK, so really it was their heirs that got the domains.)

In early 2018, Prince’s estate became the owner of Prince.com. The estate had sued Domain Capital over the domain name and Domain Capital countersued for reverse domain name hijacking. The parties settled in 2019, and part of that settlement was to transfer the domain.

Michael Jackson’s estate got control of the domain KingofPop.com in 2019 as well. It sued Gourmet Gift Baskets in 2016, claiming its use of the domain and brand for selling popcorn was infringement. The parties settled, but apparently the estate gave the gift basket company time to transition to a new domain and brand.

To other famous dead people got their domains through UDRP.

First, a company called Escobar Inc. won the domain name PabloEscobar.com. The company is apparently run by some of the late drug kingpin’s relatives.

Second, The Steve Jobs Archive, LLC won the domain name SteveJobs.com (check to see if transferred)