UltraRPM.com (aka MetaPredict) and your domain names

If you've tried registering a domain name in recent days, you'll probably realize what an exciting (frustrating) process it is.

Here's how you'd do it, say a year and a half ago:
* Go to reputed domain registrar
* Search for your domain name
* If its taken, well... search again
* If its available, leave it there. You can always come back a day later and register it. It'll always be there.
* Come back later, register your domain name.
* Peace. You have the domain name you wanted.

Here's how its done now:
* Go to reputed domain registrar
* Search for your domain name
* If its taken, well... search again
* If its available, leave it there. You can always come back a day later and register it. It'll always be there. (At least thats what you think)
* Come back later, and... FIND YOUR NAME HAS BEEN TAKEN BY ONE UltraRpm / MetaPredict based somewhere in Pasadena, California.
* Peace? Nope. You now have to start scouring the web for whats going on, and who are these UltraRpm / MetaPredict guys, and why have they registered your domain.

This exactly is what happened to me on the 8th of January this year.

I happened to be looking for a domain name, and went to godaddy.com to see its available. Found it was available, and thought I'd come back a day later to register it. A day later, it was gone. Taken by UtlraRpm / MetaPredict.

And if you're wondering whats going on, the answer is UtlraRpm / MetaPredict are somehow able to find out what people are searching for, and register it before anyone else can. If its something in demand or something someone desperately needs, they'll let you have it back. Only, for a huge price.

Take my case, when I wrote to them asking them to release my domain, I got a reply asking US$1200 for it. Thankfully I could find an alternative, since my domain had a number in it. Eg: 7 can be Seven or 7. So 7Up can also be SevenUp. I got saved that way. It appears, most others wont.

Anyway, from what I've learned, these guys simply register domain to see it they can make money with them through advertisements, or sell them back at a higher price, in case someone desperately wants them. If you were to visit the UltraRpm / MetaPredict Site, you'll only find a one page site, with a WhoIs search Box, and contact information.

It all appears to be highly automated. Even the replies.

And if you're wondering how to get your domain back, well, I'll do a separate post on that soon.

It is possible to get your domain back, and most have. Including me.

Meantime, I had the most exciting week of my life from the 8th of January, 2008 to the 15th of January, 2008.

On the 15th of January, UtlraRpm / MetaPredict dropped my domain name, and I was able to register it.

And, what did I do to get it back?