National Association of Realtors goes following GayRealtor.com
Association files arbitration case targeting gay real estate referral site.
The National Association of Realtors has filed a complaint with World Intellectual Property Organization over the domain name GayRealtor.com. [Update 3/8/12: The NAR won the case]
The domain name is owned by gay real estate agent Jeff Hammerberg. Hammerberg runs the web site GayRealEstate.com, which helps connect home buyers and sellers with gay real estate agents.
GayRealtor.com appears to be more of a lead gen site for Hammerberg, as well as linking to his main GayRealEstate.com web site.
Although details of the complaint are not known, this seems like a curious enforcement action for the Association. It’s only the sixth domain arbitration case the group has filed under UDRP over the past twelve years.
I can assume that some people don’t want Hammerberg spreading his message, though. He states that gay buyers and sellers are sometimes discriminated against and “this can drastically reduce your chance of proper representation and getting the best deal on real estate”.
Update: I talked to Hammerberg to get more details. He stated there’s been an ongoing dispute between the NAR and he regarding the domain for 5+ years. He’ll respond to the NAR, and then a year later he’ll get a fresh letter from a different person at the organization.
Update 2: I talked to Hammerberg’s lawyer, Curt Handley. He stated he’s curious how NAR is going to show bad faith, given that they acquiesced for regarding five years.
