[truth777]

Just high enough to be a total bullsh*t scam, just low enough that it'd be easier and cheaper to pay them instead of sue.

Easier said then done, but if you choose to sue them over this you have my respect.

We NEED laws against dirty dark pattern business practices like this.

[throwawaylinux]

Sue for what?

[ceejayoz]

Bait and switch? I dunno. If retroactive “your domain is now premium, pay up” is legal, it shouldn’t be.

[throwawaylinux]

Contract law is pretty comprehensive and has been forged over centuries by scammers and grifters, I doubt there would be much new here.

This doesn't sound like it's retroactive, they're negotiating a renewal and Google changed their price. Doesn't seem out of the ordinary unless there were some particular terms about pricing and renewals.

Google isn't a charity, they're a greedy non-ethical corporation that is not famous for providing reliable consistent products. I'm surprised this kind of behavior comes as a surprise to anybody in tech.

[ceejayoz]

I mean, if the .com registry said to Google “renewals are $10B for Google.com or we let someone else have the domain”, that would border on extortion. People build brands on these, and it’s odd that you can’t permanently buy one or at least have a predictable cap on price increases.

[throwawaylinux]

> I mean, if the .com registry said to Google “renewals are $10B for Google.com or we let someone else have the domain”, that would border on extortion.

I don't think it would be extortion, it would just be Verisign breaching their agreement with ICANN.

> People build brands on these, and it’s odd that you can’t permanently buy one or at least have a predictable cap on price increases.

I think you could have those things if you use services that are backed with appropriate contracts or regulations. It's more odd that people would build their brand using a company that is not known for providing stable, consistent, long term products and services.

[lupire]

Look up "unconscionable", a tenet of contract law.

A classic example is creating a dependency and then raising the price.

Also look up "antitrust".

[throwawaylinux]

> A classic example is creating a dependency and then raising the price.

Okay let's see your example then. What's a case you are thinking of that is vaguely similar to this that was ruled a breach of contract?

> Also look up "antitrust".

This isn't a constructive argument. I could equally just rebut it by telling you to look up "antitrust", right? What part of antitrust laws would apply here? Surely if you have an idea you can write a sentence or two to explain.

[gtirloni]

Price gouging.

[throwawaylinux]

And in what jurisdiction is "price gouging" considered civil damage?

[kube-system]

Price gouging is a civil offence in quite a few jurisdictions. But this isn't price gouging under those definitions. Those laws concern necessities in times of disaster. Which a domain cash grab is not.

[throwawaylinux]

Right.

[quickthrower2]

Antitrust?