Domains Using a different TLD than the dot com for the same thing

[Shawn Gossman]

Let's say the DomainYouWant.com is taken and there is a forum for the topic you want to create a forum about already on it.

You register DomainYouWant.net because that is available. Then you create a forum just like the one on the dot com domain.

Do you find this sort of practice to be ethically wrong? Have any of you done this before? Was there any negative backlash over it?

 

[Uncrowned Guard]

I think TLDs matter far less today than they did years ago. Most people aren’t typing URLs anymore; they’re clicking bookmarks, search results, or social links. That said, I’ve never been a fan of grabbing the .net (or anything else) when the .com is already taken by a similar site.

From an SEO standpoint, it’s a nightmare, and from a user standpoint, it creates confusion. Search engines will almost always favor the older .com, so you’re essentially advertising the other site every time someone looks you up.

There’s also a bigger question here: if you can’t find a unique name or identity for your forum, that’s a sign to pause and rethink the concept. Plus, you can run into trademark or copyright issues if the existing site has established branding.

I also don’t see much value in sitting on a .net to redirect traffic. The odds of someone typing the wrong TLD are extremely low, and .com still carries the most legitimacy, especially in a time when users are more cautious about sketchy URLs.

So ethically and practically, I’d avoid building a community on a look‑alike TLD.

 

[Mike30]

I see it unethical, I believe the first forum could send you a letter to stop using it if users get confused between the two sites.
I would not do that. I would find another name, and always looking for the .com 99.99% of the time.