система.com - How much?

[dnnames]

Hello guys,

Looking for an appraisal for the domain система.com. This is a russian domain which means "system". There is actually a site called [url=http://www.sistema.ru] and I was wondering whether I should approach them to see whether they would like to purchase the domain. It seems like a business/stocks related website. If I do, how much should I ask for the domain? I wonder whether there are any copyright issues.

Also just generally, how much do you think the domain is worth for a reseller as well as an end user.

Thanks

[clipper]

Looks like a private equity or holdings company from their news releases:

Sistema is the largest diversified consumer services corporation in Russia and the CIS. Since its founding in 1993, Sistema has been growing a portfolio of market leading businesses in the consumer ...

SISTEMA CONSOLIDATES ITS OWNERSHIP OF DALCOMBANK

SISTEMA

Could be a trademark, but if generic I would quietly hold onto it and ensure that any content on it doesn't conflict with their primary business. I'd put up some B2B/web hosting services or a search engine or something.

Personally, I wouldn't approach them; others may disagree, but even if there's no TM and it's generic (as it appears, but I don't know where to look for Russian TMs), you might be putting yourself at risk of a bad WIPO decision. When IDNs become the norm, they'll want it.

[dnnames]

It seems to be a generic keyword. I just received an offer via email of mid $xxx for the domain, and I am torn as to whether to sell or to wait for the long term potential offer from this company's owners or another end user. The offer seems to be from a domain investor.

Anybody else have any thoughts on this?

[bwhhisc]

Originally Posted by dnnames

It seems to be a generic keyword. I just received an offer via email of mid $xxx for the domain, and I am torn as to whether to sell or to wait for the long term potential offer from this company's owners or another end user. The offer seems to be from a domain investor.
Anybody else have any thoughts on this?

I would certainly wait if its generic. For Russian IDNs the wait is the forseeable future, with already some decent traffic to good names. What is system.com in ASCII worth? Figure some % of that for the long haul value.

[dnnames]

OK thanks guys. Do you think that mid xxx is a good offer for the domain currently though?

[bwhhisc]

Originally Posted by dnnames

OK thanks guys. Do you think that mid xxx is a good offer for the domain currently though?

I checked the word in the not-always-correct-or-trustworthy-but-sometimes-good logosdictionary.org. It gives this term as generic Russian to mean "machine". The bid for $500 is OK, but not spectacular for a good generic Russian IDN. You can check idntools.net and compare other sales and terms you think are as good.

BTW- Does this word get any traffic or make any revenue? If so multiply it x 100 and that is where you will be in 3 or 4 years, maybe sooner. I would personally hold out for $1000 in the current market or hold on to it for a few years and go for a much bigger resale potential.

[dnnames]

Thanks for the suggestions bwhhisc. I'll check the site you have provided for information.

The domain doesn't really get much traffic or revenue, so its not very useful in that respect. That might change though as you have said. I think I will end up holding the domain for the long run.