Alberto
BrandBucket Sold Me a Premium Domain but Offered No Meaningful Help When It Was Suspended
I purchased the premium domain VINE.LY through BrandBucket. The name seemed perfect for a wine, food, music, and culture publication. What I did not adequately understand was that a .LY domain remains subject to LIBYAN GOV and the authority of SHARIA LAW. In September 2019, the registry suspended VINE.LY because the website included content about wine and alcohol. The registry informed me in writing that promoting alcohol was illegal under Libyan law and contrary to its community standards. By that point, I had invested in the premium domain, branding, trademark work, website development, content, marketing, and search visibility. I estimated my company’s total loss at approximately $60,000. Even today, I am still paying annual fees for the right to supposedly “own” this domain, despite being unable to use it for the business it was purchased and developed for. If I stop paying, I risk losing the domain entirely. If I continue paying, I am paying to retain an asset whose permitted use is controlled by a foreign registry. I understand that BrandBucket did not operate the Libyan registry. However, BrandBucket brokered and profited from the sale of this premium domain. In my opinion, the serious restrictions and jurisdictional risks associated with .LY domains should have been clearly and prominently disclosed before the purchase. I repeatedly contacted BrandBucket seeking help and access to its legal team. My calls and emails went unanswered for long periods. I eventually received brief acknowledgments from a transfer agent, but no meaningful explanation, resolution, compensation, or physical address for the company’s legal department. As a matter a fact even after I informed BrandBucket about what happened to VINE.LY, I continued to see the company advertise and promote .LY domains as potential brands for cannabis, alcohol, and intimate or adult-oriented businesses, without clearly warning buyers that these uses could violate Libyan registry rules. If you are considering purchasing a premium country-code domain through BrandBucket, do your own legal research first. Ask who ultimately controls the domain, which country’s laws apply, what content can result in suspension, and what assistance the broker will provide if the registry removes it. A clever domain name ending in “-ly” may look appealing, but it can become a very expensive mistake.
Response from BrandBucketSep 20, 2026
Dear Mr. DeQuay, We’re sorry to hear about your experience with VINE.LY and understand why having a domain suspended after investing significant time and money into a business would be extremely frustrating. We also understand your concern about the ongoing costs associated with maintaining a domain that can no longer be used as originally intended. There are, however, a few important facts we would like to clarify. You purchased the domain from BrandBucket in 2018, and the .LY registry suspended it in 2019. BrandBucket does not control the .LY registry or determine the rules governing .LY domains. More importantly, the potential restrictions associated with .LY were discussed with you before your purchase. In fact, our sales representative proactively informed you about the issue and advised you to conduct your own legal due diligence regarding your intended use of the domain. She specifically explained that BrandBucket could not determine how a domain would ultimately be used and that you should consult legal counsel regarding your particular business and location. After the domain was suspended, you contacted BrandBucket about relisting the domain for sale, and we provided instructions for doing so. Our records do not show that you requested legal assistance from BrandBucket or asked to speak with our legal team regarding the suspension. For that reason, we cannot substantiate the characterization that you requested legal help and that your requests went unanswered. We also understand that you are currently operating your business under the corresponding .COM domain. We recognize that changing domains can involve expense and disruption, and we do not minimize your frustration with the situation. However, this is relevant context to the current status of your business and the suggestion that the suspension left you without a domain through which to operate. Country-code domains are subject to the policies and laws of the jurisdictions in which their registries operate, and we encourage buyers to perform appropriate legal and regulatory due diligence for their intended use before purchasing any domain. We regret that your experience with VINE.LY ultimately had such serious consequences for your business. At the same time, we believe it is important that the record reflect that the potential .LY restrictions were discussed with you before your purchase, that you were advised to seek independent legal counsel regarding your specific intended use, and that BrandBucket did not control the subsequent registry suspension.