Well, there was official, money awarded contest for the name of a new web-portal. One criteria was that .com domain for suggested name have to be free during the contest-period. There was several thousands valid suggestions. My suggestion has not choosed, but it was damn good (at least for me), so I was willing to register it for myself in case if I loose. But even before the end of contest, the huge malversation has happened: many domains (suggestions), including mine, were registered in the meantime!!! I have found that my suggestion has been already parked and offered for sale at Sedo.com and the time of registration is 5 days after I have submitted it and 2 days before contest deadline. I have a proof for this - printed web-page after submiting and official confirmation e-mail automatically generated and received from the organisator (a telecomunications company) immediately after submitting. It includes personal data, (suggested) domain name and the time when it was submitted.

My question is: what would you do if you are in my shoes?

Is there ANYTHING that could be done about it?

I'll appreciate any suggestion.

Nothing you can do. First come first served.

if i were in you shoes i would registered that domain back then and recommended it for them :D

to be honest i think they did this to see what taste people has so they register the domain and sell them atleast 2-5X of the registration price or even for thousands.

cant do anything really.

Sounds like a scam, but I think it is legal. I doubt if you can do anything about it.

If you want the domain name, buy it! It's the only way you can get it (I think).

Sounds kinda fishy to me, if the name was good you should of registered it.

Like eSology said, "First Come First Served".

It would be the same as if you saw someone ask whether a domain name was a good one for a particular type of site. If you liked the name and registered it before the person discussing it, then the domain is yours. No scam.

Does the registrant appear to have any connections with the contest holder?

Thank you guys!

virginia, there are dozens of domains (and at the same time dozens of complaintes) and not all are being registered even through the same registrar. I can't prove the connection between them for sure (otherwise I would take some action against the organisator), but it's so obvious that can't be accident.

Anyway, it's obvious that whole thing was my mistake-learning class. :( I will remember it well.

Again, thanks a lot for your replies.