Google Sours on 'Domain Tasters'

Google aims to stop entrepreneurs from "domain name tasting," the AP reports. The practice exploits a 5-day grace period during which registrants can return a domain for a full refund; meantime, the buyer puts up ads and evaluates whether the site would bring in enough revenue to keep it—the equivalent of intending to return a gown after wearing it once.

"Name tasting" ties up millions of domain names at a time. Google will dampen the profit incentive by excluding those which are repeatedly registered and dropped from its AdSense service. "If Google and Yahoo are not monetizing these types of sites, I think domain tasting as we know it will come to a screeching halt," an expert noted. "The alternative advertising is just not as effective." (More Google stories.)