* Chinese Domain Name Scam: Shanghai IDC, Gardiner Limited

One Reply to “* Chinese Domain Name Scam: Shanghai IDC, Gardiner Limited”

1. [EDITOR’S NOTE: In the summer of 2025, Clocktower Intern Mark Magyar used artificial intelligence (AI) software to shorten over 100 Clocktower articles by 17%. The shortened articles are included as comments to the original ones. And 17 is the most random number (https://www.giantpeople.com/4497.html) (https://www.clocktowerlaw.com/5919.html).]

   * Chinese Domain Name Scam: Shanghai IDC, Gardiner Limited

   Legitimate or not?

   In the past two weeks, two of Clock Tower Law Group’s clients received email solicitations from a company in China. The company claims a third party (Gardiner Limited) is trying to register certain Chinese domain names, and offers our clients—the trademark owners—the chance to register them first.

   Both clients were suspicious and asked for my help. Is this a legitimate marketing tactic? Or something else? I don’t know. By posting the emails here (edited to remove client names and replacing their domains with “example”), I hope others will find this article and share their input in the comments.

   This email came first:
   Subject: URGENT-Dispute of trademark / China
   From: Jet Yao
   To: [DELETED]

   Dear CEO,

   We are registration service authorized by
   CHINAGOV (THE DEVELOPMENT CENTER OF THE STATE
   COMMISSION OFFICE FOR PUBLIC SECTOR REFORM in
   China. We have something need to confirm with you. We
   formally received an application. One company which called
   ‘Gardiner Limited’ is applying to register followings:

   Internet brand: example

   Domain Names: http://www.example.tw, http://www.example.hk,
   http://www.example.net.cn, http://www.example.org.cn

   After our initial examination, we found that the internet
   brand being applied for is as same as your company’s
   name. These days we are dealing with it, hope to get the
   affirmation from your company. If your company has not
   authorized the aforesaid company to register these, Please
   contact us as soon as possible.

   In addition, we hereby affirm that our time limit for
   dissent application is 15 days. If your company files no
   dissent within the time limit, we will unconditionally
   approve the application submitted by “Gardiner Limited”.

   Best Regards,

   Jet Yao
   ——————————————————————————–
   Shanghai IDC Network Information & Technology Co., Ltd
   ADD:A601, Block 2, ShanghaiWithub White-cat Science Park
   No.641 TianshanRoad ,Shanghai
   Tel:+(86)21 5175 0322
   Fax:+(86)21 5175 0301
   website: http://www.govidc.org.cn

   This email arrived second:

   From: steven [mailto:steven@govidc.com.cn]
   To: [DELETED]
   Subject: URGENT – dispute of network domain name and trademark

   Dear CEO,

   We are registration service authorized by
   CHINAGOV (THE DEVELOPMENT CENTER OF THE STATE
   COMMISSION OFFICE FOR PUBLIC SECTOR REFORM) in
   China. we have something need to confirm with you. We
   formally received an application. One company which called
   ‘Gardiner Limited’ are applying to register “example” as
   internet brand and CN domain names
   “www.example.hk, http://www.example.com.hk, http://www.example.tw,
   http://www.example.com.tw, http://www.example.net.cn, http://www.example.org.cn”
   on Aug. 15, 2007.

   After our initial examination, we found that the internet
   brand applied for registration are as same as your company’s
   name and trademark. These days we are dealing with it, hope
   to get the affirmation from your company. If your company
   has not authorized the aforesaid company to register these,
   Please contact us as soon as possible.

   In addition, we hereby affirm that our time limit for
   dissent application is 15 days. If your company files no
   dissent within the time limit, we will unconditionally
   approve the application submitted by “Gardiner Limited”.

   Best Regards,

   Steven Zhang

   Sponsoring Registrar: Shanghai IDC Co.,Ltd
   Address:Building 2, White-cat Science Park No.641, Tianshan
   Road,Chang ning Section, Shanghai, China

   Tel: +86-21-5175 0338
   +86-21-5175 0321
   Fax: +86-21-5175 0301
   Website: http://www.govidc.org.cn
   E-mail: steven@govidc.com.cn

   I know there are top-level domain names (TLDs) for nearly 200 countries and jurisdictions, each with its own rules for who can register. Many registrars (like GoDaddy) can handle country TLDs.

   Here’s a list of domain name registries worldwide with links to each authority. If you want to register a foreign domain name, first check with your U.S. registrar, then consult this TLD list.

   Reply