What is a Domain Name?
A domain name is an address on the internet that maps human-readable text (for example, example.com) to technical resources like name servers and IP addresses. Each domain exists within a top-level domain (TLD) such as .com, .net, or one of the hundreds of new gTLDs. Domains carry commercial value, brand value, and evidentiary value because they connect ownership, technical configuration, traffic, and reputation.
Disputes over domain names often hinge on chronology (who owned what and when), intent (registration and use in bad faith), chains of custody (registrar and hosting records), and likelihood of confusion with trademarks.
What Does a Domain Name Expert Witness Do?
As a domain name expert witness, Bill Hartzer analyzes ownership history, technical configuration, and use to address questions central to UDRP/URS, ACPA, and related disputes. He reconstructs timelines from registrar, registry, DNS, and hosting records; interprets WHOIS/RDAP changes; evaluates website content and redirections; and assesses indicators of bad faith or fair use.
Hartzer prepares expert reports and rebuttals, explains the record in plain language, and offers deposition and trial testimony. For additional background, see this primer on his role as a domain name expert witness.
Overview
Bill Hartzer’s domain name work spans technical forensics, ownership research, valuation, and policy. He has investigated thousands of domains and websites, connecting registrant identities, infrastructure, and content to questions of registration, use, and harm. His findings are reproducible and exhibit-driven, with each conclusion tied to specific evidence.
He also advises on domain strategy and risk: acquisition, portfolio management, brand protection, and recovery options. Alongside Hartzer Consulting, he operates DNAccess.com, which provides domain name protection, domain name recovery services, domain name background checks, and domain name consulting services.
At a Glance
With decades in domains and search, Hartzer brings deep experience across legacy and new gTLDs. He has been retained as an expert in numerous legal matters where domain names and websites were central to the dispute.
- Extensive TLD research, including evaluations across legacy and new gTLDs
- Domain background checks offered since 2013 (originating with Verified.Domains)
- Forensic research to identify domain/website owners and related assets
- Expert witness experience in domain-related litigation and arbitration
Expert Services
Reports, Rebuttals, and Testimony
Hartzer prepares expert reports and rebuttals that trace ownership, configuration, and use. He presents registrant changes, DNS histories, hosting changes, and site content evolution in a clear chronology. He provides deposition and trial testimony on registration and use, bad-faith factors, likelihood of confusion, and damages related to diversion or reputation harm.
Ownership & Chain-of-Custody Analysis
He reconstructs registrant history using WHOIS/RDAP, privacy/proxy context, registrar logs when available, and corroborating sources (zone files, web archives, screenshots, security feeds). He documents transfers, pushes, expiration cycles, and drop-catch sequences across registrars and marketplaces.
Technical Configuration Review
Hartzer reviews DNS (A, AAAA, CNAME, NS, MX, TXT), name server changes, redirects, SSL/TLS, and hosting footprints. He correlates technical timelines with content and traffic shifts to separate correlation from causation and to identify signals of bad faith, typosquatting, or traffic diversion.
Recovery, Protection, and Consulting
Through DNAccess.com and Hartzer Consulting, Hartzer supports domain recovery efforts, background checks for acquisitions, portfolio audits, and protection programs (watching services, lock/2FA posture, registrar strategy, and DNS hardening). He provides acquisition guidance and market-aligned valuation context for settlement discussions.
Common Matter Types
Hartzer is frequently retained in matters where domain names and websites play a central evidentiary role.
- UDRP/URS complaints and responses (alleged cybersquatting, bad-faith registration and use)
- ACPA litigation and unfair competition claims
- Typosquatting, traffic diversion, and monetization schemes
- Ownership disputes, stolen domains, and transfer irregularities
- Confusion and brand harm tied to domains, subdomains, and redirects
- Historic use and reputation analysis via archived content and DNS records
Methodology
Hartzer’s methodology is evidence-first and reproducible. Each opinion references specific artifacts so that parties and the court can follow the reasoning step by step.
Data Collection
Sources may include WHOIS/RDAP records, registrar/registry correspondence and logs, DNS zone files and passive DNS, NS/MX histories, SSL transparency, hosting and CDN footprints, marketplace records, escrow artifacts, and web archives/screenshots. He aligns timestamps and time zones across sources.
Verification
He cross-checks ownership signals across independent sources, validates screenshot authenticity and capture dates, and reconciles privacy/proxy records with underlying registrant data when available. He documents gaps and limitations explicitly.
Analysis
He reconstructs the domain timeline, evaluates intent and use, identifies related assets, and assesses likelihood of confusion. He distinguishes natural churn (e.g., expirations and drops) from intentional acquisition and use patterns.
Conclusions
Findings are presented in plain language with cited exhibits, highlighting what the record supports—and what it does not. Demonstratives may include annotated timelines, DNS change maps, and ownership charts.
Credentials
Bill Hartzer has worked in domain names and search since the 1990s. He conducted early TLD research and launched domain background check services in 2013 through Verified.Domains, work that evolved into today’s background and due-diligence offerings. He is known for forensic research that identifies domain and website owners, related infrastructure, and connected assets.
Hartzer has served as an expert witness in numerous cases involving domain names and websites, offering reports, rebuttals, depositions, and testimony. He continues this work through Hartzer Consulting and DNAccess.com.
Engagement Process
Conflict Check & Scope
Engagement begins with conflicts, then questions to be answered, deadlines, and deliverables. Clarity at the start shortens the road to actionable findings.
Evidence & Access
Counsel provides available registrar/registry records, correspondence, discovery materials, and any prior expert work. Hartzer identifies additional artifacts that may exist and how to request them.
Analysis & Draft
He performs ownership, technical, and use analyses and delivers a draft report for review. Feedback ensures the final work product addresses the core issues and aids the trier of fact.
Final Report & Testimony
He finalizes opinions, prepares demonstratives, and provides deposition and trial testimony as needed.
FAQs
Does Hartzer handle valuation?
He provides market-context valuation analysis for settlement and damages context, considering comparables, use, traffic, search value, and brand impact.
What if WHOIS is redacted?
Redaction is common. Hartzer triangulates using historical WHOIS, passive DNS, hosting footprints, archived content, advertising IDs, and related domains to infer ownership and use.
Where can I read more?
See Hartzer’s primer on the role of a domain name expert witness and service information at DNAccess.com.
Contact
Email: [email protected]
Please include case posture, jurisdictions, deadlines, and a short summary of the issues in dispute.
Disclosure: Bill Hartzer is not an attorney. His work focuses on domain name facts, technical analysis, and expert opinions for litigation.