The Man Who Owns the Internet

Tefen writes "CNN Money posted this story about Kevin Ham, who has made a fortune gobbling up lapsed domain names and has recently launched a lucrative business partnership with Cameroon, the country which controls the .cm TLD. Since 2000 he has quietly cobbled together a portfolio of some 300,000 domains that, combined with several other ventures, generate an estimated $70 million a year in revenue."

what!?

[Neuropol]

I can't believe you didn't use PWNS in the title of this story! I want my money back ;P !

What?

[spellraiser]

I thought this guy [owneroftheinternet.com] owned the Internet.

Basement

[zedturtle]

Wonder if he's got a Dalek in his basement?

Alternative headline

[Zouden]

"Ham Just As Bad As Spam"

Re:Having a bunch of domains == "owns the Internet

[roger6106]

Having a bunch of domains = "owns the Internet"

Now it does.

Re:There are good examples.

[Anonymous Coward]

Argghh! I'm a compulsive clicker you insensitive clod! Now what am I going to do with 8 pairs of wedding shoes! It's not like I can wear them to work, for heaven's sake they're Wedding Shoes!

Re:Nope....

[glittalogik]

No, Slashdot pwns the internet. Subtle distinction.

Kevin Ham? Isn't he related to...

[Anonymous Coward]

Kevin Bacon

Mmmmm, pork rinds...

[DeathElk]

Is Kevin Ham related in some way to Kevin Bacon? I wonder if there's a Kevin Pork or a Kevin Prosciutto out there somewhere...

Re:So the market sure is promoting innovation

[Anonymous Coward]

But delicious!

Re:wtf-ness at its best

[Anonymous Coward]

At MOST no companly should own more than 16,000.
After all, 16k is enough for anybody!

Re:SO FULL OF HATE FOR CYBERSQUATTERS

[escay]

I guess you are not the only hater. FTA:

He once used a Vancouver post office box for domain-related mail -- until the day he opened a package that contained a note reading "You are a piece of s**t," accompanied by an actual piece of it.

Re:Having a bunch of domains == "owns the Internet

[RealGrouchy]

Sensational indeed.

A far more Fair and Balanced headline would read:

The Man Who Owns The Internet?

- RG>

Re:So the market sure is promoting innovation

[ethicalBob]

...Real-estate is generally bought, developed, and sold at a profit. Net good happens there.

Clearly you have never lived in New York City :-)

Re:Bull SHIT. Kevin Ham is a Domain Squatting cunt

[MightyMartian]

Now when did Mel Gibson start posting here? How's it goin', Sugar Tits, eh?

Re:What?

[Anonymous Coward]

Well then I will register OwnerOfTheInternet.cm

Re:So the market sure is promoting innovation

[timeOday]

Speculators (real estate, stocks, commodities, etc.) may not necessarily *produce* anything, but they are a necessary part of any free market.

Speculators are "necessary" only in the same way that spammers are "necessary" to email - an unavoidable and unfortunate side effect.