Using DNS & 301 redirects to gain control over a rogue site

[SureFire]

I'd appreciate peoples' views on the following please.

We have been approached by a client whose website does not rank # 1 for their own distinctive brand name due to this position being taken by a site they had developed for them by an affiliate some years back. The affiliate's site is clearly seen by Google as the definitive site for the brand - being older, having more links & in both Yahoo & DMOZ.

The relationship has soured with the affiliate & the client wants to take control of the affiliate site & have it 301 redirect to the 'real' brand site. The affiliate won't cooperate (funny that). However whilst the client doesn't have control over the affiliate's website, they do own the domain.

Given this, it seems that an option is to temporarily create a 1 page website on another server, change the affiliate website domain DNS settings to point to this, & in turn have that 301 re-direct to the client's website.

This is a bit of a round about approach, but necessary because the affiliate won't directly 301 the site they control - despite the client owning it. (As I say the relationship has soured).

If you think there's a better alternative approach to this problem (aside from litigation),  I'd appreciate hearing it please.

Thanks.

[SureFire]

Hi Ryan

Thanks for those useful comments & alternative ideas. I think we'll stick with the original idea & use the 301 approach rather than remove the listing if possible so the link juice can be directed to the client site.

Cheers

[RyanKent]

If you own the domain and the brand name trademark, you have many options.

As you suggested, you can take control over the domain, point it to a server you have control over and 301 it to your site. You don't actually have to put up a web page at all. Just add a redirect from the "old" domain to the new one.

You can also cancel the affiliation. The affiliate should be dependent upon getting his product from your client. Without the product there isn't a business.

You can contact Google and inform them there is a trademark dispute. Upon validating the product is your trademark, they can remove the listing.

Another option would be to take control over the domain, point it to a web server you control, then claim the domain in Google Webmaster Tools by uploading a file to your web server. Then you can point the domain back to the affiliate's website. In Google WMT, you can submit a request to remove the listing(s). The idea behind this method is it offers the least confrontational approach. Your issue is the listing, and this process would remove it.

I am not an attorney and the above information is being shared strictly as actions you could take to achieve the result you requested. Your client should speak with an attorney before taking any action as there may be legal consequences.