The Daily News has an interesting story today about two .nyc domains that are at the heart of an online turf war in The Bronx. Welcome2thebronx.nyc and welcometothebronx.nyc. are being used as digital bargaining chips as one Bronx blogger wants another to retract statements and stop harassing her in a dispute that seems to be about of all things, a Whole Foods Market.
An online dispute rooted in the Bronx has turned into a battle of domains.
Blogger Ed Garcia Conde claims he’s being extorted by a fellow borough blogger who registered a .nyc domain using his well-known “welcome2thebronx” handle.
The South Bronx writer was livid when he discovered the new URL names, offered by the city this month, were already registered by Ruth Papazian, better known by her blog name “Bronx Hipster.”
“There is no reason for her to take that name if there is no malicious intent,” said Garcia Conde, of Melrose. “I believe she acted unethically.”
Through a mediator, the “Hipster” asked Garcia Conde to fork over $250 and to retract any negative statements he has made on social media about her in the past before she signs over the two domains: welcome2thebronx.nyc and welcometothebronx.nyc.
Garcia Conde calls the demands an attempt at extortion over his own intellectual property.
“All I want is what’s rightfully mine,” the 39-year-old said. “We never really met eye-to-eye, but this is the ultimate act of aggression.”
Read the full story on NYDailyNews.com
