After 22 years — the creator of Paint.NET has finally reclaimed the domain with the same name

After 22 years — the creator of Paint.NET has finally reclaimed the eponymous domain

For two decades the free editor known to many lived in a weird little exile: the official download page was at getpaint.net while the actual name, paint.net, sat in somebody else’s hands — either off-limits or priced like a luxury car. It was awkward, sure, and it lasted a long time.

The change came after a clear misstep by the domain holder in Dec. last year. The site was turned into a grab-bag of dodgy ads and misleading links, presented as if it were the real project page — i.e., a fake storefront trading on someone else’s reputation. Rick Brewster has now announced he owns the name; he recruited lawyers and pursued trademark-infringement/cybersquatting claims that were, by all accounts, straightforward to win.

At the moment paint.net simply redirects to the old site, but Brewster says the move of the whole project will happen soon. Fans who’ve been waiting will probably breathe a sigh of relief — the canonical address is finally back under the creator’s control.