Domain Due Diligence
Report for Researchgate.net
Why we think so
ResearchGate.net is a well-established academic networking platform with over 160 million publication pages and more than 25 million researchers connected globally. Ranked #337 worldwide, it has a large monthly visit count exceeding 106 million, primarily from the United States. The site uses reputable technical infrastructure including Cloudflare and Amazon services, and operates with valid SSL certificates. Registered trademarks for "ResearchGate" are held by ResearchGate GmbH in Germany, indicating legitimate brand ownership. While the platform has faced legal challenges related to copyright infringement with major publishers, these disputes were resolved by 2023 with compliance measures, not involving customer fraud. Some users have reported issues like aggressive advertising, unsolicited publishing offers, and privacy concerns, but no widespread scams or direct fraud linked to ResearchGate itself have been confirmed. Overall, the site is a major player in science and education research sharing, with strong traffic and technical signals supporting its legitimacy.
Risk Insights
Strong Academic Platform
Legally Compliant Brand
Technical Security Measures
Contradictory Signals
While users report some negative experiences, these do not indicate systemic scam behavior, rather platform operation issues.
Signal A: High global traffic and reputable infrastructure
Signal B: User complaints about aggressive advertising and unsolicited offers
Category Scores
Red Flags & Warnings
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Some users report aggressive marketing tactics and unsolicited publishing offers that can confuse or mislead.
🔎 Detailed Checks & Analysis
Domain Age and Registry Reputation
Domain Age and Registry Reputation
"Long domain age and stable DNS setup indicate trustworthy registration."
Reason: ResearchGate domain is established since early 2008 with a reputable registrar (Mesh Digital Limited).
Traffic Volume and Engagement Quality
Traffic Volume and Engagement Quality
"Bounce rate and page views per visit align with typical academic research platforms."
Reason: Consistent very high traffic (>106 million monthly visits) with average user time on site over 4 minutes supports genuine use.
Security Protocols and Technical Infrastructure
Security Protocols and Technical Infrastructure
"Infrastructure shows professional and secure website management."
Reason: Uses strong security providers (Cloudflare, Amazon Route 53) and valid SSL certificates.
Brand and Trademark Validation
Brand and Trademark Validation
"Trademark details confirm official ownership and legal brand protection."
Reason: Multiple active USPTO trademarks confirm brand legitimacy under ResearchGate GmbH in Germany.
Blacklist and Scam Detection
Blacklist and Scam Detection
"No detected phishing or scam flags in major blacklists."
Reason: Not blacklisted on crypto scam databases or Google Safe Browsing, indicating no known widespread scam association.
User Complaints and Legal Issues
User Complaints and Legal Issues
"User reports mostly on advertising and privacy issues, not direct fraud."
Reason: Resolved major copyright infringement lawsuits with publishers; no major verified scams or user fraud related to ResearchGate operations.
Your Next Steps
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1Use ResearchGate.net for academic and research networking with standard caution regarding unsolicited offers.
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2Verify payment requests or publication offers independently to avoid predatory scams using ResearchGate's name.
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3Report any suspicious messages or potential phishing attempts encountered on or off the platform.
Evidence & Citations
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ResearchGate WHOIS, DNS & SSL details
Shows long domain age, secure hosting and valid SSL.
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ResearchGate Global and Country Traffic Analysis
Confirms high global traffic and user engagement.
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USPTO Trademark Registrations for ResearchGate
Multiple active trademarks under company ResearchGate GmbH.
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Reports on Legal Dispute and User Reviews
Covers legal resolution with publishers and user complaints analysis.
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