Possible legal action on a domain

ian · Jun 12, 2019

Caught a seo domain last June. I don't develop them, so sold it within days and transferred to the buyers tag.

One year on, just had contact from Nominet advising me that a third party had requesting the contact details for the domain. Seemingly the domain is still associated with my postal address, and email address (albeit through a proxy of some kind).

I suspect I might get some form of legal communication soon, because the seo domain now has past content from a previous owner on it (I've never understood the seo process and how this benefits anyone, aside from keeping links alive until utilised or sold).

I've told Nominet this domain has no association with me, no response yet. I've told my buyer that I've been contacted and could they please change all the details away from my own, no response yet.

Anyone had a similar situation that could offer advice? If I do get any legal letters via post, I could just strike through and return, as the name won't be mine and doesn't live here? I could respond at the time, or even now, because as part of the request for information, Nominet have supplied me with who asked (they are associated with the domain previously).

Thoughts?

donton · Jun 12, 2019

Maybe just respond to any letter or communication you receive to explain you no longer own the domain name, and pass on the details of the person who now does.

If you haven’t done anything wrong, I can’t see what the issue is. Not ideal your address is still associated with it, but if you can prove you sold it and to who, I don’t think there’s going to be much of a problem for you.

ian · Jun 12, 2019

donton said:
Maybe just respond to any letter or communication you receive to explain you no longer own the domain name, and pass on the details of the person who now does.

Wouldn't that be a breach of GDPR rules to disclose ownership information to an external party?

newguy · Jun 12, 2019

Does the site feature any contact details at all of the current owner (privacy policy, contact page) that you may then be able to connect to further details elsewhere? I'm just wondering if there might be a way to highlight the details of the owner without personally disclosing anything non public?

ian · Jun 12, 2019

newguy said:
Does the site feature any contact details at all of the current owner (privacy policy, contact page) that you may then be able to connect to further details elsewhere? I'm just wondering if there might be a way to highlight the details of the owner without personally disclosing anything non public?

Contact form but doesn't seem to go anywhere. I actually tried contacting the person requesting the information via email and it bounced so I'm unclear if they've even got what they requested from Nominet.

I see my only option at this stage to contact Nominet again requesting they remove all association with me or delete. In the meantime, hopefully the current owner will get in touch and sort.

Transcom ISP · Jun 15, 2019

I've had a few similar in the last 20 years or so. Some customers transferred to other tags but never changed the contact info despite me asking them to do so, they never answered, until of course the domains were dropped and they lost them, then it was my fault.

Couple of solicitor letters, but nothing ever came of them, I wouldn't worry.

Rgds

Bill