Dispute with legal firm

danny b · May 28, 2007

Hi All

I have a question to ask which some of the people on here may be able to answer
I registered a domain name a few years ago which turns out the letters are an abbreviation of a large UK solicitors firm they own the. com (three letters then hyphen then three letters) but had not registered the .co.uk They do not hold any trademark (they made some allegations with regard me and there isp who is also quite large) turns out they tried to register the domain the day before I registered it after speaking to them in which I informed them that although they have .info .biz they had not bothered to register .org and some one already registered the. Net

They have started process at nominet all very unpleasant they even sent in nearly 100 pages to back up there claim I responded via nominet online response seems your only allowed 2000 word response ? My question is do you think they have the right to the domain and in the opinion of all on here how unbiased are nominet in there procedure

retired_member6 · May 28, 2007

Without knowing what they're claiming who knows, solicitors are *******, you only have to look at Nominet to see that. Whoops that slipped, nevermind. If your regd a domain with a letter, hyphen then three letters, you have to ask yourself, why...

If it's just three letters and they've never advertised as abc.co.uk on their site or on their letterheads and they're only the initials of three words they trade under, then they've lost and fight it on that, if they've sent in 100 pages of evidence, you can do the same, I sent 100 in reply too once - as evidence, just fight every claim and if you can, make them look silly in their arguements.

I hate solicitors in the main except when they're defending me, fight them, they don't mean what they write, they're only paid to write it, you're the defence and the one with the passion, run 'em over.

Cheers
Lee

Johnp · May 28, 2007

Hi

Been through the mill with both DRS and solicitors letters recently. Take a pragmetic view, does the domain actually have any intrinsic value ? without 'ABC & Co' after it or the traffic that their .com generates as result of .co.uk and .com confusion would you be able to sell it or moniterise it ? if not offer to transfer for reasonable administrative costs, Lee I think the other day suggested to go for £ 500.00 a time, I would perosnally take less if everything could be settled quickly and especially if no prospect of a sale or revenue elsewhere (time is money ! - I value mine)

If the name is not Trademarked and is short and could reasonably as an ancronym have applications in other markets - then fight your corner - however time is money and think about what you will you spend and will you come out with.

I have read elsewhere on about the mercer dot co uk decision and that the domain is now currently serving up PPC adds for HR related services, it only has OVT rating of 5, so whilst somebody felt good about keeping the name it cost them a packet, and I bet they won't have recovered the costs of the appeal this side of the next millenium on PPC.

Just a few of my personal thoughts.

Best Regards

JohnP