Spurious .ltd.uk registrations

[aZooZa]

I'll let you do your own research on this, but I have it on good authority today that Nominet are clamping down on these. There were several very strong keyword .ltd.uk domains registered in 2007 off the back of the flawed Nominet algorithm that checks for .ltd.uk domain registration compliance.

The "real" limited company hasn't bothered to register the .ltd.uk domain so a few entrepreneurs (three specifically) have taken 'opportunities'.

Rules: Rules

10.3.4 -- this is going to be expanded to include "@" despite the fact that Companies House don't care.

Get Companies House up in your browser, and a whois client in another window and take a look yourself. Please don't ask me to post examples.

 

[retired_member16]

Is that the Real McCoy?

 

[domainking]

think you will find it was all manual registration and if anyone is to blame for this its not the people who have ltd.uk

Then again im sure a test court case will prove the point

and would object to the word spurious

 

[Edwin]

Any idea how to get back a name that's gone to somebody using a mocked-up company name? I own the UK company "XXXX Ltd"* (incorporated in 2004) and somebody has taken the domain xxxx.ltd.uk by creating a company called "XXXX \\\ Ltd" (incorporated in 2007) and Nominet has ignored the "\\\" and granted them the .ltd.uk domain.

Now I think any rational observer would conclude that the "\\\" company was created solely to secure the quote-unquote related .ltd.uk domain but I don't want to have to invest thousands in legal fees to chase this down if I don't have to.

And yes, I probably could have been quicker off the mark but I didn't notice/realise this was an issue until it was too late.

* the specific "XXXX" is irrelevant - it's a single English dictionary word and I own the company with that single word and "Ltd".

 

[aZooZa]

Any idea how to get back a name that's gone to somebody using a mocked-up company name? I own the UK company "XXXX Ltd"* (incorporated in 2004) and somebody has taken the domain xxxx.ltd.uk by creating a company called "XXXX \\\ Ltd" (incorporated in 2007) and Nominet has ignored the "\\\" and granted them the .ltd.uk domain.

Now I think any rational observer would conclude that the "\\\" company was created solely to secure the quote-unquote related .ltd.uk domain but I don't want to have to invest thousands in legal fees to chase this down if I don't have to.

And yes, I probably could have been quicker off the mark but I didn't notice/realise this was an issue until it was too late.

* the specific "XXXX" is irrelevant - it's a single English dictionary word and I own the company with that single word and "Ltd".

Thanks for the enlightened comment Edwin. All you need to do is raise a complaint with Nominet. Yes, these are most all 2007 registrations.

 

[bb99]

Edwin you may find this of interest:

Company Names Tribunal's first ruling: Coke Cola needs a new name | OUT-LAW.COM


The new Companies Act provides a Company Names Tribunal, which is in effect a DRS for (new*) limited company names.

What is interesting about this is that the CNT can award costs against the losing side - which is what has happened in the first case linked to above.

Interesting times



* a quick scan from this end didn't reveal how new it has to be

 

[Edwin]

Thanks for the enlightened comment Edwin. All you need to do is raise a complaint with Nominet. Yes, these are most all 2007 registrations.

Do you mean a DRS? I've never gone through the complaints process before.

Oh, I just noticed something interesting... This is new(ish) i.e. within the last month or so... The other company's status is now "Status: Active - Proposal to Strike off" at Companies House. Does that mean that if I wait a bit the problem will resolve itself?

 

[bb99]

The other company's status is now "Status: Active - Proposal to Strike off" at Companies House. Does that mean that if I wait a bit the problem will resolve itself?

That means that the company will be struck off from the register "shortly" and hence will cease to exist. From memory it could be 2-3m, I can't remember exactly though.

If the company still owns the domain name at the time of striking off, you can then inform Nominet and they will (save for any irregularities/issues) cancel it. You can then register it if you so wish.

 

[Edwin]

Brilliant, thanks for the tips. I'll keep a bit more of an eye on it this time!

 

[aZooZa]

It's apparently simpler. Just email Nominet and complain.

 

[domainking]

Edwin you have upto a year to lodge you complaint with companys house.
if the company has had the name longer than a year then it stands