.uk .UK Announced

[Marcoose]

Grand fathering rights isn't the only issue for me. I bought into the business/commercial extention in the uk domain space (the class uses for all the extensions were clearly defined ). I don't see why they should just invent another identical space and charge me again for it. Many people have invested more than a decade of time and large sums of money, often their homes are mortgaged to the bank, on the strength of Nominets promotional message.

I think it's quite funny how Nominet removed their .co.uk "the place to be" (or whatever it was) slide from their homepage over the last couple of days.

 

[rhaigh]

Grand fathering rights isn't the only issue for me. I bought into the business/commercial extention in the uk domain space (the class uses for all the extensions were clearly defined ). I don't see why they should just invent another identical space and charge me again for it. Many people have invested more than a decade of time and large sums of money, often their homes are mortgaged to the bank, on the strength of Nominets promotional message.

Yeah, well I reckon that offering "grand-father" rights
(to .co.uk holders) is 1st base for them... Push them
much further, and have a good dose of legal crap to
throw at them, then they could relent on .uk completely.

 

[scooter]

That isn't what the EU says though, the EU says "unfair barriers to sell their goods".

.ie have strict restrictions
http://www.domainregistry.ie/index.php/mnudomregs/mnuquickguide

"documentation demonstrating substantial trade or commercial activity within Ireland"
The argument here could be you require a .ie domain to trade and by denying registration you are at an unfair advantage.

eg:
Want to trade in Ireland via an Irish website for credability and on ebay.ie by using fulfllment as you are based in a different EU country.
http://www.dutec.ie/main/fulfillment.asp

But i cannot find anything online about anyone cotesting this. Maybe it has not been. (yet)




An interesting side note:
Please note: The IEDR does not condone or support the secondary sale of .ie domains. If it comes to our attention that any .ie domain is for sale, we withhold the right to delete that domain, with five days notice.
http://www.domainregistry.ie/index.php/mnudomregs/mnuhowtoreg





.

 

[GreyWing]

.ie have strict restrictions
http://www.domainregistry.ie/index.php/mnudomregs/mnuquickguide

"documentation demonstrating substantial trade or commercial activity within Ireland"
The argument here could be you require a .ie domain to trade and by denying registration you are at an unfair advantage.

eg:
Want to trade in Ireland via an Irish website for cdredability and on ebay.ie by using fulfllment as you are based in a different EU country.
http://www.dutec.ie/main/fulfillment.asp

But i cannot find anything online about anyone cotesting this. Maybe it has not been. (yet)




An interesting side note:
Please note: The IEDR does not condone or support the secondary sale of .ie domains. If it comes to our attention that any .ie domain is for sale, we withhold the right to delete that domain, with five days notice.
http://www.domainregistry.ie/index.php/mnudomregs/mnuhowtoreg





.

I think from memory that the .ie has been like that from the start and wouldn't think their is a motivation for anyone to look into it or complain. The .co.uk is different because there are plenty of .co.uk owners who are based abroad and selling their goods to the UK.

Ironically Irish companies will be the first to complain, their companies just lost a huge sales market. Eastern Europe have plenty of .co.uk websites selling Eastern food to EU citizens over here on the .co.uk. These would send food via mail order.

So compared to the .ie, the potential victims of this would be substantial and it only takes one to make a complaint. With regards fulfilment, not sure on the legalities of it mate to be honest.

Just one example in under a minute on Google http://www.thatchcottageireland.co.uk/ Question is, who is going to tip them off to make a complaint?

 

[Marcoose]

Presumably registering TMs now won't help either?

 

[GreyWing]

Well you learn something everyday day.... trademark squatters are on par with cyber squatters.

Just been commenting how Nominet are set to reward these people. Anyone heard of the term before?

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=p...w.r_cp.r_qf.&cad=b&sei=fYxzUImrJrSN0wXkjoCwBA

 

[foz]

Hit them with enough ammo and I believe they will relent
quickly and begin to offer "grand-fathering" rights to .co.uk
owners; which is what most of you want.

If grandfathering was to be adopted what would the point to having .uk at all (except for it being a shorter suffix)?

Added costs to protect your current domains (based on £20 wholesale fee):

50 domains = £1,000 per annum.
250 domains = £5,000 per annum.
5,000 domains = £100,000 per annum.

Nominet and the Registrars (who vote on this) are the winners here. Just a money making exercise for very little or no benefit to business or the consumer.

 

[rhaigh]

If grandfathering was to be adopted what would the point to having .uk at all (except for it being a shorter suffix)?

Added costs to protect your current domains (based on £20 wholesale fee):

50 domains = £1,000 per annum.
250 domains = £5,000 per annum.
5,000 domains = £100,000 per annum.

Nominet and the Registrars (who vote on this) are the winners here. Just a money making exercise for very little or no benefit to business or the consumer.

Hi Foz, I can see your thinking here.

The "grand fathering" option would be seen to be somewhat
beneficial to a .co.uk registrant because at least they would
be able to transfer their current "i'm the top of the UK TLD
food chain" right to another TLD.

Yes, there will be a lot more costs... yes, they will still need
to 'rebrand', but (and it is a big 'but' for many) they will still
be in pole position.

Quite what that means 'though, in a namespace that can start
again whenever it feels like it, is another matter.

Is .uk the "top of the chain"?..

Yes, it is... Until, of course, Nominet come out with ".gb"...!
(.gb is a new force to be reckoned with within the UK internet..
with MUCH improved security, ULTIMATE choice... and the
domain will also shine your shoes and do a light tap dance
show for you in the evenings... courtesy of some ultra do-da,
but fully licensed, ip that we can't tell you about just yet).

Are you ready for .gb next?!.. just £50... (a day).. and we will
put a lien on your house, for SECURITY reasons, just to make
sure that you pay.. We do this at no extra charge to you, it's
our way of saying thank you.. our improved customer service...
now kindly bend over!

I'm joking... well, kind of. If you've read the above, and found
even a trace element of humour in it, then it's only because
you can relate to it, and at some level, know that it could
happen...

Nominet and the Registrars (who vote on this) are the winners here. Just a money making exercise for very little or no benefit to business or the consumer.

Agreed!

Oh, but what am I saying, have you forgotten about the
"security" already?!

 

[foz]

I like your humour rhaigh

Forgot all about .gb http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.gb

 

[arkvard]

Isn't everyone forgetting that .uk existed in the beginning long before Nominet got involved in the form of nhs.uk, jet.uk, bl.uk, parliament.uk, nic.uk etc etc and still does, and just now they have decided to open it up to everyone.

 

[websaway]

What would happen to other suffix sites of all countries who did not have the security kite mark, would the uk population not visit them.
It's only google who have geographically divided up the web and it is after all is said and done, a world wide web.

 

[websaway]

http://registrars.nominet.org.uk/wo...resources/campaigns/uk-co-marketing-programme

 

[Edwin]

http://registrars.nominet.org.uk/working-with-nominet/marketing-resources/campaigns/brand-campaign

From the above: "co.uk says you do business in the UK"

 

[GreyWing]

GO GET YOUR TRADEMARK NOW

----

My mate was speaking to a TM expert at his law firm, he said you can stop another company operating on .uk

Just because Nominet won't give you the .uk doesn't mean they are allowed to sell the .uk to a competitor. That 3 month predate thing is a complete red herring. It refers to you getting the .uk, it doesn't refer to your rights to protect from abuse from it.

Go Get Your TM now... If anyone opens up a business on it then regardless of Nominet's release policy it is a illegal.

He said "The TM office does not care what Nominet says the rules are".

 

[~andy]

Go Get Your TM now... If anyone opens up a business on it then regardless of Nominet's release policy it is a illegal.

Just to clarify, the trademark would need to be in the correct class, plus you have the hurdle of getting a trademark. If you are talking generics, that isn't going to happen.

 

[rhaigh]

Just to clarify, the trademark would need to be in the correct class, plus you have the hurdle of getting a trademark. If you are talking generics, that isn't going to happen.

That's a good point Andy. Generic names will be very
difficult indeed to get a TM on, and for portfolio owners
(who may own hundreds of names) the cost of getting
a TM for each domain name would be wholly impractical.

Lets also not forget that a TM is not intended to be some
kind of 'indemnity policy', against losing out on a domain,
you really do need to start a business on your domain, to
make any TM (that incorporates the name/biz) effective.

In theory, an 'unregistered' TM, e.g. where you operate
a trading website, but do not formally apply for a TM,
is just as powerful as a reg'd TM but I have my doubts
on that one...

 

[GreyWing]

Just to clarify, the trademark would need to be in the correct class, plus you have the hurdle of getting a trademark. If you are talking generics, that isn't going to happen.

Of course everyone needs their own advice, however "yourbusiness"+ co.uk can be argued to be confusingly similar to "yourbusiness"+.uk

So you don't register "HGV" you register "HGV.co.uk" as a trademark.

 

[GreyWing]

Lets also not forget that a TM is not intended to be some
kind of 'indemnity policy', against losing out on a domain,
you really do need to start a business on your domain, to
make any TM (that incorporates the name/biz) effective.

It's to protect against identify theft of a brand, when I was talking to my legal friend I didn't really mention protecting MyDogNeedsNewtrainers.co.uk

Let's add a bit of common sense and not take everything out of context

 

[~andy]

Of course everyone needs their own advice, however "yourbusiness"+ co.uk can be argued to be confusingly similar to "yourbusiness"+.uk

If you get a trademark for blowerz.co.uk to cover your funky leaf blower brand, I doubt you will be able to stop an 'adult' site trading as blowerz.uk.

It's going to get messy.

 

[foz]

Under the DRS having a .co.uk predate a registered mark was to your advantage e.g. no prior knowledge as the mark did not exist.

With a direct.uk domain being registered in 2013? or 2014? what implication(s) is that going to cause?