Domain Name Legality

[charlie]

Hi A client has complained that someone in the same line of business as him has got a domain name which bears his business name (and as it's an unusual one, most likely deliberately). He's not so much bothered that he's bought it but that he is using it .. he says to trade, though I don't think so .. basically he's put a page up saying that domain name is up for sale .. but also has a link to his own (competitor) business.

Apart from paying him what he wants for it (£25k cough  ), is there anything he can do

any suggestions ?

ta

[sarahA]

Does your client have his business name registered as a trademark? If so then he should be able to contact Nominet and complain. If the client is a registered company then he may be able to complain, I don't know how much clout you have as the company, but with a registered trademark Nominet would (well they have in the past) take the domain from the competitor and give it to you.

If he doesn't have either then for now he's stuck. However, he could register his business name as a trademark and if it's successful, then go to Nominet and complain. The story I heard about that working, worked 3 years after the original owner had registered a domain, new company decided to register the trademark and then just got the domains given to them (nice!).

[charlie]

Thanks Sarah .. that's useful information .. I'll pass that on to him.


ta