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[That internet]

Hi Guys

Not sure if many of you are aware but Nominet are considering launching .uk's which will be in competition with .co.uk's

As they are the shorter version (.uk instead of co.uk), it is the view of 99% of people that this will be the flagship extension eventually.

As it stands, people that own the .co.uk site will have no immediate rights to the .uk equivalent. It is currently under consultation but it is due to take 6 months and leaves all investment in .co.uk sites uncertain.

You may be pitted against others in an auction to buy rights to something you currently own, i.e your name on the flagship uk platform.

At best this is going to cause confusion amongst our customers, extra costs to us all (the new .uk's will be £20 a year, compared to £2.50).

We have thrown up a site at that.co.uk to campaign against it, it only launched this morning and still being added to. We need your help. To stand a chance this has to be business, public led and not just people that own domains.

This is one hell of a mess on its way if it is allowed to continue. It is causing one now, we have shelved two business projects because we may no longer hold the rights to the domain when it launches.

 

[mhall]

Hi Guys

it is the view of 99% of people that this will be the flagship extension eventually.

.

I'm not disagreeing with your sentiments but 99% ? - really ?

 

[That internet]

I'm not disagreeing with your sentiments but 99% ? - really ?

I'd say 100% but I'm sure there is one out there, but you are right it is not scientific.

 

[MikeJ]

This is one hell of a mess on its way if it is allowed to continue. It is causing one now, we have shelved two business projects because we may no longer hold the rights to the domain when it launches.

Really? Shelved two projects, just because Nominet MAY introduce .uk domains, and MAY not give you automatic rights to the .uk domain?

This looks like scaremongering in the extreme.

 

[MikeJ]

In fact, they're saying they're proposing the following order of precedence.

1) People with registered trademarks for that domain
2) Companies with that company name registered
3) People already holding that domain name, providing they hold that domain name before a certain date.

That actually seems quite a fair way of doing it.

 

[That internet]

In fact, they're saying they're proposing the following order of precedence.

1) People with registered trademarks for that domain
2) Companies with that company name registered
3) People already holding that domain name, providing they hold that domain name before a certain date.

That actually seems quite a fair way of doing it.

Mike your order is wrong,

1) Registered TM's (tm's can be in the form of a logo, been used before). I can register a TM for a logo saying Asda on it. That would give me privilege to this name.
2) Website owners who were already active, if your domain didn't have a site on it weeks ago, you have no rights. Domain holders have no rights.
3) General Landrush

It is all here, page 13.

It won't let me post a link to the document, go to that.co.uk The proposal>>>proposal in detail


We'll the business I personally shelved was the development of hgv.co.uk I stand to lose rights to that name because someone has a TM logo check the trademark office for the logo that shows hgv

Do you think that is fair? By the way I suggest others check their own too, a TM in the form of a logo is enough to claim a TM.

Also, do you think it is fair that the owner of UKBusinessForums.org.uk or UKBusinessForums.me.uk (example only) should be allowed to bid the price up in an auction against this site to get the .uk version?

People with registered trademarks who are being infringed can take the .co.uk at the moment through something called a DRS.

Guys and Girls, we are trying to let business owners know about this. How you act on it is up to you.

 

[fisicx]

If you has tried to use hgv.co.uk the trademark owner could have stopped you anyway. So the fact they get first dibs at hgv.uk is a red herring.

I still can't work out what your beef with the process actually is.

 

[ITsoldUK]

Most people I know who are looking for a company often use the .com

It is natural, see, peeps think all websites are .com until they are told otherwise.

SO, when this tld release approaches, just tell it is either .co.uk or .uk

I fail to see why you are getting stressed really and you threw a site up too.

What are you basing your stats on and what credentials have you got that should tempt me to listen to you?

Not being negative just digging dude...if you don't want me to dig, get out of the garden

 

[That internet]

If you has tried to use hgv.co.uk the trademark owner could have stopped you anyway. So the fact they get first dibs at hgv.uk is a red herring.

I still can't work out what your beef with the process actually is.

That is the point, a logo TM would have been thrown out through the DRS process that stops cybersquatting and it has worked well for 10+ years. In this, that won't apply and a TM logo will be enough to obtain it.

Just looking in your signature, there are 6-7 TM's for logos that come up for the name "aerin". So someone could take this, your customers type in aerin.uk instead of aerin.co.uk and you lose. Failing that you could have a battle with whoever is on the .org.uk that results in an auction for it, an auction where you get out your cheque book and pay big bucks.

But that isn't the only point, the consultation is taking 6 months. So can I ask, now I have told you what I have about aerin.co.uk would you pump 30-50k into it to develop and advertise it over the next 6 months? Or would you wait to see what happens?

 

[That internet]

Guys I'll have to leave you to this because we have posts going on all over the place. I'm a bit amazed that people don't realise what is about to hit them in the way of a brand protection tax.

You are about to have a competitor land right smack bang on your doorstep, or pay big bucks to protect your brand and get exactly what you have at the moment.

I'm not asking for donations or for you to click ads (there is no ads, there is no donation page), don't believe me, fine. Then look it up for yourselves and read the proposals.

 

[fisicx]

But that isn't the only point, the consultation is taking 6 months. So can I ask, now I have told you what I have about aerin.co.uk would you pump 30-50k into it to develop and advertise it over the next 6 months? Or would you wait to see what happens?

Wait and see what happens. I've already been offered 9K for the domain name and wasn't interested.

Suppose someone does buy aerin.uk. I lose nothing because people looking for that name are not looking for me. I don't own aerin.com or any of the other variants either and it hasn't made the slightest difference.

You really are making a big fuss over nothing.

 

[10032012]

Nominet are motivated by greed.

They have some good concepts proposed (malware, address confirmation etc) but seem to forget what I see as more important like suspending domains that have not got an active website for over a month or those that are linked up to generic spammy holding pages.

Yes, I would rather someone develop a semi-useful website to keep their premium domain name than just sit on it for years which benefits no one.

 

[fisicx]

...more important like suspending domains that have not got an active website for over a month

I've got a domain name that I only use for emails. There is no website and never will be. Are you suggesting I should have it taken away from me?

 

[10032012]

I've got a domain name that I only use for emails. There is no website and never will be. Are you suggesting I should have it taken away from me?

Yes. Unless you redirected it to your main website or displayed some information page.

 

[fisicx]

Yes. Unless you redirected it to your main website or displayed some information page.

Why?

It's my domain name so I can do what I want with it. For all you know I could have a private area hidden away I use for sharing family images.

 

[ITsoldUK]

I have a beautiful MG Sports Racing Green in my garage that I do not drive...should I lose that too?

:|

This is going off at a tangent and to conclude for my part, there is nothing to worry about and the OP seems to be rattling cages for some benefit that will become evident after 15 posts...probably

 

[ITsoldUK]

Why?
For all you know I could have a private area hidden away I use for sharing family images.

Does your wife know

 

[Vectis]

Going back to the OP, I really can't see what the problem is?

Anyone could say the same about .co.uk and .com at the moment.

Do people get confused if you have a .co.uk website but not a .com? No. So, why get confused about anything new?

Also, I simply don't believe your 99% statement. I think you just pulled that figure out of the air to suit your point, didn't you?

 

[Zonline]

9K i would of jumped on that it will be worth next to nothing soon

as soon as they launch .UK this will kill .co.uk and just think of all the new companys using the new .UK when you have sent £xx,xxx on branding etc on your .co.uk u have had for 15 + years....

Nominet are just wanting more money funny that when they are a non profit company :|

Wait and see what happens. I've already been offered 9K for the domain name and wasn't interested.

Suppose someone does buy aerin.uk. I lose nothing because people looking for that name are not looking for me. I don't own aerin.com or any of the other variants either and it hasn't made the slightest difference.

You really are making a big fuss over nothing.

 

[alwaysinamess]

Cant see it making a blind bit of difference, .co.uk is known and embedded in people,

All the others never took off, .ltd.uk, .uk.com, .info. org, its .com and .co.uk and I cant see that changing short term.

I would not bother wasting money on a .uk name it would sound stupid (to me) too

 

[10032012]

I have a beautiful MG Sports Racing Green in my garage that I do not drive...should I lose that too?

:|

This is going off at a tangent and to conclude for my part, there is nothing to worry about and the OP seems to be rattling cages for some benefit that will become evident after 15 posts...probably

Yes it is, why you comparing a domain name to a car?

Would you say a domain name is also tangible?

When you register a domain name you accept the terms. Its no different to argue how my suggestion would be more unfair than failing to confirm your physical address or that your website is infected with viruses, leading to suspension or termination.

Let me guess maybe you want your website to contain viruses? Or that the current set up on losing your domain name for copyright infringement or because you failed to renew is also unfair?

 

[That internet]

Cant see it making a blind bit of difference, .co.uk is known and embedded in people,

All the others never took off, .ltd.uk, .uk.com, .info. org, its .com and .co.uk and I cant see that changing short term.

I would not bother wasting money on a .uk name it would sound stupid (to me) too

There is a lot in what you say and I hope the others forgive me but yours is the kind of argument I have been hearing that is logical and on what we have been hearing other forums.

The word which is very important which we all agree with is "short term". That is very accurate. We would expect to see those who manage to get the .uk and who also own the .co.uk such as Asda, Tesco's etc (big business) would start to use the .uk on their adverts whilst still having the .co.uk forward to the .uk

They will do this because .uk can be more of an international brand, there are plenty of branding reasons why this would be the case.

Eventually (years) .uk will become more and more established and as the .co.uk brand falls, the .uk rises, somewhere in the middle there is going to be confusion and if you are one of those that don't own both you will lose customers to the .uk

Confusion is what will come out of this. That is what we don't want to see.

 

[That internet]

When you register a domain name you accept the terms. Its no different to argue how my suggestion would be more unfair than failing to confirm your physical address or that your website is infected with viruses, leading to suspension or termination.

Let me guess maybe you want your website to contain viruses? Or that the current set up on losing your domain name for copyright infringement or because you failed to renew is also unfair?

Lol, is that a serious post? this just shows you have no understanding of anything technical, you have fallen for a press release.

For those of you who are open minded, realise this. Your browser (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, IE9) already have all this security technology in there and has done for years. They spend millions on this stuff every year. Nominet turns over say £30m, they may spend £1m on security security issues and you think the bits they invest in security is going to supersede that of the browsers of Google and Microsoft produce to name but two.

The security white elephant is put in there to straw man argument those with little technical knowledge.. good to see you were too smart to fall for it.

 

[ITsoldUK]

Yes it is, why you comparing a domain name to a car?

If you took the time to read the thread you would see why. To demonstrate a point...

A car is bought by me and I can do with it what I choose...

And so is a domain...forward it, email only, park it, build a site on it etc...

 

[fisicx]

9K i would of jumped on that it will be worth next to nothing soon

So you would give up the domain name you have had for years, that has inbound links form all over the world, has an email address that you use for everything and that generates a lot of income for just 9K?

Everytime a new TLD is launched there is this great fuss about the death of this that and everything else. Nothing happens. Everything keeps on going the way it did before.

Remember .tel anyone or .mobi or even .me?

 

[alwaysinamess]

There is a lot in what you say and I hope the others forgive me but yours is the kind of argument I have been hearing that is logical and on what we have been hearing other forums.

The word which is very important which we all agree with is "short term". That is very accurate. We would expect to see those who manage to get the .uk and who also own the .co.uk such as Asda, Tesco's etc (big business) would start to use the .uk on their adverts whilst still having the .co.uk forward to the .uk

They will do this because .uk can be more of an international brand, there are plenty of branding reasons why this would be the case.

Eventually (years) .uk will become more and more established and as the .co.uk brand falls, the .uk rises, somewhere in the middle there is going to be confusion and if you are one of those that don't own both you will lose customers to the .uk

Confusion is what will come out of this. That is what we don't want to see.

Long term you cant say that because you don't know, in five years we may not even have domain names, could be something totally different.

Don't Tesco use .com in there adverts, im sure its.com on there lorries and not .co.uk so that makes it a non goer for a start no ?

 

[10032012]

If you took the time to read the thread you would see why. To demonstrate a point...

A car is bought by me and I can do with it what I choose...

And so is a domain...forward it, email only, park it, build a site on it etc...

No its not the same thing at all.

You also don't have free roam with your car just because you own it... you still must pay road tax, fill it up with fuel, obtain insurance and have a licence to drive it on the public highway and furthermore you cannot use it as a weapon.

Technically, you do not own a domain name... but a licence to use it for the term its registered. Its effectively a lease. As far as I am aware you can only register for up to 10 years. There is no lifetime option etc.

Unlike with a car where you own the physical item, with a domain name you only own the goodwill contained within your registration period.

 

[alwaysinamess]

No its not the same thing at all.

You also don't have free roam with your car just because you own it... you still must pay road tax, fill it up with fuel, obtain insurance and have a licence to drive it on the public highway and furthermore you cannot use it as a weapon.

Technically, you do not own a domain name... but a licence to use it for the term its registered. Its effectively a lease. As far as I am aware you can only register for up to 10 years. There is no lifetime option etc.

Unlike with a car where you own the physical item, with a domain name you only own the goodwill contained within your registration period.

He said he could do what he wants with his car, he did not mention about driving it, Domain names are nothing I learned it a long time ago, if you check the history of Stanstedairport.co.uk, I had it, they (BAA) have it now, why is that, it was took from me, I could not afford to beat them. I got nothing from it on a technicality and inexperience.

Its just a word a domain, but no one really cares there is thousands more out there, its like a phone number, it used to be big having a gold number, not so more, its more about SEO than it is the domain name

 

[itsnathanhere]

It's worth noting that the shorter TLD won't always become the popular one.

.co domains could have been the next .com in theory but people had those 3 letters hard wired into their mind. I think things will be the same for .uk.

There was the controversial introduction of the .xxx not too long ago and that hasn't taken off too well - not that I'd know of course!

 

[exceedmedia]

I think this is kind of a knee jerk reaction... .co.uk has been so long established I can tell you it wont happen, just like .mobi, .info, .biz they all came and got lost in amongst all the other domain endings.

If you want another example of why I say this, take a look at the USA equivalent, .us or even .co ....now how many companies have moved across from .com... err... no-one.

 

[ThePublisher]

I bought the .co equivalent names for my two websites, but got fed up with forking out £20 a year each for them, in addition to the fees for the .coms I also have just to stop somebody else using them.

I've dropped the .co names now. You could spend a fortune trying to block out anybody else from using any of the extensions.

However, that said I probably would registier the .uk domains just in case as I think these have more chance of catching on than the .co extensions. I can't see how nominet can justify £20 a year when .co.uk can be around £2.50

 

[10032012]

He said he could do what he wants with his car, he did not mention about driving it

Its typically the main thing people do with cars.

 

[fisicx]

Its typically the main thing people do with cars.

But not the only thing. I can choose to leave mine in the garage and do nothing with. Just like a domain name.

 

[Talay]

.. Its just a word a domain, but no one really cares there is thousands more out there, its like a phone number, it used to be big having a gold number, not so more, its more about SEO than it is the domain name

The skill is in your browser come search engine being able to identify that you want dogfood in the UK, whether that be .com, .co.uk or .bollox etc.

I run .co.uk and .com and never bothered with the rest. .uk will be just the same as the other forgotten ones.

 

[Sparx]

Personally I like the idea of the new .uk TLD - looks good, anything to make URLs/domains even shorter!

Pricing is obviously a chunk higher, but still far from 'unacceptable' if you think about the new features to be introduced with it.

 

[ecommerce84]

I think this is kind of a knee jerk reaction... .co.uk has been so long established I can tell you it wont happen, just like .mobi, .info, .biz they all came and got lost in amongst all the other domain endings.

If you want another example of why I say this, take a look at the USA equivalent, .us or even .co ....now how many companies have moved across from .com... err... no-one.

A few years ago I was looking to launch a local version of my website in the USA, I could not get my hands on .com or anything even close, the .us was available though so I snapped it up and couldn't believe my luck.

I sat on it as one day it would be useful too me. At a big family get together, some American relatives were in attendance across 3 generations, all used the Internet, and the teens were always on it. When i was explaining what I do and how I had been looking at exapanding in America, they looked at me as if I was mad when i proudly divulged my .us domain name - "websites end in .com" said the 19 year old lad "I didn't know we had a .us" said his father.

I let that domain expire.

I just cannot see .uk taking off really. I imagine people will buy them for brand protection, but they won't be marketed. the big boys have .co.uk or .com they won't market a new .uk domain name.

 

[JEREMY HAWKE]

This is a complete load o rot

10 years ago everybody said you should buy industry relevent domains as in the future they will get you to the top of google !!!

I have forgoten how many transport related domains I own now !! it must be around 40 some have lapsed and some I expect I still own .
At the end of the day a search relevent domain means nothing !!!

I strongly feel this is going to be the same !!

 

[fathippy]

I am an internet heathen, so I am probably venturing into dangerous territory, but surely the main motivation for this is to bring it in line with the rest of the world (ex US). I have no idea of the origins of .co.uk apart from differentiation from .ac.uk or .org.uk, but in my limited knowledge all other countries use a two letter suffix across the board.

In an increasingly global marketplace, if you are looking for eg a french company's website you would just add .fr and hope for the best, so it should perhaps be fair that those in other countries not need to remember that the uk has its own ".co" prefix.

I guess this may be the reason why this new one may have legs, and why it may not go the same way as the other novelty ones.

 

[Zonline]

Hi

Yes it wont get you to the top of google if you wack up a mini site with poor content and no decent backlinks your correct just having the domain names is not going to get you to the top of google...

Loads of companys people have search relevent domains some ranking very well so yes you can get ranking for the first page with a quality site and many of us have been doing so for many years since google has done the updates some have been hit hard but thats the way things are going google is changing all the time.

This is a complete load o rot

10 years ago everybody said you should buy industry relevent domains as in the future they will get you to the top of google !!!

I have forgoten how many transport related domains I own now !! it must be around 40 some have lapsed and some I expect I still own .
At the end of the day a search relevent domain means nothing !!!

I strongly feel this is going to be the same !!