Domain name pain!!

[bsr1976]

Hi, just found this website today, proving to be very useful already!

Anyway, just forming a company however the company name I have chosen, the domain name is actually taken by an old telecoms company in the UK that doesn't exist anymore, I have done the WHOIS search, contacted the domain name provider / admistrator or whatever you want to call them. And basically they have said they have contacted the owner regarding my potential offer.

Is this the normal procedure? Is there anyway to speed this up?

PS, the domain name is up for renewal May 2007.

Thanks for your help.

 

[JustOneUK]

You are stuck with it, unless of course you can find details of the owner and contact them directly. I receive a few emails every now and then asking to buy domain names that I own.

James

 

[Bill.Webster]

I know this is a terribly obvious point, but have you considered other names? Although you might be lucky, your enthusiasm to acquire your ideal domain name from whoever holds it now is unlikely to be shared by the holder. So it could take time, or it could never happen, or they could just charge you an extortionate fee because they think they have got you over a barrel.

So I think you at least ought to have a plan'B' in mind, which is going to involve having another name up your sleeve in case the current holder doesn't play ball.

How crucial is this domain name to your success? Have you got a second choice which is free, and almost as good, and which you could acquire now?

Has the old telecoms company got the COM, CO.UK and BIZ domains for your favourite name? If not you could consider acquiring these now, just in case.

I guess the crunch is going to come when you have to commit to email addresses and website addresses on your business cards and company stationery. Maybe you just need to decide to go with your second-best choice if you have not managed to get hold of your favoured domain by then.

Good Luck!

Bill

 

[mattk]

I know this is a terribly obvious point, but have you considered other names? Although you might be lucky, your enthusiasm to acquire your ideal domain name from whoever holds it now is unlikely to be shared by the holder. So it could take time, or it could never happen, or they could just charge you an extortionate fee because they think they have got you over a barrel.

I'm afraid Bill is right. You've spunked away any chance of getting the domain name you want for a reasonable price, as the current owner knows you want it and does indeed have you over a barrel!

Little story: Company I used to work for emplyed a poncy branding company to come up with a new name after a merger. Branding company returned with name, brand, logo etc. but forgot the domain name. After months of negotiations and £50k changing hands the company got it's domain name and the previous domain name holder got a taxi to his local Porsche dealership (allegedly!).

 

[crus]

If you the that name as the LTD and get it as the TM as well. You can just get the domain anyway, its not as easy as that. But as you would have the TM they don't stand much chance.

Not at all, for starters the domain has been registered in good faith prior to registering a trademark and setting the company up.

This is known as reverse hijacking and is frowned upon and opten seen as wasting ICANN and WIPO judges time.

D

 

[multilingual]

Remember that a lot of the old names may still have a connection with certain companies. This telecom company must have bought it for a reason.

Austin, Morris and Leyland are all old dead brand names and will probably never be used again, but someone still holds the trademark for them.

Are you sure that this name is not already trademarked?

JB

 

[mattk]

If you the that name as the LTD and get it as the TM as well. You can just get the domain anyway, its not as easy as that. But as you would have the TM they don't stand much chance.

Not at all, for starters the domain has been registered in good faith prior to registering a trademark and setting the company up.

This is known as reverse hijacking and is frowned upon and opten seen as wasting ICANN and WIPO judges time.

D[/quote]
Actually the guy who registered iTunes.co.uk long before Apple TMed iTunes had to give up the domain name after a whitewash from Nominet. Looks like they much prefer big business to the little guy.

 

[Coding Monkey]

Actually the guy who registered iTunes.co.uk long before Apple TMed iTunes had to give up the domain name after a whitewash from Nominet. Looks like they much prefer big business to the little guy.

The guy tried selling it, a trademarked name, to Napster, a competitor in order for them to profit from it. They declined and then he redirected it to them regardless. They asked him to stop (cos they obviously had the knowledge to know what would result from it) and, after Apple offering large sums of money for it, the domain name was sent to Nominet as a dispute. Apple won and he received no money. Serves him right for being a greedy git.

 

[bsr1976]

Hi, everyone

Great info! I have a plan B, so will be securing that in the meantime.

Thanks.

 

[VeryMark]

If the company that registered the domain name no longer exists, ownership may have passed to the Crown as 'bona vacantia' and the domain name can then be purchased through the Treasury Solicitor's Department for companies registered in England and Wales and the Queen's & Lords' Remembrancer for companies registered in Scotland.

 

[crus]

bona vacantia, is a costly route and only to be considered in names that are going to be caught.

If you are after a 3 letter, or a keyword domain then consider puchasing via this route.

If the company is still active, just unreachable then it is unlikely that the domain has been divied up with the man.

D

 

[crus]

> some nice names on there at moment.

bids on tulip.co.uk, routefinder.co.uk, guru.co.uk and limbo.co.uk, look good!

Been a while since I bought through there as some major UK players go after the good stuff.

D

 

[VeryMark]

You are right, Crus, it can be a bit pricey, but if ownership has gone to the Crown and you want the name, there isn't much you can do - btw, I'm putting together something re your PM.

 

[soundimage]

I know this is a terribly obvious point, but have you considered other names? Although you might be lucky, your enthusiasm to acquire your ideal domain name from whoever holds it now is unlikely to be shared by the holder. So it could take time, or it could never happen, or they could just charge you an extortionate fee because they think they have got you over a barrel.

I'm afraid Bill is right. You've spunked away any chance of getting the domain name you want for a reasonable price, as the current owner knows you want it and does indeed have you over a barrel!

Little story: Company I used to work for emplyed a poncy branding company to come up with a new name after a merger. Branding company returned with name, brand, logo etc. but forgot the domain name. After months of negotiations and £50k changing hands the company got it's domain name and the previous domain name holder got a taxi to his local Porsche dealership (allegedly!).

I think Matt is right. In most cases once they know you want it your stuffed.

However, i was in the same position as you. Had the perfect business name - the .com was taken but unused. Got in touch with whois and he turned out to be very reasonable and sold it for £130 to me.

So dont give up on it yet, but agree with having a plan B..

 

[Steven F]

I bought the .co.uk for my company (www.bigredorange.co.uk) without any problems, but wanted the .com just to stop anyone missing me by typing the wrong url.

It was originally taken, but due to expire in a few months time, so I used a company that basically sat on the doorstep of the registrar waiting for it to become free. As soon as it became available (the previous owner either forgot to renew it or couldn't be bothered) the domain company I used secured it and it was mine.

They work on an auction basis, you put in a minimum bid for the name ($60 I think) and if no one else is in the running it's yours. If someone else is after it then you bid to see who gets it.

I was very happy with the service. I'm sure there are people here who can tell you names of companies that do this, if not when I return home this evening I can post you the URL.

Steven

 

[webit]

I know this is a terribly obvious point, but have you considered other names? Although you might be lucky, your enthusiasm to acquire your ideal domain name from whoever holds it now is unlikely to be shared by the holder. So it could take time, or it could never happen, or they could just charge you an extortionate fee because they think they have got you over a barrel.

I'm afraid Bill is right. You've spunked away any chance of getting the domain name you want for a reasonable price, as the current owner knows you want it and does indeed have you over a barrel!

Little story: Company I used to work for emplyed a poncy branding company to come up with a new name after a merger. Branding company returned with name, brand, logo etc. but forgot the domain name. After months of negotiations and £50k changing hands the company got it's domain name and the previous domain name holder got a taxi to his local Porsche dealership (allegedly!).

I think Matt is right. In most cases once they know you want it your stuffed.

However, i was in the same position as you. Had the perfect business name - the .com was taken but unused. Got in touch with whois and he turned out to be very reasonable and sold it for £130 to me.

So dont give up on it yet, but agree with having a plan B..

When we went for webit.net the first price came in at 3k. We plugged away - told them we were a non profit making venture, had no cash etc and after a month (including walking away from the deal) got it for £150.