FOAK: Domain stealing

A mate of mine went with one of those web design companies to set up his
website. However, the company in question registered the domain name in
their own name at their own address. This seems wrong to me, as he's the
client and the "owner"[1] and it should have been done in his name.

I guess they do this to protect themselves against clients getting a clue
and transferring the domain away to someone else.

I know there are rules against registrars doing this, but I couldn't find
anything about hosting companies, who I'm guessing are the registrant in
the eyes of nominet.


[1] I realise that for uk domains, no-one gets to "own" the domain, just
rent it out for a bit.

 

I guess the first thing to do is to assume good faith and contact them
asking them to correct the details and pass on the Nominet certificate
if they have it.

It's extremely very unlikely that Nominet would find in their favour if
it went to a dispute - you can quote their policy 3 (a) (v)

http://www.nominet.org.uk/disputes/drs/?contentId=5239

 

I had a hell of a job when doing a favour for a mate - he had an
estate agency which used a local IT bod to set up a (very shit)
website. Same thing happened there, although in this case he pissed
off and became uncontactable. I spent many hours on the phone to the
registrar (tucows, in canada - who proved useless in getting this
resolved). In the end my friend tracked him down and went and sat on
his doorstep until he agreed to transfer the domain back. He still
put in an invoice (£75) for his time doing this, which my mate
unbelievably paid.

 

Thanks Jim, time to step things up.

This one could go that way. They want £80 to release it. Cheeky fuckers.

 

Well, that's a nice proof of bad faith.

I should also point out clause 4 (a) (iii) - I presume there was no
formal contract signed?

 

Dunno, I'll have to ask. It'll expire before any DRS verdict came down,
so might be cheaper to wait for 3 months and simply register it himself.

 

Don't forget that "expiring in 3mo" doesn't mean "can register it afresh
in 3mo" - nearer 6, at least.

Always assuming, of course, the current registrant doesn't renew it...

 

I lost my old Veggie Dave domain within two weeks of forgetting to renew
it. Some company then squatted on it (and wanted around a grand for it)
for close to six years.

--
Veggie Dave
http://www.iq18films.co.uk

"To assert that the earth revolves around the sun is as erroneous as to claim
that Jesus was not born of a virgin." Cardinal Bellarmine

 

Sure - I meant the 3 months after the expiry date when Nominet mess
around, squatting^W suspending it in the hope that you'll cough up £80
for a direct renewal.

In a way, I hope they do. Not because it'll inconvenience my friend,
but it will waste a tiny part of their time and a bit of money.