uk domain names and the 2012 Olympics

paulofessex

I saw a small article in our local paper regarding how in 2005 on hearing that the Olympics were being held in London a guy, clearly business minded, purchased several (15 in total) domain names with some relevance to the Olympics.

This is as l understand it is a practice what several people do, purchase domain names and when approached by interested parties agree an amount and sell the domain name.

The guy in the article however has been ordered by the courts to hand over the domain names as the Government has introduced new rights and powers. This has of course been done in conjunction with Nominet.

I just find this a bully boy tactics against someone who was no doubt just trying to make a living or extra cash.

Searcher

paulofessex wrote: »

I just find this a bully boy tactics against someone who was no doubt just trying to make a living or extra cash.

Not a cybersquatter trying to rip off the trademark owner then?

corbyboy

It depends on what the domain name is. If it contains trademarked terms, it can be taken back by the trademark owner.

paulofessex

Well thats a point l suppose with regard to trademark owners, didn't give that a thought to be honest, however saying that can the word olympic actaully be trademarked

powerful_Rogue

Only kind of article I can find online relates to a chap registering all the paris olympics type domains - http://news.domainmonster.com/olympic_domain_infringement/

bingo_bango

paulofessex wrote: »

Well thats a point l suppose with regard to trademark owners, didn't give that a thought to be honest, however saying that can the word olympic actaully be trademarked

Absolutely. Go HERE and in the text field type 'olympic'. See how many different results there are by scrolling through the pages.

To see what is covered for London 2012, type 'london' in the first text field, and '2012' in the second. You might be surprised.

jimbms

He may have found that if he had put an actual site up with content that relates to the name he would have been in the clear to keep it. But like ticket touts he tried to make a fast few quid and has got his hands burnt, oh dear how sad never mind.

artbaron

Just a parasite whining when he gets caught out. Great news.