Hypothetical Domain scenario

superscaper

Some idiot has used my email address as his own (he's done it many times before) but this morning he used it for his Nominet registration, and hence resulting in a new "identity" with his domain added on my account. I've contacted Nominet already, but if I hadn't, hypothetically, what do you think would be the legality of me forcing a transfer (which I can do from my Nominet account) to my own registrar and gaining ownership. The domain name itself is my actual name so I couldn't be accused of cybersquatting. The confusion is that this guy with the same name as me keeps missing out a hyphen (and other variations) in the domain name which end up being domains that I own. I just wonder what would happen if I did do that. (I've left his details alone and informed Nominet so this really is just a hypothetical evil me).

isofa

Well I'm pretty sure if you transfer from one person to another, you have to sign a transfer to say you are the legal registrant and who you are passing it on to, so I'm not sure...

superscaper

isofa wrote: »

Well I'm pretty sure if you transfer from one person to another, you have to sign a transfer to say you are the legal registrant and who you are passing it on to, so I'm not sure...

I'm about 90% sure I wouldn't be able to keep it, what I am sure is that it would be an administrative headache for them if I did try. All it really requires is for Nominet to change the tags themselves, I don't know the procedure for getting Nominet to do it directly (other than it would cost £12) rather than the registrar (that I obviously have no access to), so I'm not sure in that case what if any paperwork there'd be? [evil mode] I could feign ignorance and say I thought I'd been given the domain name, I mean it is my name and why else would the registrar have it put under my email address [/evil mode]

Old_Skool

It's an interesting one.

Depending how the site is registered I dare say you could also have waited for the annual renewal, paid the renewal and forced the transfer that way.

I nearly lost a site once, saved it at the 11th hour. The web-host I was with renewed my hosting package but hadn't linked the Domain renewal to my account.

With more company's buying up domains when the original owner is a bit slow renewing you'd think people would be a bit more careful with their registration details.

isofa

I've handled transfers with nominet quite recently, and they can do single or "mass" transfers, from details with nominet, to transfer a .uk domain it's £10 + VAT via a transfer form: https://www.nominet.org.uk/go/trform.

But you need permission and signatures: the form will need to be completed by the current registrant and the new registrant. Nominet also need a confirmatory letter from both parties agreeing to the transfer. In addition, if either party is an individual Nominet will require identification for this person. This will need to be in the form of a copy of a utility bill (no older than 6 months) or a copy of a driving licence.

Quite thorough! No doubt via the host/registrar this is simpler, but the domain would have to be unlocked ready to transfer to a new account.

superscaper

Old_Skool wrote: »

It's an interesting one.

Depending how the site is registered I dare say you could also have waited for the annual renewal, paid the renewal and forced the transfer that way.

I nearly lost a site once, saved it at the 11th hour. The web-host I was with renewed my hosting package but hadn't linked the Domain renewal to my account.

With more company's buying up domains when the original owner is a bit slow renewing you'd think people would be a bit more careful with their registration details.

I think the annual renewal only just happened and he decided to give updated contact details (i.e. mine). And nominet obviously registered that as being the same as an existing account (i.e. mine).

System

isofa wrote: »

But you need permission and signatures: the form will need to be completed by the current registrant and the new registrant.

But he is effectively the registrant as it appears on his account at Nominet. He is not transferring ownership.

He could totally screw the other guy up by getting Nominet to change the tag. The other guy would then lose any control he might have had through his web host.

superscaper

!!!!!! wrote: »

But he is effectively the registrant as it appears on his account at Nominet. He is not transferring ownership.

He could totally screw the other guy up by getting Nominet to change the tag. The other guy would then lose any control he might have had through his web host.

This is the confusion. I mean, even if there was paperwork it's now within my power to change his postal address details to mine.

superscaper

Just got a couple of emails today about hotel room bookings and compensation for "downgrading", so he's obviously still giving out my email address as his. :rolleyes:. Quite annoying and it's stirring up the hypothetical evil genius in me again.

Old_Skool

What if you we're to reply to the email saying that you haven't booked a room and do not require one - I mean it's true.

It's a good job you're a patient person - many people I know would start replying to the emails if it became a regular event.

superscaper

Old_Skool wrote: »

What if you we're to reply to the email saying that you haven't booked a room and do not require one - I mean it's true.

It's a good job you're a patient person - many people I know would start replying to the emails if it became a regular event.

So far what I can remember is that I've apparently ordered a shipping container of trainers, requested a quote for electric scooters, bought two dresses and now booked a hotel room. (that's all different people my address(es) have been given to). It's not as if it's just the one email address for those, he also mistakenly gives out another variant of the domain (which I also happen to own!). I'm still so far been quite polite but I notice I'm becoming less and less helpful, to begin with I even helped the other people get the right contact details but now I just say "not me, take me off your list" etc. I'm usually very careful about who I give my address out to, and with companies I don't even give that address but their own unique one, but the one he's giving out happens to be the same as the one I give my friends and family and it's the only one therefore vulnerable to spamming because I can't really get rid of, and there he is giving it out to companies and who knows who else.

I think I'm a bit irked also because this person has registered his name (and therefore mine) as a company i.e. Firstname Lastname Limited. Which now precludes me from ever using my name for a company, I can only continue using it just for a business name but I can never get it incorporated now. Can't blame him but I'm slightly paranoid that he obviously wanted my domain to go with it and had to settle for something slightly different so I wonder if at some stage he'll want to make a claim on it. I know he can't because it is my name, but you never know.