Is this cyber squatting?

[CHR1S]

I have just contacted the current registered "owner" of colmore.co.uk and colmore.uk who has sat on these domains for years and only tangible reason for keeping them was that "the right offer for them wasn't forthcoming". After telling him we were a school he made up all manner of excuses not to sell, he used to live in colmore row and it was similar to his surname.

 

Do I have any grounds to force him into anything seeing as we already own, colmorej.co.uk colmoreinf.co.uk and the respective bham.sch.uk domains too?

 

 

Thanks

 

I will name and shame once I have all the facts at my disposal.

[Steve21]

As you don't own any trademark/copyright on it, it's not being used to slander/attack, or a lapsed registration etc I don't see how you would tbh. No more than "random name" Colmore Infantry Squad could try to get yours.

 

Steve

[TomHD]

Did you offer to buy it on your first contact?

[Willott]

From Nominet DRS:

 

i. Circumstances indicating that the Respondent has registered or otherwise acquired the Domain Name primarily:

 

A.for the purposes of selling, renting or otherwise transferring the Domain Name to the Complainant or to a competitor of the Complainant, for valuable consideration in excess of the Respondent's documented out-of-pocket costs directly associated with acquiring or using the Domain Name;

 

So there may be a route through Nominet - consider what costs would be associated with acquiring a domain name, make an offer, if this is not accepted, consider the DRS route.

[Steve21]

A.for the purposes of selling, renting or otherwise transferring the Domain Name to the Complainant or to a competitor of the Complainant, for valuable consideration in excess of the Respondent's documented out-of-pocket costs directly associated with acquiring or using the Domain Name;

 

That's the point though, that's only if he's bought it just to sell.

 

Seeing it is close to his surname not sure you could argue that. It's not that he contacted the school to try to sell it etc

 

Steve

[Willott]

Just whois'd it, nothing like his surname...

[CHR1S]

Surname - Cullimore

School - Colmore

 

Hmmmm

[Steve21]

Just whois'd it, nothing like his surname...

 

You sure you did right one? Mr G***** Cullimore (Similar, not same ) But my point was it's not like it was purchased and directly tried to be sold to school to make money

 

Steve

[CHR1S]

But what right does he have to say you can have it for X amount, knowing we are a school and then saying when X amount wont be met ... excuses.

[Willott]

This is why I suggested offering a sensible amount, and if he doesn't accept, take through the DRS process - by making a sensible offer, and showing that the domain name is currently not in use (dump the zone file), you could reasonably show that the domain is registered primarily for selling in excess of documented out of pocket expenses for acquiring and using it - it's been registered for 16 years, so I would start go to a max of £60 (1and1 charge £3.49 per year)

 

Just checked, doesn't even have NS on the .co.uk - so that's a good start

Edited June 30, 2015 by Willott

[Willott]

You sure you did right one? Mr G***** Cullimore (Similar, not same )

 

You find me someone who pronounces Cullimore the same as Colmore and I'll either remove them from the gene pool or send them back to primary school...

 

Also, the correct spelling is registered against his name, colmore.co.uk is registered against the company name...

Edited June 30, 2015 by Willott

[ijk]

There is information here: Domain name disputes FAQs | Law Donut

 

.org.uk is available, would that be a better fit for your school?