Domain name stolen from UK business what to do?

Soldato
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17 Jul 2008
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so a friend stupidly let his domain name get stolen (by a business associate) ..

He has a solicitor but they are old and possibly don't know the best way to proceed..

Are there solicitors in the UK that specialise in this sort of thing?

any name / advice would be appreciated!!
 
Soldato
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29 Dec 2009
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Assuming it's .co.uk/.uk then have a read the Nominet Dispute Resolution Service. It's very easy to use and will be your first step in reclaiming the domain.
 
Soldato
OP
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As above, also has your friend contacted the domain registrar they originally used?

we will call godaddy tomorrow but this is way out of my depth there are 100's of k involved so i really want to hand this off to a company that specialises in this sort of thing
 
Soldato
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we will call godaddy tomorrow but this is way out of my depth there are 100's of k involved so i really want to hand this off to a company that specialises in this sort of thing
ah ok, can't advise on any specialist recovery lawyers unfortunately. perhaps a polite, professional word with the existing lawyer as he may well already have contacts he can reach out to for help?
 
Soldato
OP
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ah ok, can't advise on any specialist recovery lawyers unfortunately. perhaps a polite, professional word with the existing lawyer as he may well already have contacts he can reach out to for help?

My frind has already set his solicitors on the other party but my feeling he is wealth enough to afford legal advice but no so rich he can just say "get it done cost does not matter"

I'm sure this is a very special area and speaking to the right solicitor can be much cheaper
 
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My frind has already set his solicitors on the other party but my feeling he is wealth enough to afford legal advice but no so rich he can just say "get it done cost does not matter"

At the end of the day... a fool and his money etc.

I've been that fool too. I had a hobby site with a domain from 2001 until 2011, renewing it every year. Then one year (2011), I forgot to renew it and only remembered it in the following week but it was too late as it got snapped up by a firm. It became an electrical retail web site. Checked it again now (Nov 2021) and ironically it's up for grabs again. The ship has sailed though I think...
 
Soldato
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UK domains are usually suspended for 3 months after expiry where only the registrant can renew it before it drops and it's up for grabs again.

Also if it's a UK domain that has been stolen, how was it stolen? If the person who stole it has only changed the TAG and name servers / "locked" you out of the domain control panel, then legally it still belongs to the registrant unless it has had a change of registrant too but that usually costs ££ to do via Nominet.
 
Man of Honour
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so a friend stupidly let his domain name get stolen (by a business associate) ..

He has a solicitor but they are old and possibly don't know the best way to proceed..

Are there solicitors in the UK that specialise in this sort of thing?

any name / advice would be appreciated!!

There are, I work for an IP firm and we deal with this sort of thing..
 
Soldato
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unstated.assortment.union
UK domains are usually suspended for 3 months after expiry where only the registrant can renew it before it drops and it's up for grabs again.

Also if it's a UK domain that has been stolen, how was it stolen? If the person who stole it has only changed the TAG and name servers / "locked" you out of the domain control panel, then legally it still belongs to the registrant unless it has had a change of registrant too but that usually costs ££ to do via Nominet.

I'd say this is likely tbh. Business partners have had a fall out and parted ways, agreived party has logged inm, changed the login details & redirected nameservers out of spite.

If that's the case then calling support and explaining the situation should get it resolved after jumping through a few hoops.
 
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