UK registry operator sends demand letter, then files UDRP.

UK registry operator Nominet, which oversees the .uk country code, has filed for arbitration to get the domain name Nominet.name.

Nominet began communicating with the domain’s owner last year, and in April sent a demand letter requesting the domain be turned over. The demand letter can be viewed at NotNominet.name.

The owner was defiant, writing on his web site:

…This site and the domain name has NOTHING to do with the British domain name company called Nominet.

ABSOLUTELY NOTHING…

So why is this British company hasslin’ me and my host?

Simple – because they can!

Hell, the dudes didn’t even offer to buy it off me, they just storm in with the jackboots and suits, it sure isn’t my fault that they were too dumb to register it for themselves, they had plenty opportunity to do, if it was gonna be this important to them. I registered it way after .name was introduced. I don’t have any intention of sellin it or using it for anything other than in connection with my family name and for email. Any web site is there because it’s there and it’s NOTHING to do with NOMINET IN THE UK, right ?

Nominet filed a case with National Arbitration Forum a few days ago to try to get the domain name through arbitration. Last year the company won the domain name Nominet.com through arbitration at World Intellectual Property Organization.

Registrar adds new “Express Buy” option that speeds up the domain registration process.

One of the complaints you hear over and over about GoDaddy are the pages and pages of cross-sells you encounter when trying to register a domain name. In fact, some people used the company’s mobile web site to register domain names because it had a shorter and easier process. In response, the company has added an option to its home page called “Express Buy”:

Express Buy does just what it says. I tested it this morning and found that registering a domain name was fast. After submitting your domain and and selecting an available result, you proceed directly to a confirmation page where you can enter a coupon code, select your payment method, and agree to the terms and conditions. Then you proceed to a final page where you enter your payment details and submit your order.

This is a welcome change for GoDaddy customers.

DOMAINfest moves to a new venue for 2010.

DOMAINfest Global, the largest domain name industry conference, is moving to the Fairmont Miramar Hotel in Santa Monica, California this January. Previous conferences were held in Hollywood, California.

The entire hotel has been reserved for guests of the show, which will take place January 26-28, 2010. Registration will open August 15 at a discounted rate of $895. Rates increase to $1,095 on October 1.

Last year more than 600 people attended the conference, including domainers, service providers, bankers, lawyers, and advertising professionals from 26 countries. The show included two major parties: a private party in a reserved section of Universal Studios and a charity event at the Playboy Mansion.

A preliminary agenda and keynote speaker will be announced soon, but conference organizers say “The 2010 conference will focus on the importance of domain names in online marketing, with additional focus on how to use domain names to get the most out of the pending economic recovery.”

DOMAINfest is organized by Oversee.net, parent company of DomainSponsor, SnapNames, and Moniker. Oversee is also considering an East coast conference later in 2010.

Clinic says former employee left with domain names.

A medical clinic in Illinois is suing a former employee over domain names he kept in his name after terminating employment.

According to a post on ChicagoNow.com, the employee registered four domain names (including one very similar to the clinic’s name) with company funds back in 2002. He left the clinic in 2004, but the domain names remained in his name after he left. The clinic just found out about it, and is trying to get the domain names transferred. The ex-employee is allegedly asking for $13,000 to return the domain names.

This is a common occurrence and a reason every company needs a domain name policy. If domain names are held in someone’s name, it should be the owner. I recommend companies register all domain names with a general email address such as domains@companyname.com. If the domain name administrator leaves the company, the IT department can quickly change the forward on the e-mail address to another employee.

Beckstrom gives initial comments about domainers.

In an article about new top level domains and trademarks in today’s Financial Times, ICANN CEO Rod Beckstrom is quoted saying:

“You can look at domainers in many ways. Some see them as cybersquatters, some look at them as entrepreneurs. I think there is a rich and healthy debate to be had.”

Most domainers will view this as a positive statement. I e-mailed Beckstrom to make sure he was quoted in context and get some clarification. He responded verifying the quote and his view on the role of domainers in the domain ecosystem:

I think there are always multiple perspectives on any issue. Not unlike hedge funds. Some countries see them as villains while other market participants see them adding great liquidity to markets. I’m not sure but am open to both perspectives.

Here’s hoping that, under Beckstrom, ICANN will pay more attention to the views of domainers.