Dear Colleagues.

This site has been running for some time now, and we have already served
a cease and desist letter on it about 6 months ago.

We haven't up to now taken the steps of registering every single
combination of The+university+birmingham inclusive of the all suffixes,
as I think it would be quite clear to most users that this dire site
isn't really a proper institution offering. Our biggest problem was
however that he was publishing a email address of [log in to unmask]
and therefore inviting communication about a particular institution -
hence the letter was issued.

I have been keeping an eye on the site for about 9 months now, and I
think this latest move of trying to sell the domain names shows that he
has received more than one letter and is now looking for an exit
strategy rather the sites promised development plan.

I really don't think we would be looking to buy our domain, as I'm sure
that he could easily move the site to yet another combination of
hyphenated, underscored .org or .ws or .biz etc. and start the whole
process again.

Regards

David

David R. Supple
Web Strategy Manager
Team Leader Corporate Web Team
CIS Division, Information Services
University of Birmingham

Email: [log in to unmask]
Team email: [log in to unmask]
Web: http://www.bham.ac.uk
Tel: 0121 414 2745

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-----Original Message-----
From: List for the UK HE community to discuss all aspects of managing an
institut [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Tim
Bentley
Sent: 11 January 2002 08:35
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: www.insert_your_institutions_name-university.co.uk!


There is also the issue here that incorrect information could be
supplied, and of course who actually asked this person to do this?  What
is the procedure for taking the site down?  Cybersquatting even
providing what looks like a *very* low grade web page with it is still
very very poor.

I have passed this information to our management team for their action,
and I suspect that our Marketing Director is going to be somewhat
unhappy with this person thwarting our insistence on a corporate style
for publications such as the main web site.

Can anyone comment on the legal issue of misrepresentation here?  For
instance www.bradford-university.co.uk is most certainly not us, nor is
it sanctioned by us, yet it gives the impression of being us - despite
the 'disclaimer'.

On another note, half of the links are wrong, and some are not even
anything to do with us!  For instance the Management Centre link is
badly wrong, linking to some site in New Zealand and the name of the
centre changed to the Bradford University School of Management back in
July of last year!

And this person wants 500 pounds?

Regards,

Tim Bentley
Senior Computer Officer


Jeremy Harmer wrote:
>
> He didn't actually say *where* I should pass this... note it mentions
> 'us', and then goes on to talk about Plymouth! Anyone else had one?
>
> Jeremy.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: don macnab
> To: Jeremy Harmer
> Sent: 10/01/02 19:21
> Subject: RE: www.leeds-university.co.uk
>
> Hi Jeremy,
> Could you also pass on this message..
>
> I have identified in the form of http://www.leeds-university.co.uk an
> excellent title to head your internet/WEB promotion which could become
> the popular point of contact for all university
> business and activity.
> You may not see it at the moment but for a serious
> venture into university WEB business and marketing the
> domain name plymouth-university.co.uk presents
> a popular and professional image for student
> consideration.
> I know I don't have the tools and sponsorship to
> achieve the sites full potential but I have realised
> the enormous benefits and advantages for an
> organisation to have a catchy, informative and
> recognisable banner to market its WEB development
> and promotion.
> I believe the domain name will in time be worth so
> much in terms of presence and may in fact be
> invaluable as other universities strive for the same
> advantage.
> In order to let this happen I must pass the domain
> name on to the authorities who can make the proper
> investment.
> I therefore will only ask for compensation of the loss
> to my business.
> No one can put a value on an invaluable object but I
> believe ?2500 would suffice for the work I have done.
>
> Yours sincerely,
>
> Don MacNab (Owner and Webmaster)

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