Nominet tackles 'Domain Registry Services' over bogus invoices

November 2004

Nominet UK, the .uk domain name registry, has obtained injunctions and orders from the High Court against Peter Francis-Macrae and Ultra Technologies Ltd, a company of which Mr Francis-Macrae is the sole director.

The injunctions prevent either defendant from (a) causing any damage to Nominet's computer systems, (b) harassing Nominet staff, (c) using the .uk WHOIS database, or (d) sending any documents in the format of the 'Domain Registry Services' notices circulating earlier this year. The defendants were further ordered to provide Nominet with a list of names and addresses of those to whom they may have sent the bogus invoice letters and to cover the costs incurred by Nominet in rectifying these actions.

Nominet's case alleges that the defendants have misused Nominet's intellectual property rights in its WHOIS service and, by sending bogus 'Domain Expiration Notices' to .uk registrants under the name of Domain Registry Services, have falsely passed themselves off as having some form of official relationship with Nominet. A date for the full hearing of this case, when these interim orders would expire, has not been set. Nominet will also continue to assist the police with their investigations into Domain Registry Services.