.org and .org.uk Finance Domains - A Warning

[Bud]

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For those involved in finance and require a CCL (or are considering it), this OFT document will be of interest:

http://www.oft.gov.uk/shared_oft/con...ns/OFT1378.pdf

Consumer Credit Act 1974
Misleading or Otherwise
Undesirable Names

Consultation on the OFT's guidance on the circumstances when names are required to be notified for inclusion on a credit licence and on those which are likely to be deemed unacceptable.

October 2011

Extracts:

"...The recent announcement of a wider range of different suffixes offers the potential for further misleading implications. Even before further liberalisation the OFT has refused to accept the suffix '.org' where the business in question is profit seeking and will continue with this specific approach. Further, the same principle will be adopted more generally. The use of suffixes which are descriptively neutral, such as '.co.uk.' '.com' '.net', will not be challenged. However, where a business intends to use any other suffix in its on-line trading name, then it could mislead. Accordingly use of such a suffix will make a name notifiable even where the substantive element of this on-line name is already on its credit licence. This approach will be subject to early review as the use of different suffixes develops."

and

"...All misleading or otherwise undesirable names sought will be actively challenged by the OFT and misleading or otherwise undesirable names refused."


Now I'm no real expert with this but from what I can understand this seems to back-up the troubles I've heard of with some sites being shutdown overnight.

.org's and .org.uk's need to be treated with great caution.


Also of note:

"...The OFT will not accept applications from profit seeking businesses for names such as 'Helpline', 'Advice Bureau', 'Government' or any other such name which implies that an entity is a charity or some form of public service.

[lethal0r]

"...The OFT will not accept applications from profit seeking businesses for names such as 'Helpline', 'Advice Bureau', 'Government' or any other such name which implies that an entity is a charity or some form of public service.

This is far more important than the domain suffix issue. I would suggest a large proportion of internet users dont know a .org is for non-profits. Hopefully the OFT will spend their time accordingly.