Help! Someone's Been Stealing My Business Identity

Whois lookup: hoeplantsharrogate.co.uk

Domain found

Domain name:
hoeplantsharrogate.co.uk

Registrant:
Yell Limited

Registrant type:
UK Limited Company, (Company number: 4205228)

Registrant's address:
Queens Walk
Oxford Road
Reading
Berkshire
RG1 7PT
United Kingdom

Registrar:
Yell Limited [Tag = YELL]

Relevant dates:
Registered on: 04-Jan-2010
Renewal date: 04-Jan-2012
Last updated: 06-Jan-2010

Registration status:
Renewal required.

Name servers:
nsa.yell.com
nsb.yell.com

WHOIS lookup made at 15:11:38 30-Jan-2012

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Send the hosting provider a complain with the required proof.

Just looking at the renewal date (4th Jan 2012), does that mean the domain has expired? if so, why is there still a website? Surely there would just be a message saying the domain has expired?

Jon

So, he hasn't copied material from a site you own?

If he did, you could get it taken down with a DMCA to his host.
Now you'll have to go the trademark infringement route. Hire an attorney to send a cease and desist. You might also contact his host and tell them the problem. You can find the host through who-hosts.com.

That is a serious case of copyright infringement. Immediately sue him.

This isn't my site, but I do know the owner who is unsure of what action to take.

From my understanding, the real business owner doesn't actually have a website of his own, so there is no "stolen content" as such. However it seems as though someone else is using HIS business name, creating a site without his consent, giving out incorrect information.

From hearing other's opinions and by looking at the domain owners, I would assume the best option to do would be to contact yell limited at Yell.com the UK's local business search engine - search for London businesses . They have their own website, and should be able to sort this out.

Jon

I have an 888 # that re-directs to my cell phone for one of my businesses, lots of people do that these days.. In this day and age you don't need to be stuck in an office all day to own a business, so really i see no problem at all with this..

#2 Have you spoke to the person who created the website with the name of "the person who you know that owns a business with this name" and maybe talked to them in a good manner to get to the bottom of this? Or better yet have you gone personally?

That's what i would do, because just because they live in the same city it doesn't mean they have to know every business in that city, now if they don't budge and are asshol*s about it and say something letting you know they know about the naes being similar and they're not gonna do anything about it..Then if your father in law is really upto it he has to seek legal advise

Did he use any marketing services from Yell.com? Because, I had noticed there are many people who do not have website, still using Yell.com to get more orders. I have seen some sites which are created by Yell.com and maintain by it.

As you said, Very first step will be contacting Yell.com and get to know about it....