domain of dissolved company

stender · May 25, 2010

I've read previously on here that if a domain is owned by a dissolved company that there is no legal owner of it so it can't be transferred. Is that correct?

Scenario is domain ABC.CO.UK is registered to ABC LTD. The domain is not in use, ABC LTD is listed as dissolved. The domain is not currently suspended.

Question is If I tracked down a director of ABC LTD can they transfer it to me?

What if there was ABC GROUP LTD or ABC UK LTD registered at same address and still in business. Could they get it transferred to their company?

The domain has no site on it and doesnt look like it's ever been used.

If the answers to the above are no.....
If I tell nominet it's dissolved and they suspend it, whats the chances of me catching it? how would/could others pick up on it?

ta very much.

doodlebug · May 25, 2010

Can't you contact the current registrant and offer a few quid, I'm sure they could do with it

They can transfer it to you, If there's no recievers then who else would know about it, it will simply expire when renewal fees show as non paid anyway.

suzi · May 26, 2010

Sometimes abc will be dissolved, but the assets have been transferred to parent co, or abc was bought out and then dissolved - but you could always try contacting them. I'm not sure what would happen if you speak to Nominet. Presumably, they'd try to make contact with the directors etc first to see if there's a story. If not, then it might go suspended and drop.

namealot · Jun 1, 2010

Not sure how much nominet care to be honest as long as someone answers there email so to speak...?

But company law there are ways to get assets from a dissolved /struck off company if its been swallowed by a larger company normally they transfer all the assets to the parent company then dissolve the old company as it appears to be in the old companies name that seams unlikely …? (As under section 1000 of Companies Act 2006 (formerly section 652 of the Companies Act 1985) forfeits its assets and they pass "bona vacantia" to either The Crown, The Duchy of Lancaster or Cornwall, depending on the registered office of the company)

If the name is worth enough....? They/you can try to restore a struck off or dissolved company to the register. It is sometimes possible to make an application to release frozen cash or assets (held bona vacantia) and immediately strike the company off again, (more economically viable,) as it avoids a full company restoration. If a company was trading at the time of strike off it may be eligible for an administrative restoration under sections 1024 – 1049 of the Companies Act 2006.
Or
They can release any assets (held as "bona vacantia") by way of an application to the Treasury solicitor and the Registrar of Companies within sections 1024 - 1029 Companies Act 2006, (formerly 651, 652 and 653 of the Companies Act 1985), for a company restoration , either through court or by means of administrative restoration. In other words, you need to reinstate a struck off or dissolved company by way of a full company restoration.

Depends on why they dissolved the company in the first place ...?

As an indervidual you can buy certain assets from the crown but ..? http://www.bonavacantia.gov.uk/outp...e-vested-in-the-crown-as-bona-vacantia-1.aspx

"The Treasury Solicitor is unable to sell domain names. Since October 2004 domain name registration contracts terminate immediately if the company which registered the domain name is dissolved. We are therefore no longer able to sell domain names registered with Nominet UK."

stender · Jun 1, 2010

Cheers, I'm wondering if it might be easier to tell nom and get it suspended but am wondering if anyone else can pickup that the domain has gone suspended before renewal and will know when it will drop? else I can dropcatch it.

grantw · Jun 1, 2010

stender said:
Cheers, I'm wondering if it might be easier to tell nom and get it suspended but am wondering if anyone else can pickup that the domain has gone suspended before renewal and will know when it will drop? else I can dropcatch it.

Assume that it will be spotted when it goes suspended before renewal, the drop date is random though.

Grant