Re: Should we just be phasing out .co.uk
re .ltd.uk and .plc.uk domains
I heard a story from a Business Link adviser so can't vouch for the accuracy but...
There was a business that wanted to register [example].co.uk but found someone else was using it so they had the bright idea of registering [example].ltd.uk
They did well, expanded, acquired other businesses and it became time to change company designation to plc (public limited company). To comply with the rules (.ltd.uk only available to uk limited companies) they had to drop the ltd.uk registration. Instead they got [example].plc.uk
That meant a significant cost to rebrand website, letterhead, business cards, advertising, vehicle signwriting etc. wherever the web & email address used [example].ltd.uk
Unfortunately the expanded business didn't remain as a plc, too difficult to manage many diverse divisions so they divested themselves of some. The plc designation was no longer appropriate and they reverted to being a limited company, no longer permitted to use [example].plc.uk and so faced the cost and hassle of rebranding again.
The moral of the story: forget about ltd.uk and plc.uk domains, not only do they look odd to the general public but also the limitations on their use could become a problem.
Biting the hand that feeds IT
