The name game

A couple of Internet domain names registered to Forest have just expired.

We chose not to renew them because we haven’t used them for years and it seemed a bit pointless hanging on to them indefinitely.

Truth is, we’ve accumulated a fair number of domain names over the years. Some were used for a variety of campaign websites (or microsites), but others were registered just to stop other people registering or using them.

I’d better explain. If you register a domain name it’s good idea to register several variations of that name. For example:

• amendthesmokingban.com
• amendthesmokingban.org
• amendthesmokingban.net
• amendthesmokingban.info
• amendthesmokingban.eu

There are several very practical reasons for doing this.

One, if someone types .com instead of .org (a common error) it’s useful to ‘own’ both versions so you can arrange for them to be redirected from one to the other rather than be faced with a blank page or a completely different website.

Two - and this is equally important - it’s not unheard of for someone to register a domain name very similar to yours in the hope it may disrupt your business or campaign.

I remember, for example, someone on Twitter using a handle almost identical to one of our Twitter campaign accounts (it differed by one character) and to complete the subterfuge they even used our logo as their profile pic.

Another problem is that finding domain names that precisely match the name of a specific campaign or microsite has become much harder over the years because the name you want has invariably been registered by someone else.

Sometimes it has been registered but isn’t in use. I imagine this is so the registration can be transferred to someone who really wants it and will pay a good price for it.

Therefore, when you see domain names you think you might find a use for in future, it's best to snap them up there and then. For example:

• fighteuintrusion.eu
• nomoremeddling.eu
• saynotoeuintrusion.eu

Anyway, here are more domain names that are currently registered to Forest but are lying dormant, like undercover agents awaiting their instructions:

• actiononchoice.eu
• choicenotcontrol.eu
• choicenotcontrol.com
• choicenotcontrol.info
• choicenotcontrol.me
• consumerchoice.eu
• consumer-choice.eu
• consumer-choice.net
• consumerchoice.org.uk
• europeansmokers.com
• europeansmokers.org
• freesociety.co.uk
• thefreesociety.org
• thefreesociety.net
• forestpetition.eu
• forestpetition.org
• handsoffourpacks.com
• handsoffourpacks.co.uk
• noprimeminister.org.uk
• nothankeu.eu
• nothankeu.com
• plainpacksplainstupid.com
• saveourpubsandclubs.com
• saveourpubsandclubs.net
• saveourpubsandclubs.info
• saveourpubsandclubs.org
• saveourpubsandclubs.org.uk
• saveourpubsandclubs.co.uk
• thefreedomzone.org
• thefreedomzone.info
• thefreedomzone.co.uk

Some are due for renewal in the next few months, when we might let them expire, others are registered for another year or two.

If any of them break cover, I'll let you know.