Liberal Democrats- Just as bent as the others?

Good old Dr Rant has made a rather unsettling discovery about the forthcoming electoral ding-dong in Bedford, destined to feature the heroic Dr Monk. Dr Informed has made his distain for Dr Monk's outrageous moral fortitude quite clear, but if there's one thing worse than rocking the boat - it's foul play!

It would appear that the day after Barry Monk announced his intentions, and the creation of a new political party called 'Save Bedford Hospital', the domain names 'savebedfordhospital' were registered by some Liberal Democrats, thus preventing Dr Monk's party from having their name on their website. Not only that, but the domain names in question now link to the Liberal Democrat candidate's web site.

Now not only is this highly questionable behaviour, but it runs contrary to the regulations that govern the registering of internet domain names. It's just not cricket I tell you!

With the bit firmly between his pearly white teeth, Dr Informed decided to 'prod' the offending Lib Dem scoundrels with a gentle email:

Dear Honourable and Noble Liberal Democrat Foot Soldier Salt-of-the-Earth types:

It would appear that you are the registrants of the following websites:

www.savebedfordhospital.co.uk
www.savebedfordhospital.com
www.savebedfordhospital.net

These websites were registered on the 18th of September 2006, and link directly to a Liberal Democrat website.

Here's the good bit:

There's a chap called Dr Barry Monk who works at the hospital. You may have heard of him. Well, he's announced his intention to contest the parliamentary seat at the next election in protest at the downgrading of Bedford Hospital. He announced the formation of a new party - the 'Save Bedford Hospital' party. You'll never guess what date he announced that! Go on, have a guess! What was that?

Yes! It was the 17th of September 2006. Astonishing coincidence isn't it?

Now, I'm a mild mannered chap, but some people have claimed that this is a cynical and underhanded ploy on your part to interrupt Dr Monk's campaign - how cynical is that. However, what you've done could well be considered 'behaviour in breech of the ICANN regulations on the registration of domain names'. Here's my favourite bit:

(iv) by using the domain name, you have intentionally attempted to attract, for commercial gain, Internet users to your web site or other on-line location, by creating a likelihood of confusion with the complainant's mark as to the source, sponsorship, affiliation, or endorsement of your web site or location or of a product or service on your web site or location.

Oh dear! Have a look at the rest on Dr Rant's blog - www.drrant.net

So what happens now? Well, it's all about to kick off from what I hear, and it won't be very pretty for the Liberal Democrats in Bedford - quite counter productive you could say, especially if it all gets a bit mucky (if you know what I mean). If I were you I would consider quietly handing over the domain names to Dr Monk (if he so wishes) and keep your heads down. It's a good job the Conservatives didn't register 'www.libdems.org.uk' before you guys isn't it?

Yours with the deepest of affection


Dr Informed