BBC reaction to this site The name of this site is BBCtvLicence.com. It was created on 30 September 2006. Within two weeks, a large number of identical or similar domain names were purchased by another party. A search of the Whois domain name registry revealed that the BBC was behind these purchases. The BBC purchased bbctvlicence.org and bbctvlicence.biz on 12 October 2006 at 5.10pm, and bbctvlicence.org at 5.11pm. These purchases do not affect the running of this site, but it is fascinating to see how the BBC seeks to protect its image and limit opportunities for other points of view. The Whois reports are reproduced below. As the text is quite detailed, references to the BBC are highlighted in blue. bbctvlicence.org Domain ID:D15008140-LRMS Domain Name:BBCTVLICENCE.INFO Created On:12-Oct-2006 17:10:59 UTC Last Updated On:12-Oct-2006 18:30:58 UTC Expiration Date:12-Oct-2008 17:10:59 UTC Sponsoring Registrar:eMarkMonitor (R151-LRMS) Status:CLIENT DELETE PROHIBITED Status:CLIENT TRANSFER PROHIBITED Status:CLIENT UPDATE PROHIBITED Status:TRANSFER PROHIBITED Registrant ID:mKn-14514438 Registrant Name:. . Registrant Organization:British Broadcasting Corporation Registrant Street1:Broadcasting House Registrant Street2:Portland Place Registrant Street3: Registrant City:London Registrant State/Province:- Registrant Postal Code:W1A 1AA Registrant Country:GB Registrant Phone:+44.02080083595 Registrant Phone Ext.: Registrant FAX:+44.02080082199 Registrant FAX Ext.: Registrant Email:domain.manager@bbc.co.uk Admin ID:mKn-14466959 Admin Name:Domain Manager Admin Organization:British Broadcasting Corporation Admin Street1:Broadcasting House Admin Street2:Portland Place Admin Street3: Admin City:London Admin State/Province:- Admin Postal Code:W1A 1AA Admin Country:GB Admin Phone:+44.02080083595 Admin Phone Ext.: Admin FAX:+44.02080082199 Admin FAX Ext.: Admin Email:domain.manager@bbc.co.uk Billing ID:mKn-14445398 Billing Name:Master Administrator Billing Organization:British Broadcasting Corporation Billing Street1:Broadcast Centre, Media Village Billing Street2:201 Wood Lane Billing Street3: Billing City:London Billing State/Province:- Billing Postal Code:W12 7TP Billing Country:GB Billing Phone:+44.02080082369 Billing Phone Ext.: Billing FAX:+44.02080082199 Billing FAX Ext.: Billing Email:domain.manager@bbc.co.uk Tech ID:mKn-14466960 Tech Name:Domain Technician Tech Organization:British Broadcasting Corporation Tech Street1:Broadcasting House Tech Street2:Portland Place Tech Street3: Tech City:London Tech State/Province:- Tech Postal Code:W1A 1AA Tech Country:GB Tech Phone:+44.02080083596 Tech Phone Ext.: Tech FAX:+44.02080082199 Tech FAX Ext.: Tech Email:domain.technician@bbc.co.uk Name Server:NS.BBC.CO.UK Name Server:NS1.THDO.BBC.CO.UK bbctvlicence.biz Domain Name: BBCTVLICENCE.BIZ Domain ID: D14840934-BIZ Sponsoring Registrar: EMARKMONITOR, INC. Sponsoring Registrar IANA ID: 292 Domain Status: clientDeleteProhibited Domain Status: clientTransferProhibited Domain Status: clientUpdateProhibited Registrant ID: MKN-14514438 Registrant Name: . . Registrant Organization: British Broadcasting Corporation Registrant Address1: Broadcasting House Registrant Address2: Portland Place Registrant City: London Registrant State/Province: - Registrant Postal Code: W1A 1AA Registrant Country: Great Britain (UK) Registrant Country Code: GB Registrant Phone Number: +44.02080083595 Registrant Facsimile Number: +44.02080082199 Registrant Email: domain.manager@bbc.co.uk Registrant Application Purpose: P1 Registrant Nexus Category: C21 Administrative Contact ID: MKN-14515529 Administrative Contact Name: Domain Manager Administrative Contact Organization: British Broadcasting Corporation Administrative Contact Address1: Broadcasting House Administrative Contact Address2: Portland Place Administrative Contact City: London Administrative Contact State/Province: - Administrative Contact Postal Code: W1A 1AA Administrative Contact Country: Great Britain (UK) Administrative Contact Country Code: GB Administrative Contact Phone Number: +44.02080083595 Administrative Contact Facsimile Number: +44.02080082199 Administrative Contact Email: domain.manager@bbc.co.uk Administrative Application Purpose: P1 Administrative Nexus Category: C21 Billing Contact ID: MKN-14445398 Billing Contact Name: Master Administrator Billing Contact Organization: British Broadcasting Corporation Billing Contact Address1: Broadcast Centre, Media Village Billing Contact Address2: 201 Wood Lane Billing Contact City: London Billing Contact State/Province: - Billing Contact Postal Code: W12 7TP Billing Contact Country: Great Britain (UK) Billing Contact Country Code: GB Billing Contact Phone Number: +44.02080082369 Billing Contact Facsimile Number: +44.02080082199 Billing Contact Email: domain.manager@bbc.co.uk Billing Application Purpose: P1 Billing Nexus Category: C21 Technical Contact ID: MKN-14515530 Technical Contact Name: Domain Technician Technical Contact Organization: British Broadcasting Corporation Technical Contact Address1: Broadcasting House Technical Contact Address2: Portland Place Technical Contact City: London Technical Contact State/Province: - Technical Contact Postal Code: W1A 1AA Technical Contact Country: Great Britain (UK) Technical Contact Country Code: GB Technical Contact Phone Number: +44.02080083596 Technical Contact Facsimile Number: +44.02080082199 Technical Contact Email: domain.technician@bbc.co.uk Technical Application Purpose: P1 Technical Nexus Category: C21 Name Server: NS.BBC.CO.UK Name Server: NS1.THDO.BBC.CO.UK Name Server: NS1.THLS.BBC.CO.UK Name Server: NS1.THNY.BBC.CO.UK Created by Registrar: EMARKMONITOR, INC. Last Updated by Registrar: EMARKMONITOR, INC. Domain Registration Date: Thu Oct 12 17:10:09 GMT 2006 Domain Expiration Date: Sat Oct 11 23:59:59 GMT 2008 Domain Last Updated Date: Thu Oct 12 18:30:13 GMT 2006 bbctvlicence.info Domain ID:D15008140-LRMS Domain Name:BBCTVLICENCE.INFO Created On:12-Oct-2006 17:10:59 UTC Last Updated On:12-Oct-2006 18:30:58 UTC Expiration Date:12-Oct-2008 17:10:59 UTC Sponsoring Registrar:eMarkMonitor (R151-LRMS) Status:CLIENT DELETE PROHIBITED Status:CLIENT TRANSFER PROHIBITED Status:CLIENT UPDATE PROHIBITED Status:TRANSFER PROHIBITED Registrant ID:mKn-14514438 Registrant Name:. . Registrant Organization:British Broadcasting Corporation Registrant Street1:Broadcasting House Registrant Street2:Portland Place Registrant Street3: Registrant City:London Registrant State/Province:- Registrant Postal Code:W1A 1AA Registrant Country:GB Registrant Phone:+44.02080083595 Registrant Phone Ext.: Registrant FAX:+44.02080082199 Registrant FAX Ext.: Registrant Email:domain.manager@bbc.co.uk Admin ID:mKn-14466959 Admin Name:Domain Manager Admin Organization:British Broadcasting Corporation Admin Street1:Broadcasting House Admin Street2:Portland Place Admin Street3: Admin City:London Admin State/Province:- Admin Postal Code:W1A 1AA Admin Country:GB Admin Phone:+44.02080083595 Admin Phone Ext.: Admin FAX:+44.02080082199 Admin FAX Ext.: Admin Email:domain.manager@bbc.co.uk Billing ID:mKn-14445398 Billing Name:Master Administrator Billing Organization:British Broadcasting Corporation Billing Street1:Broadcast Centre, Media Village Billing Street2:201 Wood Lane Billing Street3: Billing City:London Billing State/Province:- Billing Postal Code:W12 7TP Billing Country:GB Billing Phone:+44.02080082369 Billing Phone Ext.: Billing FAX:+44.02080082199 Billing FAX Ext.: Billing Email:domain.manager@bbc.co.uk Tech ID:mKn-14466960 Tech Name:Domain Technician Tech Organization:British Broadcasting Corporation Tech Street1:Broadcasting House Tech Street2:Portland Place Tech Street3: Tech City:London Tech State/Province:- Tech Postal Code:W1A 1AA Tech Country:GB Tech Phone:+44.02080083596 Tech Phone Ext.: Tech FAX:+44.02080082199 Tech FAX Ext.: Tech Email:domain.technician@bbc.co.uk Name Server:NS.BBC.CO.UK Name Server:NS1.THDO.BBC.CO.UK bbctvlicence.net Domain Name: BBCTVLICENCE.NET Registrar: EMARKMONITOR INC. DBA MARKMONITOR Whois Server: whois.markmonitor.com Referral URL: http://www.markmonitor.com Name Server: NS.BBC.CO.UK Name Server: NS1.THLS.BBC.CO.UK Name Server: NS1.THNY.BBC.CO.UK Name Server: NS1.THDO.BBC.CO.UK Status: REGISTRAR-LOCK EPP Status: clientDeleteProhibited EPP Status: clientTransferProhibited EPP Status: clientUpdateProhibited Updated Date: 12-Oct-2006 Creation Date: 12-Oct-2006 Expiration Date: 12-Oct-2008 The BBC also purchased these: bbctvl.info Registrant Organization:British Broadcasting Corporation Created On:12-Oct-2006 17:09:00 UTC Last Updated On:12-Oct-2006 18:28:52 UTC Expiration Date:12-Oct-2008 17:09:00 UTC bbctvlicencing.info Registrant Organization:British Broadcasting Corporation Created On:12-Oct-2006 17:13:23 UTC Last Updated On:12-Oct-2006 18:33:32 UTC Expiration Date:12-Oct-2008 17:13:23 UTC bbctvlicense.info Registrant Organization:British Broadcasting Corporation Created On:12-Oct-2006 17:16:19 UTC Last Updated On:12-Oct-2006 18:35:54 UTC Expiration Date:12-Oct-2008 17:16:19 UTC bbctvlicensing.info Registrant Organization:British Broadcasting Corporation Created On:12-Oct-2006 17:25:37 UTC Last Updated On:12-Oct-2006 17:39:59 UTC Expiration Date:12-Oct-2008 17:25:37 UTC bbctvl.com Registrant: British Broadcasting Corporation Created on..............: 2006-Oct-12 Expires on..............: 2008-Oct-12 bbctvlicencing.com Registrant: British Broadcasting Corporation Created on..............: 2006-Oct-12 Expires on..............: 2008-Oct-12 bbctvlicense.com Registrant: British Broadcasting Corporation Created on..............: 2006-Oct-12 Expires on..............: 2008-Oct-12 bbctvlicensing.com Registrant: British Broadcasting Corporation Created on..............: 2006-Oct-12 Expires on..............: 2008-Oct-12 bbctvl.org Created On:12-Oct-2006 17:09:45 UTC Last Updated On:12-Oct-2006 18:29:44 UTC Expiration Date:12-Oct-2008 17:09:45 UTC bbctvlicencing.org Registrant Organization:British Broadcasting Corporation Created On:12-Oct-2006 17:14:06 UTC Last Updated On:12-Oct-2006 18:34:22 UTC Expiration Date:12-Oct-2008 17:14:06 UTC bbctvlicense.org Registrant Organization:British Broadcasting Corporation Created On:12-Oct-2006 17:17:56 UTC Last Updated On:12-Oct-2006 18:36:56 UTC Expiration Date:12-Oct-2008 17:17:56 UTC bbctvlicensing.org Created On:12-Oct-2006 17:26:53 UTC Last Updated On:12-Oct-2006 17:40:28 UTC Expiration Date:12-Oct-2008 17:26:53 UTC bbctvl.net Registrant: British Broadcasting Corporation Created on..............: 2006-Oct-12 Expires on..............: 2008-Oct-12 bbctvlicencing.net Registrant: British Broadcasting Corporation Created on..............: 2006-Oct-12 Expires on..............: 2008-Oct-12 bbctvlicense.net Registrant: British Broadcasting Corporation Created on..............: 2006-Oct-12 Expires on..............: 2008-Oct-12 bbctvlicensing.net Registrant: British Broadcasting Corporation Created on..............: 2006-Oct-12 Expires on..............: 2008-Oct-12 bbctvl.biz Registrant Organization: British Broadcasting Corporation Domain Registration Date: Thu Oct 12 17:07:34 GMT 2006 Domain Expiration Date: Sat Oct 11 23:59:59 GMT 2008 bbctvlicencing.biz Registrant Organization: British Broadcasting Corporation Domain Registration Date: Thu Oct 12 17:12:11 GMT 2006 Domain Expiration Date: Sat Oct 11 23:59:59 GMT 2008 bbctvlicense.biz Registrant Organization: British Broadcasting Corporation Domain Registration Date: Thu Oct 12 17:14:30 GMT 2006 Domain Expiration Date: Sat Oct 11 23:59:59 GMT 2008 bbctvlicensing.biz Registrant Organization: British Broadcasting Corporation Domain Registration Date: Thu Oct 12 17:18:45 GMT 2006 Domain Expiration Date: Sat Oct 11 23:59:59 GMT 2008 A few days later, the BBC added five more to their collection: bbctvlicence.co.uk Registrant: British Broadcasting Corporation Registered on: 16-Oct-2006 Renewal date: 16-Oct-2008 bbctvl.co.uk Registrant: British Broadcasting Corporation Registered on: 16-Oct-2006 Renewal date: 16-Oct-2008 bbctvlicencing.co.uk Registrant: British Broadcasting Corporation Registered on: 16-Oct-2006 Renewal date: 16-Oct-2008 bbctvlicense.co.uk Registrant: British Broadcasting Corporation Registered on: 16-Oct-2006 Renewal date: 16-Oct-2008 bbctvlicensing.co.uk Registrant: British Broadcasting Corporation Registered on: 16-Oct-2006 Renewal date: 16-Oct-2008 The BBC must have money to burn. Fortunately, it's not mine. Update, November 2009: I missed a few: bbclicence.com Name Server: BBC.CO.UK Registered on: 06-feb-2007 Renewal date: 06-feb-2011 bbclicence.co.uk Registrant: British Broadcasting Corporation Registered on: 06-feb-2007 Renewal date: 06-feb-2011 bbclicence.biz Registrant: British Broadcasting Corporation Registered on: 06-feb-2007 Renewal date: 05-feb-2011 bbclicence.org Registrant: British Broadcasting Corporation Registered on: 06-feb-2007 Renewal date: 06-feb-2011 bbclicence.info Registrant: British Broadcasting Corporation Registered on: 06-feb-2007 Renewal date: 06-feb-2011 bbclicence.net Name Server: BBC.CO.UK Registered on: 06-feb-2007 Renewal date: 06-feb-2011 Update, February 2010: it appears the BBC thinks this website is engaged in "questionable purposes". A member of the public (thanks, Chug) applied to the BBC under the Freedom of Information Act to ask why they purchased the above domain names. The BBC replied: "Prevention of damage to the TV Licensing brand caused by similarly worded sites being used for illegal or questionable purposes". Click here for the full BBC FIO response, 10 February 2010