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Company Infomation
Posted: Wed 07 Jul, 2004 13.32
by Aston
Hi there,
Just a quick question really, does anyone know a website that lists UK companies? Basically am in a dispute with my old landlord and it's going to the small claims court.
He's submitted evidence from a couple of "companies", but I have a sneaking suspicion that they might not exist...
The statement has a company registration number, is there anywhere this can be varified?
Cheers,
James
Posted: Wed 07 Jul, 2004 14.27
by James Hatts
Posted: Wed 07 Jul, 2004 15.07
by Martin
Good luck Aston,
It would be interesting to hear how you get on.
Posted: Wed 07 Jul, 2004 15.24
by Aston
Fantastic, cheers for that. I've checked it and the company DOES exist, but it has totally different contact details, but that's quite concevable.
Was deffo worth a check though...
Will let you know how it goes
Posted: Wed 07 Jul, 2004 16.55
by DJGM
Out of curiosity, I searched for "Netscape" on the Companies House website. I was surprised to see that
there are currently seven companies registered with the Netscape name, and it looks to me as though
some of them have nothing commercially to do with the internet software company owned by AOL.
Two of them are listed as "DISSOLVED" - Netscape Limited, based in Birkenhead, and Netscape Direct,
based in Surrey. Out of the other "Netscapes", the only one that appears to be genuinely attributed
to the real thing, is Netscape Communications Ltd, as it's registered office address, is also the same
address as AOL UK (80 Hammersmith Road, London). I'm sure the other companies registered
with Companies House, using the Netscape name, are totally different companies.
The only possible exception could be "Netscape Computing Limited", but I doubt it. I'm 100% sure
that "Netscape Films" is totally unrelated to the real Netscape. One question that comes to mind
here . . . can AOL take legal action against these other companies using the Netscape name?
Realisticaly, "Netscape" isn't a generic word like "Windows", yet Microsoft have been persistently
launching seperate legal actions against Lindows Inc, for using a company name that sounds
like "Windows", and for selling an OS product that sounds like "Windows". The company
eventually bowed down, and changed their product name to "Linspire".
With that in mind, I think AOL do have a case against those other "Netscape" companies.
Posted: Wed 07 Jul, 2004 17.19
by DAS
DJGM wrote:Out of curiosity, I searched for "Netscape" on the Companies House website. I was surprised to see that
there are currently seven companies registered with the Netscape name, and it looks to me as though
some of them have nothing commercially to do with the internet software company owned by AOL.
Two of them are listed as "DISSOLVED" - Netscape Limited, based in Birkenhead, and Netscape Direct,
based in Surrey. Out of the other "Netscapes", the only one that appears to be genuinely attributed
to the real thing, is Netscape Communications Ltd, as it's registered office address, is also the same
address as AOL UK (80 Hammersmith Road, London). I'm sure the other companies registered
with Companies House, using the Netscape name, are totally different companies.
The only possible exception could be "Netscape Computing Limited", but I doubt it. I'm 100% sure
that "Netscape Films" is totally unrelated to the real Netscape. One question that comes to mind
here . . . can AOL take legal action against these other companies using the Netscape name?
Realisticaly, "Netscape" isn't a generic word like "Windows", yet Microsoft have been persistently
launching seperate legal actions against Lindows Inc, for using a company name that sounds
like "Windows", and for selling an OS product that sounds like "Windows". The company
eventually bowed down, and changed their product name to "Linspire".
With that in mind, I think AOL do have a case against those other "Netscape" companies.
It's very common to find more than one company with the same name. Mostly, these are harmless and it isn't worth taking action. In addition, it's not a simple thing making a company change its name. The company would have to prove that the other is damaging its business or its reputation by using the same trading name. It's even harder if the company being taken action against registered its name before the one taking action.
Posted: Wed 07 Jul, 2004 21.38
by Larry Scutta
Interestingly ITV PLC was, until 3/12/2003 called:
2232ND SINGLE MEMBER SHELF INVESTMENT COMPANY LIMITED
The very definition of the phrase buying a company off the shelf
Posted: Thu 08 Jul, 2004 13.22
by Aston
Larry Scutta wrote:Interestingly ITV PLC was, until 3/12/2003 called:
2232ND SINGLE MEMBER SHELF INVESTMENT COMPANY LIMITED
The very definition of the phrase buying a company off the shelf
And Central Television is now a Limited company again...
Posted: Thu 08 Jul, 2004 23.06
by Ed Hammond
Well, if Central is back, there's hope for the world.
I pursued a small claim against a former landlord too. We refused to move into the flat because it was an utter dive (having foolishly realised that, clearly, when we'd been shown around artfully placed rugs, throws, furniture etc had disguised the utter horror - more the estate agent's fault than the landlord's though) and he kept our first month's rent and our deposit, amounting to, well, a lot of money. We got it back though. Mianly because my flatmate is a barrister! Ha ha.