Extract of Letter:

From: The Royal Bank of Scotland plc

To: Douglas Cosbert

Date: 14 March 2000

Dear Sir

It has come to our attention that you have registered and are holding the domain names rbsnw.co.uk and rbsnw.com.

As these domain names contain company names associated with the Royal Bank of Scotland plc we are concerned at the potential threat of unlawful use of our name and trademarks, even where the websites are not active.

You may be aware of the recent English Court of Appeal case in which successful action was taken against One in a Million Limited, who were dealers in internet domain names.  The decision was that One in a Million Limited had no right to register or hold domain names which clearly belonged to the plaintiffs who were high street companies like the Royal Bank of Scotland plc. One in a Million was ordered by the court to transfer these names to their natural owners. Similarly, Scottish Widows were recently successful in obtaining a court order against Leisure Probe Limited in the Court of Sessions. These cases highlight the requirement that domain name ownership should not infringe the legal rights of any other party.

In view of the above we require that you transfer ownership of rbsnw.co.uk and rbsnw.com and any associated names that you may hold to The Royal Bank of Scotland plc forthwith. We will reimburse reasonable and necessary costs in carrying out the transfer.

We look forward to hearing from you with seven days failing which the Bank will have no option but to take further legal action against you.

This letter is written without prejudice to our whole rights and pleas in this matter and may not be referred to or founded upon in any subsequent court proceedings.

Yours faithfully

Aileen Rose

Solicitor