A heated competition between two UK-based chimney sweep firms has escalated into an online dispute involving domain name registration and accusations of defamation. The conflict centers on David Sudworth, founder of Mr Soot, and the owners of rival company Sparkling Flues.
The dispute began after Mr. Sudworth expanded his Wigan-based business into Greater Manchester, an area already served by Sparkling Flues, which is owned by Living Innovations. Shortly after Mr. Sudworth's expansion, two website domains, mr.soot.co.uk and mrsoot.co.uk, were registered. These domains redirected users to a webpage titled "Welcome to Mr Soot - Back stabber of the year," which featured an altered image of Mr. Sudworth holding a mock award.
Mr. Sudworth alleged that Sparkling Flues and Living Innovations had shared "offensive and derogatory content" intended to damage his business and had unfairly used his trademarked name. He claimed the websites appeared following a "commercial dispute" with his direct competitor.
Living Innovations, established by Emma and Paul Roddy in 2015, argued that the websites were not abusive as they were not being sold or used to promote a rival business. The company also cited "exceptional personal circumstances" for its directors at the time.
A legal ruling by Nominet, the UK's domain name watchdog, found that Living Innovations was "more likely than not" aware of Mr. Soot's business before registering the disputed domains. Nominet determined that the domains were "inherently likely to confuse" potential customers into believing they were associated with Mr. Sudworth's legitimate business. The watchdog ruled that the sites were "unfairly detrimental" to Mr. Soot's trademark rights and ordered their transfer to Mr. Sudworth.
Following the ruling, the mrsoot.co.uk domain now redirects to the official Mr Soot website, while mr.soot.co.uk displays an error page. Paul Roddy, speaking for Living Innovations, stated, "We respect the expert's decision and do not intend to pursue the matter further."
Mr. Soot operates in Manchester, Liverpool, Preston, and Stockport, with a training center in Wigan. Sparkling Flues services the Manchester area. The chimney sweep industry has reportedly seen an increase in business due to rising energy costs prompting households to utilize traditional fireplaces. Emma Roddy, who was once highlighted as Manchester's only female chimney sweep, is understood to no longer be working in the industry.