UK companies have been failing to grasp the importance of protecting their brand on the internet.

This is caused by making online management the responsibility of an individual within their organisation.

Less than one per cent of UK companies have appointed someone to make sure the company's domain names have been registered, protected and managed properly, according to research was carried out by domain name registrar, NetNames.

Jonathan Robinson, chief executive of NetBenefit, parent company of NetNames, said: "Not having anyone responsible for domain names leaves a company extremely vulnerable. Not only is business potentially diverted away from the company, but the strength of the brand is compromised if web sites containing a company's trade names are held by competitors or cybersquatters."