Listed media group Naspers' subsidiary Media24, which holds the group's print and internet titles, has sent a letter to www.RENTALS24.co.za and sister company www.BONDS24.co.za, insisting that the websites stop using 24 in their company names.

But the websites' owner, Christopher Riley, said Media24 were bullies and that he was prepared to contest the right to use the number. He was issued with the letter in November last year.

You may remember three years ago, Naspers tried to register "24" as a trademark, while intimidating small businesses to either abondon domains ending in 24.com or 24.co.za or transfer ownership of those domains to them. The result (following painful legal fees) then was a victory for the small guy, and Naspers withdrew their trademark registration application. Read more about that incident here: Website firm accuses Naspers of hijacking domain names, and M-Web in 24.com domain tug of war.

Unfortunately, Johan's nobodyowns24.com site is down, but you can view it thanks to archive.org here. nobodyowns24.com

If you search my site for 'Naspers' you'll see I've never had anything positive to say about them. That trend continues; code of ethics my ass.

The Naspers/Media24 Group is in the process of registering "24.com" as a trade mark in South Africa. We (host24.com) have a huge problem with that, since one of the members of that group, M-Web, has started to use their so-called ownership of "24.com" to intimidate small businesses like ourselves to either abondon domains ending in 24.com or 24.co.za, or transfer ownership of those domains to them!

They have objected to the intended trade mark registration, and urge everybody that is passionate about the Internet and/or unfair and restrictive business practices to do the same.