Microsoft has at last commented on the blunder that resulted in its lapsed hotmail.co.uk domain being snapped up by a private individual.

The person - who asked not to be named - then tried to alert Microsoft to the slip and hand back the domain, much like any decent person would if they saw someone drop a handkerchief, or a wallet, in the street.

However, his attempts to return the domain were ignored. Microsoft only took notice once El Reg got involved.

Anyhow, the software giant is remaining tight-lipped about how such an oversight might have occurred.

Instead, it said in a statement: "Microsoft has resolved this issue. We have put processes in place to ensure there is no recurrence of this eventuality."

What a relief. ®

Related Story

Microsoft forgets to renew hotmail.co.uk domain