Domain name speculators are already buying up names of recently merged banks, according to the BBC.

In fact, names are being bought even in the speculation of sales. Earlier this week, as Lehman Brothers was failing and rumors circulated as to who might buy them, the names barclayslehman.com, hsbclehman.com, hsbclehmanbrothers.com and bofalehman.com were all reserved. The buyers are in the Netherlands and New York City, and one domain is registered anonymously.

The same phenomenon is occurring in the U.K., where speculation surrounding the merger of Lloyds TSB with HBOS led someone to buy lloydstsbhbos.com and hboslloydstsb.com.

Some of these domains include a notice that they are for sale. The person who bought bankofamericamerrilllynch.com went further, including a link to an eBay auction where the domain is for sale with a $1,500 reserve. About two days into the auction, no bids have been made. People who reserve domain names with clear trademarks in them routinely lose them in arbitration cases brought, under ICANN's Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy, by the trademark holders.