Is it alright to use the logo of previous owner?

was thinking in using the previous site content (since it's on archive.org) and logo.

Search for all trademarks related to that domain name. Quite often, companies trademark both the actual name and the logo for it.

If the name and logo aren't trademarked (or the trademarks have expired) you'll likely have no issues using both.

Personally, I wouldn't use a logo that someone else made and is now associated with a seemingly defunct project. But to each its own.

Jona4s said:

Could I get in trouble if I were to use the site previous logo / design?

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yes

Jona4s said:

There was a social network from 2000 - 2020, where the domain expired. I guess they gave up on the site. Now I own the domain and was thinking in using the previous site content (since it's on archive.org) and logo.

Could I get in trouble if I were to use the site previous logo / design?

Have you ever done something similar? I mean is it a common practice for expired domains?

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no u can't.
create your own logo and new content

In simple terms, it's stealing. You have no rights to another company's property unless it's acquired through legal means.

It's much more than trademarks, but also copyrights and basically fraudulent (mis)representation. Really asking for trouble.

Even if it wasn't registered, there is often common law designs registration in many countries. Once you create something it's yours, you own it.

Create your own logo or get a cheap one from fiverr.com or similar logo design sites.

Hi

I was interested in similar usage of a defunct logo and found some info on the subject

https://www.quora.com/Trademark-Law...heir-logo-image-in-nostalgia-products-legally

i guess it depends on "fair usage" and other circumstances

then again, it's a past creative, that's left to die.....which can be resurrected and repurposed.

if.....

imo...

Well if you reached out to them, and offered them a small sum, and got their permission on a signed document, I guess then it is ok.

Otherwise as everyone has said it is copyright infringement.

I have taken down many websites that stole designs I created over the past few years....yup...I didnt even let Geocities or Freeservers sites get away with my designs. So no, you cant. Why do you want to pretend it is them? What if they had legal issues?

Abdullah Abdullah said:

Why do you want to pretend it is them? What if they had legal issues?

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Because I keep getting emails from past members via my landing page contact form, asking if the site will be back and all past content available.

So I figure I could keep things as they were for 2 decades, including the design.

Absolutely not, that is a lawsuit and lost domain waiting to happen.

This can't be a real question?

If you can wait another 90-120 years you can do with it whatever you want, depending on the jurisdiction.

You can probably pursue their path and ideas, but get your own logo and content.

As others have said get another logo created, your own fresh one which can save you potentially alot of legal hot water.

Jona4s said:

Because I keep getting emails from past members via my landing page contact form, asking if the site will be back and all past content available.

So I figure I could keep things as they were for 2 decades, including the design.

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for 2 decades? Do you even know why they did close? Why would someone just stop a profitable business with vast user-base? There must have been something.

I had it done to me so mailed them a million or so times at once about it.

I have talked to one guy in Spain who has registered a few old logos (figurative mark) with the exact same logo. I have also talked to a lawyer that told me I could use an old logo. I would never use the same website but the logo is fine. I can design the business card, letterhead and website to match the logo and customer group. It saves money and time because the brand is already known.