Athlete names??

[mrbrix]

I purchased a college athletes name who has potential to go pro. Is this a good idea to get into or will this cause me problems?

 

[mplswifi]

problems

 

[mrbrix]

What kind of problems are we talking?

 

[kithkanan]

This kind of problem

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/15/sports/basketball/15bosh.html?_r=1

 

[jo w]

He violated federal law. Unfortunately when you break the law, you have to wear the consequences.

 

[mrbrix]

That is bizarre! The man bought the name. If someone owns your name and you happen to become famous - you then have the right to just take that name from them?

Is it because the government owns the internet and we basically lease domains and don't technically own them that they can pull them from us?

 

[mosilager]

That is bizarre! The man bought the name. If someone owns your name and you happen to become famous - you then have the right to just take that name from them?

Is it because the government owns the internet and we basically lease domains and don't technically own them that they can pull them from us?

You should probably read up on legal issues concerning names of popular of famous people, you'll get a better idea.

In reality, if you own a name of a famous person and NOT making money off that name, then you might get away with it, however, if you're making money from that person's name, than there's problems.

 

[JamesDavid]

This kind of problem

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/15/sports/basketball/15bosh.html?_r=1

Wanna know what I find so unjust about hat article...

Chris Bosh who filed the lawsuit to get his name back got 800 other domains INCLUDING LuisZavala.com. Luis Zavala was the guy who squatted all the domains in the first place.

So one would think NOW due to LEGAL PRECEDENT woudl say now Luis Zavala could file a lawsuit against Chris Bosh becuase Chris Bosh now is squatting HIS name.....


I by NO means support cyber squatting of TM etc.... but this judgement is crazy...

 

[mrbrix]

That would make buying domains in general - squatting, unless your doing just generic words. But anything can be turned into a company name or a TM and taken from you.

 

[youdiezst]

I see trouble. TM Infringement.

 

[biznews]

Just go ahead and develop the name for a client sake. Some of these folks are giving ignorant advise.

 

[Jaco]

Wanna know what I find so unjust about hat article...

Chris Bosh who filed the lawsuit to get his name back got 800 other domains INCLUDING LuisZavala.com. Luis Zavala was the guy who squatted all the domains in the first place.

So one would think NOW due to LEGAL PRECEDENT woudl say now Luis Zavala could file a lawsuit against Chris Bosh becuase Chris Bosh now is squatting HIS name.....


I by NO means support cyber squatting of TM etc.... but this judgement is crazy...

IIRC, the case was unopposed, meaning, Luis Zavala didn't show up in court. This means that he didn't have the opportunity to articulate any sort of opposition to their request to take his entire portfolio.

So, you have a clear-cut case of squatting, probably in consort with a larger portfolio that contained any number of similar names and yeah, probably some generic and personal names alongside the offending examples. The Plaintiff made a "gimme the baby *and* the bathwater" type request and the judge granted it.

 

[mrbrix]

Just go ahead and develop the name for a client sake. Some of these folks are giving ignorant advise.

That is the ideal situation I would like to see happen on my end.