Avoiding trademarks? (Possible ridiculous question)

[rupert]

I'm in the process of registering some pronouncible LLLLL.com to fund my retirement.

Something dawned on me though, mid-way through registering. -- What if some of these non-sensical 5-letter jibberish words are actually TRADEMARKED?

I mean.. Say if I registered a domain like INOOP.COM, for example, and "INOOP" turns out to be a trademarked name used by a small company in Holland, could they sue me?

 

[klm390]

TM and SM identify and distinguish the source of goods and services. You can claim rights to a mark whether or not you have filed an application with the USPTO. Using the USPTO you will find federally registered marks. Having a federally registered mark shows ownership of the mark, legal right to use the mark nationwide and the ability to bring action in a federal court. Also, using the USPTO is a basis to obtain registration in foreign countries and to prevent importation of infringing foreign goods. This international registration is called the Madrid system for the international registration of marks. Using this system allows a trademark owner the possibility to have his trademark protected in several countries by filing one application with their own national or regional trademark office. These countries are members of the Madrid Union.

Checking outside the US, you would us the WIPO(World Intellectual Property Organization) Madrid System.



Holland is a region within the Netherlands


Madrid Union Members:


Albania
Algeria
Antigua and Barbuda
Armenia
Australia
Austria
Azerbaijan
Bahrain
Belarus
Belgium
Bhutan
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Botswana
Bulgaria
China
Croatia
Cuba
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Democratic People's Republic of Korea
Denmark
Egypt
Estonia
European Community
Finland
France
Georgia
Germany
Greece
Hungary
Iceland
Iran (Islamic Republic of)
Ireland
Italy
Japan
Kazakhstan
Kenya
Kyrgyzstan
Latvia
Lesotho
Liberia
Liechtenstein
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Monaco
Mongolia
Montenegro
Morocco
Mozambique
Namibia
Netherlands
Norway
Poland
Portugal
Republic of Korea
Republic of Moldova
Romania
Russian Federation
San Marino
Serbia
Sierra Leone
Singapore
Slovakia
Slovenia
Spain
Sudan
Swaziland
Sweden
Switzerland
Syrian Arab Republic
Tajikistan
The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia
Turkey
Turkmenistan
Ukraine
United Kingdom
United States of America
Uzbekistan
Viet Nam
Zambia



Just search "TM" here at Namepros and you'll come up with tons of helpful information.

 

[psalzmann]

Thanks for the good read KLM. Learn something new everyday.