City name

[Argos]

Hello,

I am wondering whether I could get troubles, like for a country name, if I register the name of a city (in the present case a VERY well-known town) ?
I do not want to develop a site about the city just keep the name with the idea of reselling the name to any possible buyer. It is not a .com or .info extension which are already taken. So take the risk or stay away ?

With thanks

 

[vanesaa]

If it is a .fr then certain limitations apply. For instance in some countries it is prohibited to register city names because they are reserved for development from the city councils.
Check the TOS of the extension you are interested to reg-you'll find all this infostated there.

 

[armstrong]

Past similar city/country domains that were brought to UDRP were generally decided in favor of the domain holder. Mexico.com and Barcelona.com are fairly recent examples that come to mind.

 

[Jeff]

Here's a start ... older decison on "pueblo.net". Please note that the Complainant here, however, was a corporation - PUEBLO INTERNATIONAL, INC. - though Respondent had at one time advertised it as a "city" name. :blink:

Link: http://www.arb-forum.com/domains/decisions/94337.htm

I believe, too, you'll find some cases where Cities (as Complainants) lost decisions - search for "heidelberg.net" and/or "brisbane.com", IMHO.
Best of Luck.
:wave:

 

[jberryhill]

In reference to the city itself, a city name is not a trademark.

For example:

http://www.arb-forum.com/domains/decisions/99602.htm
(cityofdearborn.com - complaint denied)

http://www.arb-forum.com/domains/decisions/97076.htm
(cityofsalinas.com - complaint denied)

Can city names be trademarks when applied to other things? Sure they can. "Philadelphia" is a brand of cream cheese. "Paris" and "New York, New York" are both well-known and particular gambling establishments in Las Vegas. When the city name merely indicates the origin of the product, it is unlikely to be a trademark. Also, if the city name is used in a deceptively misdescreptive sense, then it is also disqualified from being a trademark. For example, the use of "Paris" for a casino actually located in Las Vegas is geographically misdescriptive, and thus eligible for trademark protection, but it is not deceptively misdescriptive, since nobody would be fooled on the basis of that name into believing that the Las Vegas casino is actually located in France.

Now, depending on which country you are in, there are certain trademark-like protections in appellations of origin - e.g. "bordeaux" for a type of wine which must come from a particular wine region in France. The extent of protection available for recognized appellations of origin varies, and were expressly excluded when the UDRP was drafted.

 

[Argos]

Thank you ALL for your very skilled and wise input.
Do not know whether this is the right post for this but as I am hesitating about the city name and regarding the $ investment as per the expensive registration fee, at this stage (although I would become green) I do not mind to lose it, the domain name is : Beijing.tv.
What do you think guys ?

 

[armstrong]

At $500 per year (?!) for a premium .tv registration, I think its too risky for a domainer. But it could be worth it to the right end-user, even at higher price.