Cotai Strip Domain Names: Any TM Issues?

[$$Domainer]

The Cotai Strip in Macau is becoming very popular as a world gambling mecca-- the largest casino in the world just opened there. The name Cotai Strip is supposed to be TM'd by Las Vegas Sands owner Sheldon Adelson who just opened the giant casino on the Cotai Strip I just mentioned.

Most people say that the name has become generic since the Cotai Strip is a location in Macau, and many, many Cotai Strip names are being registered (like CotaiStripProperties.com, CotaiStripCasinos.com, etc., etc.)

So... is it ok to reg Cotai Strip names, or is there a trademark issue here??

 

[labrocca]

Go for it is my opinion. Geo names often are protected.

 

[wot]

You are probably too late as most of the good names were regged some time ago, in Chinese as well as english.

BTW -Sheldon does have a TM on "Cotai Strip" his flagship Venetian Casino is the main attraction on it- I will be staying there next week.

 

[deb]

the ceo announced at the post opening conference that they would "aggresively" protect their trademarks

"COTAI STRIP"

and

"ASIAS LAS VEGAS"

definite TM issues :imho:

 

[hugegrowth]

I stayed away from 'Cotai Strip' names back in 2005 when I was regging because of that TM issue.

But I did get some 'Cotai' names; you don't have to have the word 'strip' in there, e.g.: CotaiGames, CotaiGambling, CotaiHotels, but I imagine the best ones are taken now.

 

[labrocca]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cotai_Strip

The Cotai Strip is the name of the casino and tourism district of Cotai, Macau. The development of this area was inspired by the Las Vegas Strip in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA.

Map of the planned Cotai Strip.

Las Vegas Sands currently has a trademark application pending with the United States Patent and Trademark Office for the name "Cotai Strip".[1] However, the name Cotai Strip is used generically by other Cotai Strip casino companies, such as Melco-PBL[2] and Galaxy Entertainment, in their financial filings and websites, and is also used generically by the press as well.

Although Galaxy Entertainment's Grand Waldo Hotel commenced operations in 2006 and was the first casino to open on the Cotai Strip, the first big milestone for the Cotai Strip was the opening of Las Vegas Sands’ Venetian Macao on August 28, 2007.

Wikipedia information so don't take it at face-value. I can't see how the term Macao Strip isn't geo and not TM.

 

[DNQuest.com]

Ask yourself, how far (and how much $$$) are you willing to go in defending domain? Though I believe it is a Geo name, nothing is guarenteed in the domain game.

 

[mjs]

I believe that LVS's trademark rights, if any, regard use of the phrase, "The Cotai Strip", and extend no further. :imho: