Facebook Relatedd Site, About domain name

[mye-corporation]

I was thinking to create a site about facebook, the obvious first problem is the domain name and avoiding getting into copyright issues.

IF the domain name contains the combination fbook or faceb + something else, would that be cause for cease and desist?.

What do you guys think.

 

[nielsencl]

I think it depends on how close the name is to facebook and your examples are not very close. They would be bad if you were making a site like facebook. But if you make a site ABOUT facebook that does not look like facebook then you should be ok. After all you will not be competing with them but talking about them.

There are a number of things you can use that will give people the idea and be easier to remember, like "about face", "face forward", or "face time" if you get my idea.

You could also go with something that implies social networks in general like Pseudosocial, Sociologize, Socionomy, etc.

 

[mye-corporation]

I think it depends on how close the name is to facebook and your examples are not very close. They would be bad if you were making a site like facebook. But if you make a site ABOUT facebook that does not look like facebook then you should be ok. After all you will not be competing with them but talking about them.

There are a number of things you can use that will give people the idea and be easier to remember, like "about face", "face forward", or "face time" if you get my idea.

You could also go with something that implies social networks in general like Pseudosocial, Sociologize, Socionomy, etc.

However, using the whole word Facebook would be trademark infringement, even when the site just talks about facebook correct?.

 

[nielsencl]

Infringement may occur when one party, the "infringer", uses a trademark which is identical or confusingly similar to a trademark owned by another party, in relation to products or services which are identical or similar to the products or services which the registration covers. -Wikipedia

In this case I would have to say yes, but I am not a lawyer. Using "Facebook" cannot easily be explained as an honest usage like a TM like "Coke" could be, since the word has been used for many other things besides the popular drink.

I'm not an expert on what can be classified as "infringement", but if you really want to know, I suggest contacting the TM holder and asking them. If you do want to have a site about Facebook, they might be happy that you want to support them and may give you permission.