domain GrandTheftAutoFour.com

[Pred4tor]

GrandTheftAutoFour.com

I just acquired this domain and before I begin to work with it or decide to sell it, I would like to know what you all think about the domain. Yes, it is clearly long, but it is the name of the game coming out in October. This game is expected to be the biggest game of 2007, in terms of sales and the game's size. It is being developed by over 120 different companies (Rockstar reigning over everything) and its trailer has just been released. Its release date is set at October 16th if I am not mistaken, which is plenty of time to develop the site. There are no TM issues with this domain. GrandTheftAutoThree.com has been running on ads for plenty of time and no problems there.

My plans for the site are to develop it, get its google ranking up and prepare it for release, and then to sell it. Of course if there was a generous offer now... :hehe:

Thanks for your time,
Pred4tor. GrandTheftAutoFour.com

 

[-REECE-]

Pretty much worthless at the moment due to it's OVT score (low 100s). With development, it certainly has potential and I wish you all the best with it

 

[625domains]

I'm sorry but how are there not any TM issues? So is Grand Theft Auto not a Trademark of Rockstar Games? That's like saying just because someone has never been pulled over for drunk driving that they therefore will never be pulled over for drunk driving.

It is a TM issue and if you are making any money from the popularity of the game then you are infringing upon their TM, Period, no if ands or buts about it.

Maybe ran as a fan site, but Rockstar could still sue you. Now is it a good TM domain? yes, some people make good money dodging the TM lawyers, some people get in big trouble. Good Luck.

IMO worth -$$$$$$ in legal fees and headaches.

 

[Matthew.]

Yeah...

There are TM infringements with this domain regardless of the domain you mentioned. That is getting away with in by pure luck, either Rockstar are being lenient or frankly they see no use for the domain.

Best idea is to develop it into a GTA4 fan/resource site which would probably come under acceptable use, however if you decide to sell it then you'll have a hard job finding someone with the balls, or rather stupidity, to buy it. So $0.

Matt

 

[Pred4tor]

GrandTheftAutoThree.com has been registered since games release, runs on adverts, never has gone under fire. If Rockstar needs to, they can just e-mail me and I will hand over the domain no problems. I am certainly not trying to do anything wrong, and have been told by various members from other sites such as digitalpoint that Rockstar supports the fan base and as long as I proclaim it as the "unofficial" gta4 site, no problems. Grandtheftautoiv.com is also registered, and still no problems.

 

[Pred4tor]

I would like to further comment on this as I have here:

First, Rockstar is known to support the fan base. Second, look at when they registered their other sites:

www.GTA4.com:

Domain Name: GTA4.COM
Registrar: NETWORK SOLUTIONS, LLC.
Whois Server: whois.networksolutions.com
Referral URL: http://www.networksolutions.com
Name Server: NS.TAKE2GAMES.COM
Name Server: NS5.TAKE2GAMES.COM
Name Server: NS6.ROCKSTARGAMES.COM
Status: clientTransferProhibited
Updated Date: 03-oct-2006
Creation Date: 04-jan-1999
Expiration Date: 04-jan-2008

www.GrandTheftAutoIV.com

Domain Name: GRANDTHEFTAUTOIV.COM
Registrar: REGISTERFLY.COM, INC.
Whois Server: whois.registerfly.com
Referral URL: http://www.registerfly.com
Name Server: NS1.OCAMATEURS.COM
Name Server: NS2.OCAMATEURS.COM
Status: clientTransferProhibited
Status: clientUpdateProhibited
Updated Date: 28-mar-2007
Creation Date: 24-nov-2004
Expiration Date: 24-nov-2007

Now, I am no expert on this stuff, rather new to the business, but whether or not they were the first to register those domains, they acquired them a long time ago.

However, my domain, GrandTheftAutoFour.com, was registered on February 12, 2007. If they wanted it, they had plenty of time to take it. Also, lets look at www.GrandTheftAutoThree.com, currently running on adverts, making money, and has never been stopped. GTA3 was the first major GTA game which started it all.

I hope that clears out takeover speculation