domain GTA Domains, please appraise!

[KieranTaylor0403]

Hi there,

Please could you appraise my domains, they are relevant and brandable by the following game, "Grand Theft Auto IV".

Here are the domains:

http://www.ivgta.com/
http://www.grand-theft-auto-iv.com/

If you would like to buy these (or a) domain(s), please go to http://www.namepros.com/showthread.php?p=1863900#post1863900 . Thank you in advance for your views and opinions.


Regards,
Kieran Taylor.

 

[rsek]

reg fee

 

[KieranTaylor0403]

Hi there,

reg fee

Why do you say Reg Fee? Don't you think they are brandable?


Regards,
Kieran Taylor.

 

[Phronesis]

Hi there,



Why do you say Reg Fee? Don't you think they are brandable?


Regards,
Kieran Taylor.

They have already been branded... by Rockstar I believe.

I have to agree with the reg fee appraisal. TM infringement names are a risk to the owner, so that lowers any price someone may be willing to pay. And those who are willing to buy TM infringment names usually will do so b/c of traffic but I don't see how any traffic will come to these names on it's own - especially with 3 hyphens in there. JMHO. Good luck.

 

[KieranTaylor0403]

Hi there,

They have already been branded... by Rockstar I believe.

I have to agree with the reg fee appraisal. TM infringement names are a risk to the owner, so that lowers any price someone may be willing to pay. And those who are willing to buy TM infringment names usually will do so b/c of traffic but I don't see how any traffic will come to these names on it's own - especially with 3 hyphens in there. JMHO. Good luck.

Well it would be easy to get traffic to these websites, the hyphens are placed in the domain correctly and SEO would bring traffic as it does with any other domain name.

Plus there is the easy to remember ivgta domain. The phrase Grand Theft Auto cannot be trademarked simply because it is an actual name of a crime. The owner of these domains could only get done if they copied the logo or moto, etc.

Please take into mind http://www.ivgta.com/ when appraising please.


Regards,
Kieran Taylor.

 

[Alan Glennon]

The phrase Grand Theft Auto cannot be trademarked simply because it is an actual name of a crime. The owner of these domains could only get done if they copied the logo or moto, etc.

Since you cannot legally sell a crime, a typical commercial use would be as a brand -- something where a trademark is quite suitable. As such, "Grand Theft Auto" and "GTA" have multiple registered trademarks--in the United States, at least. I'll add that the standing marks are not just logos or mottos, most are standard word marks.

My advice would be to either get a refund for your domains or use them for something not related to existing trademarks.

Update: I see that you regged the domains at Godaddy within the last 24 hours. Make a phone call to their support, tell them you accidentally regged two trademarks, and they probably can assist you with refunds. Do not consider all the various comments in this thread as an attack on you. It's kind of an unpleasant learning experience, but many of us were in similar situations when we got started domaining. You should also be aware that someone else may register the domains after you drop them. Don't worry about it. Those people will lose money.

 

[RazorNF]

I think you're on shaky ground with those..

But if anyone has any names with GTA in it, they should also keep in mind, that in my neck of the woods, Canada's largest city - Toronto and surrounding area, is also often referred to by local residents as the GTA (Greater Toronto Area)... so some names could find an alternative use if they are applicable to a business here...

 

[Phronesis]

The phrase Grand Theft Auto cannot be trademarked simply because it is an actual name of a crime. The owner of these domains could only get done if they copied the logo or moto, etc.

Word Mark GRAND THEFT AUTO
Goods and Services IC 028. US 022 023 038 050. G & S: Coin operated video games
Standard Characters Claimed
Mark Drawing Code (4) STANDARD CHARACTER MARK
Design Search Code
Serial Number 78396077
Filing Date April 5, 2004
Current Filing Basis 1B
Original Filing Basis 1B
Published for Opposition February 1, 2005
Owner (APPLICANT) Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. CORPORATION DELAWARE 622 Broadway New York NEW YORK 10012
Assignment Recorded ASSIGNMENT RECORDED
Attorney of Record Raymond P. Mulry
Prior Registrations 2148765;2755932
Type of Mark TRADEMARK
Register PRINCIPAL
Live/Dead Indicator LIVE

Any name deemed to be registered in bad faith for the purpose of profiting off of Take-Two's mark would be considered TM infringement. Imo, you would be hard pressed to prove that you registered grand-theft-auto-iv.com for any other purpose.

Well it would be easy to get traffic to these websites, the hyphens are placed in the domain correctly and SEO would bring traffic as it does with any other domain name.

The kind of traffic I'm talking about bringing value to a name is natural type-in (direct nav) not search engine traffic. The kind of traffic that "grandtheftauto.com" undoubtedly gets. You're talking about a developed site, I'm appraising a domain name on it's own merits. It's tough to appraise a website that doesn't exist.

Please take into mind http://www.ivgta.com/ when appraising please.

I don't really get why you did this. Why is the iv before gta? Using that logic you could reg any sequel by putting the sequel number first. I don't see any standalone value in the undeveloped domain name. Best of luck.

 

[KieranTaylor0403]

Hi there,

Word Mark GRAND THEFT AUTO
Goods and Services IC 028. US 022 023 038 050. G & S: Coin operated video games
Standard Characters Claimed
Mark Drawing Code (4) STANDARD CHARACTER MARK
Design Search Code
Serial Number 78396077
Filing Date April 5, 2004
Current Filing Basis 1B
Original Filing Basis 1B
Published for Opposition February 1, 2005
Owner (APPLICANT) Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. CORPORATION DELAWARE 622 Broadway New York NEW YORK 10012
Assignment Recorded ASSIGNMENT RECORDED
Attorney of Record Raymond P. Mulry
Prior Registrations 2148765;2755932
Type of Mark TRADEMARK
Register PRINCIPAL
Live/Dead Indicator LIVE

Any name deemed to be registered in bad faith for the purpose of profiting off of Take-Two's mark would be considered TM infringement. Imo, you would be hard pressed to prove that you registered grand-theft-auto-iv.com for any other purpose.

I would like to see them try considering there are thousands of other websites doing this, and plus there are more blatent domains e.g. http://www.gta-sanandreas.com/ .

The kind of traffic I'm talking about bringing value to a name is natural type-in (direct nav) not search engine traffic. The kind of traffic that "grandtheftauto.com" undoubtedly gets. You're talking about a developed site, I'm appraising a domain name on it's own merits. It's tough to appraise a website that doesn't exist.

I asked for a domain appraisal, not a site appraisal.

I don't really get why you did this. Why is the iv before gta? Using that logic you could reg any sequel by putting the sequel number first. I don't see any standalone value in the undeveloped domain name. Best of luck.

Because the game is actually called "IV". It happens to be in the GTA series, hence IVGTA.


Regards,
Kieran Taylor.

 

[keesj]

regfee, not because of TM problems.. because as you noticed Rockstar doesn't really seem to care about it... however, www.grand-theft-auto-iv.com is just way to long to be usable.. I don't know a lot about SEO so it might have some value (does it get traffic?) and ivgta.com doesn't make any sense. Why put the number before the title? (that's what Phronesis meant too I guess)

 

[TheBulldog]

reg fee, and 50 cents to me because I took the time to read this.

 

[KieranTaylor0403]

Hi there,

Why put the number before the title? (that's what Phronesis meant too I guess)

Because the game is actually called, "IV"!


Regards,
Kieran Taylor.

 

[Matthew.]

No one can say anymore than was has been said. The domains are worth $0 to me and most others due to the multiple TM problems. As for your comment of "i would like to see them try" simply because they have not picked up other domains, it certainly, by any means does not mean that they will not.

Sites such as gta-sanandreas.com are being used as fan sites, so rockstar and a lot of other companies will allow it, (i stress that they allow it) if you are registering these domains and trying to sell them on, they will have large issues with you, as that's cybersquatting.

Anyway, you ask for an appraisal: $0/$0/Low $x if you find a daredevil.

Matt

 

[nrmillions]

they are worth $0.

 

[625domains]

Hi there,



I would like to see them try considering there are thousands of other websites doing this, and plus there are more blatent domains e.g. http://www.gta-sanandreas.com/ .



I asked for a domain appraisal, not a site appraisal.



Because the game is actually called "IV". It happens to be in the GTA series, hence IVGTA.


Regards,
Kieran Taylor.

Look it's worthless, you can't get offended, the people answereing here are people that have been in the industry for a while some for years, no one is saying this to put you down, we are saying it because it is unfortunate to see people get sued.

Do what you want, but you could get sued for this, and if you look into it lawsuits like this can be very costly, alot more than the $20 you lose in reg fees over leaving them or deleting them.

 

[KieranTaylor0403]

Hi there,

Never mind, just a bit of cash down the drain. I won't delete these domains though as Rockstar cannot touch me for registering them, if they wanted them, that is their fault.

I might just park them and see if they earn a couple of cents :hehe: .


Regards,
Kieran Taylor.

 

[Matthew.]

Hi there,

Never mind, just a bit of cash down the drain. I won't delete these domains though as Rockstar cannot touch me for registering them, if they wanted them, that is their fault.

I might just park them and see if they earn a couple of cents :hehe: .


Regards,
Kieran Taylor.

On the contrary they can, especially if you start parking the domain and making money of their TM. Just a heads...

Matt

 

[KieranTaylor0403]

Hi there,

On the contrary they can, especially if you start parking the domain and making money of their TM. Just a heads...

Matt

I guess that's a risk I will have to take, I'll take it down only if I get a request from them.


Regards,
Kieran Taylor.

 

[gattoplano]

beyond TM, domains are not good. Too many hyphens, and IVGTA doesn't make any sense. Sorry but I think you should leave them to expire.

 

[KieranTaylor0403]

Hi there,

beyond TM, domains are not good. Too many hyphens, and IVGTA doesn't make any sense. Sorry but I think you should leave them to expire.

The game title is actually called IV --- I don't understand how many time I need to explain that to people who can't be bothered to read the rest of thread. I get the point, and if no one buys them I will have to let them expire...I guess I am generally s*** at buying domains, I might stick to buying domains for my website purposes only .

Any way, cheers guys for the appraisals, I think I'll leave domaining to the professionals.


Regards,
Kieran Taylor.