HillaryDuff.com trouble?

[markfromslo]

HillaryDuff.com is at auction right now at SnapNames.com. It's at $1,050 now with 2 days to go.

My question is, isn't a buyer asking for trouble if they pay too much for the name because her lawyers will surely be able to get the name back. Aren't there plenty of cases now in which the celebrities have won?

I made an initial $60 bid, mostly out of curiousity so I can watch the bidding.

 

[jamesau]

Well her name only has one 'L' I believe.

 

[Damion]

Definate problems with this domain.
Even if you make a fan site around it your still at the mercy of Hillary Duff herself if the site is going to be terminated or not.

Very risky in my opinion.

 

[markfromslo]

I believe you are right. So, if that is true, would she have a legal standing? I've heard that cases are being won even with a misseplling--especially one this close.

Well her name only has one 'L' I believe.

 

[Damion]

She will definately win this case. A clear example of consumer confusion.
Cut and dry case, this domain is poison.

 

[markfromslo]

I think some rookie is really going to get screwed several thousand dollars in the end.

 

[Damion]

I think so to. Does Snapnames.com even inform people on this issue?

 

[Reppy]

I think so to. Does Snapnames.com even inform people on this issue?

It took a while before cigarette companies started to print warning labels on their products. So maybe in 50 years time :D

 

[markfromslo]

It's such an ambiguous area that I don't think they would. Plus, think of the money they make on names that sell in the thousands of dollars; I would not want to warn buyers away either. It's really not their responsibility.

I think the only thing that applies is: Buyer Beware!

I can keep you all aprised of the bidding if you are interested.

I think so to. Does Snapnames.com even inform people on this issue?

 

[B33R]

Cut and dry case, this domain is poison.

Well said!

 

[loscocco]

seems like it would definately be a problem.

 

[domaino]

I may be completely out of the loop here, but I don't see the problem. Granted, if the domain up for sale was something like Yaho, Gogle etc, then ok, blatant copyright infringement. While there may be a Hilaryduff.com site, any average fan wanting to create a fan site would probably try and put her name in the domain name.

It's not like a corporation. There are a million and one things you could call a small business without resorting to "Yaho" etc, but if you're creating a fan site about Hilary Duff, then you're going to want the name "Hilary Duff" in the domain name, in some form at least. I'm not sure where the law stands on this, but I do not see how they should (not could) be able to prosecute.

 

[Devil_Dog]

I think so to. Does Snapnames.com even inform people on this issue?

They have in the past, ie: fortisadvantage.com and a couple of others.

 

[Damion]

@domaino

It happens often that there is no issue when someone makes a website surrounding a person and uses their name as part of their domain.
Most of the times these are fan websites and do more good of course then harm since it would only promote them even more.

However, when the partie involved doesn't agree with the website content and considders their name a ''brand'' just like Jennifer Lopez then they can start lawsuit after lawsuit.

Would you want to spend tons of lawyer fees? Because this would be inevitable.
I wouldn't start trying. Madonna got her domain when someone regged madonna.com. She won the case. I don't know the specifics but she won.

If it's a non-profit website then things might be harder for Hilary Duff. But still it causes confusion and lures a substantial amount of web traffic from her original website(s) and therefor poses a threat to any financial income of this web related traffic.

This is a strong defense for her to claim this specific domain.
Anyhow i am not a lawyer but i have experienced a similar case recently that i do not want to discuss in depth here but end result for me it would be wiser to not to continue wanting the domain in question.

If you know it by forehand you're playing a expensive game. Would you be game for that

 

[MadAboutDomains]

I don't think HilaryDuff and Co. really care about domains with her name on them. If you see, HilaryDuff.co.uk has been for sale for years and before she redesigned her site it was even pointing to her site in a frame with a buy it now PayPal Link.... It doesnt look like they did anything about that.

All of her proper fans know that it is just one 'L' anyway :hehe: (whhattt... it's not my fault she's mighty fit! lol)

- Luke

 

[Damion]

Yes she is a hottie isn't she? It's a risk in my opinion and i would say enjoy it while it last.

But if one would be spending a lot of time on developing and making effort to make the site succesfull there may be a chance a letter or phone call arrives claiming the domain.

And man! Then it's time and you won't even get a thank you for the time spend.

 

[agentjon]

I have seen stuff like this before, i find that the buyers who see this kind of domain as very little risk are usually the oversees buyers. Much harder for Duff and company to get it back in that concern.

 

[B33R]

Am I the only one who doesn't particularly like her?

It's a nice name though and that is how I would spell it. Hillary has always had two LLs AFAIK.

Personally I wouldn't touch that name, let alone pay >1k for it. There is a fine line between a fan site and a cyber squatter, IMO that domain crosses the line.

Even if it was set up as a fan site, you can't honestly tell me that name was bought for anything other than cybersquatting. Also a real "fan" site would spell her name correctly!

 

[MadAboutDomains]

Although it is spelt wrong, this domain will receive TONNES of traffic. Lots of revenue. IMHO it would be a great investment if it didn't result in it getting taken away.

 

[Damion]

And your proceeds would be claimed straight away by some sleazy attorneys and you know what that means? It's time. LOL

Unless you don't exploit such a domain on your own name and host it with some sort of anonymous protection set up and i don't mean Domains by Proxy but truly anonymous then your walking on a financial landmine.