Interesting threat I received

[rvdsabu4life]

So I got an e-mail back about my wi-realtors.com domain.

I'd be careful if I were you. Realtors is a registered trademark. Don't ask me again

Of course this is the first I heard such a common noun as a trademark. So I searched the US trademark website and found no trademarks for "Realtors." Upon further searching, I found no trademarks for the company that I was proposing it to or the name "WI Realtors."

Is he right so how?

I just found a thread below that explains this. Good thing my uncle is a member of NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS. I will put the domain in his name.

 

[evertonian7uk]

you say you dont know that realtors is a TM, yet your uncle is a member and your putting the domain in his name,

sounds to me like you do know of the tm.

you couldnt have searched the DB that well because this is a very common tm issue and they do come after you.

 

[Fka200]

If the word "realtors" is a TM, then I seriously quit at domaining. Now what might make it a TM is "wi"... but then you can be arguing it's Wisconsin Realtors... and that sounds pretty damn generic to me.

 

[MyNet-Tony]

Realtor(s) is trademarked and they defend it.

 

[Fka200]

Never heard of the "NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS" but quick Google search shows realtor.com at #1 for "realtors" and "realtor"...

IMO, there could only be problems with this domain if it is misused... my opinion only.

Awkward. I'd do a little more research, but studying for a midterm!

 

[flamewalker]

Realtor(s) is a very, very strong trademark and the association that owns it is very, very protective. As the Op noted, they have rules in how their trademark can be used. One of which is you must be a member of the Association.

This is why it is good to always search www.uspto.gov and even Google to see if a term has a trademark (it doesn't have to be registered as USPTO to be a TM).

 

[labrocca]

If the word "realtors" is a TM, then I seriously quit at domaining

Let me know when you place the for sale thread with your domains.


Never make a statement you don't plan to back up.

 

[Fka200]

Let me know when you place the for sale thread with your domains.


Never make a statement you don't plan to back up.

Lol, will let you know.

The wuss thing would have been to delete the post after the information was posted, but it doesn't really bother me.

Still find it amazing they can pursue domains with the word realtor in it, even though it's a legit generic word.

Guess in the world of domaining you learn something new all the time!

 

[flamewalker]

Its not a "legit generic word"... It is a descriptive word that they created and trademarked. There is nothing generic about it... it is often used and confused as a generic term though. Just because it is used inappropriately doesn't eliminate/diminish the TM rights.

 

[Fka200]

Its not a "legit generic word"... It is a descriptive word that they created and trademarked. There is nothing generic about it... it is often used and confused as a generic term though. Just because it is used inappropriately doesn't eliminate/diminish the TM rights.

Interesting. Probably where me and OP went wrong. Always thought realtors was a "real" word... even went and looked it up in the dictionary.

It all makes sense now (xerox, kleenex, etc...). Rep added!

 

[dotrig.com]

They did not even allow me to re-direct the name to another site I have.
They are very agressive in defending their trademark.

 

[Dave_Z]

Good thing my uncle is a member of NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS. I will put the domain in his name.

If your uncle doesn't know what you did, you might want to tell him that right
away.

 

[shockie]

sounds like you got lucky this time. next time you should be more careful! :blink:

 

[weblord]

realtors is trademarked
http://usasearch.gov/search?affiliate=uspto.gov&v:project=firstgov&query=realtors