Is it legal to regsiter a domain that is a stock symbol

[Skinny]

If Company X has a stock symbol WXYZ can I go ahead and register WXYZ.com or will they go after me.

I'm not in this situation ATM but I want to know out of curiosity.

Skinny

 

[dna]

It is legal.
Ive had one for years: dna.us
dna is the stock symbol for Genentech

 

[Skinny]

So you cant be struck with a cybersquatting suit or something? These aren't trademarks right?

Edit: and would companies have any interest in purchasing these (their own stock symbols)?

Skinny

 

[DNQuest.com]

As with anything, it is usage of the domain... off the top of my head, I believe there was a case where a stock symbol was being used to redirect traffic from the company it represented.

DNA can show good faith with his registration since it is his identity

To put it in perspective, driving 55mph is legal in this country, but is it legal in all areas?

Edit: and would companies have any interest in purchasing these (their own stock symbols)?

Skinny

And there is the meat of the story.. registering a stock symbol in hopes of selling it to a company recognized by that symbol (or in this case, perceived TM holder).

Even though the stock symbol may not be TMed, companies will say that is their indentity of Wall Street (IE- which is what a TM means. Recognition of a name/product/service) and say you have no rights to it and you are trying to sell it to them. (IE- using the domain is bad faith).

If you intent is to registere a domain and hope to sell it to a company whose symbol it is, UDRPs have shown to be favorable to TM holders (or perceived TM holders).

When I say perceived, in UDRPs, all you need to do is show you have rights to a name, it DOES NOT have to be registered or a TM though they usually are. If a company can convince a panelist (who have their own opinions and not required to follow set guidleines) their symbol should be concidered as a TM just for the purpose of the proceedings, then you would be SOL. What everyone needs to remember that is is not TMs that are required in UDRPS, but rights to a name, there is a difference.

 

[mis_chiff]

I regged TXN.ca (using it as a directory) but wasn't aware of the
stock symbol until after. TXN (Texas Instruments) I was just thinking of short pronunceable. Plus it is the short form of many other words.

So far so good!
Again, like DNQuest "bad faith" is what will loose it.