Is superman.pro a TM or copyright violation?

[sky]

Estibot appraises superman.pro for $18,000

I see a lot of domain names that have superman in them.
I see that DC comics owns superman.com, superman.org, superman.net, superman.us

But I see that superman.ws and others go to parked pages.

Apparently DC Comics sued a college newspaper for calling itself "The Daley Planet", and refusing to accept $1000 to change the name.

So what's the story? If the site had nothing to do with the comic book figure, and lets say promoted products related to viagra or something, would that escape infringement?

What if the site was a comicbook collectors related site?

 

[Mike]

Treacherous territory. If they have no second thoughts to sue a (non profit?) college newspaper, they surely wouldn't have any problems to sue your pants off just for using the domain name Superman.
Even though the character is fictional, it's a well established reference that leads anyone to think "the man of steel", no matter where you go.

I'd consult a professional before you do anything that generates revenue.

M.

 

[Dave_Z]

Word Mark SUPERMAN
Goods and Services IC 016. US 002 005 022 023 029 037 038 050. G & S: comic books. FIRST USE: 19370103. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 19370103
Mark Drawing Code (5) WORDS, LETTERS, AND/OR NUMBERS IN STYLIZED FORM
Serial Number 75432535
Filing Date February 11, 1998
Current Filing Basis 1A
Original Filing Basis 1A
Published for Opposition December 1, 1998
Registration Number 2226026
Registration Date February 23, 1999
Owner (REGISTRANT) DC COMICS composed of Warner Communications, Inc. a Delaware corporation and Time Warner Entertainment Company, L.P., a partnership organized under the laws of the State of Delaware, composed of American Television and Communications corporation, Time Warner Operations Inc., Warner Communications Inc. and Warner Cable Communications Inc., all Delaware corporations and Capital Cablevision Systems, Inc. and People's Cable Corporation, both New York corporations and Memphis CATV, Inc., a Tennesssee corporation PARTNERSHIP NEW YORK 1700 Broadway New York NEW YORK 10019
Assignment Recorded ASSIGNMENT RECORDED
Attorney of Record JANET A. KOBRIN
Prior Registrations 0371803;0391821;1108577;1209668;AND OTHERS
Type of Mark TRADEMARK
Register PRINCIPAL
Affidavit Text SECT 15. SECT 8 (6-YR).
Live/Dead Indicator LIVE

 

[sky]

Yup. No go. Understood. Fully

 

[tinner666]

I don't think 'Superman' is a profession anyway. Look for a name that fits your profession if you wan to reg and keep a .pro

 

[dnpimping.com]

I don't think 'Superman' is a profession anyway. Look for a name that fits your profession if you wan to reg and keep a .pro

What is it that you're saying? I am Superman!

 

[akcampbell]

I don't think 'Superman' is a profession anyway. Look for a name that fits your profession if you wan to reg and keep a .pro

I don't think registering a name that fits your profession is a requirement for regging or holding a .pro domain name. MJS on NP owns Casino.pro and has done for years without any problems and he is a lawyer. He had to be AV checked before registering that.

Superman is a TM for comic books. There are 973,000 index URL's with the word Superman in them on Google. Are they all owned by the TM owner? Has the TM owner made a UDRP complained against any Superman domain owner? Surely, the more Superman sites there are online the more money the TM makes from merchandise, films etc because it keeps their man in the public eye.

 

[Dave_Z]

Surely, the more Superman sites there are online the more money the TM makes from merchandise, films etc because it keeps their man in the public eye.

That, though, is up to the TM holder to decide on their own.

 

[wussadotcom]

If there was a - between super and man then there is a chance for you to survive otherwise parking them is the only option..

 

[weblord]

may i have your autograph pls?
to op: i think you already have the sky, just drop superman

What is it that you're saying? I am Superman!

 

[Dave_Z]

If there was a - between super and man then there is a chance for you to survive otherwise parking them is the only option..

Uh...wha? What am I missing here?