So ive got this .com domain name. It's a stylized version of a dictionary word, like "reprezent" instead of "represent." Googling the stylized word lists at least a dozen different organizations using the term... from a UK band to an electronics company.
Recently i sent out a few emails to the organizations i thought might be interested in purchasing the domain. One of them responded back that they had a trademark on the name, and were forwarding the matter to their attorneys.
Now, im thinking that they have nothing to stand on based on several factors:
One, i got this .com from a dropcatch service. The name had never been registered to the lawsuit-threatening company to begin with. Even if they had a legitimate trademark on the name, they never attempted to defend the integrity of their name by getting the .com name sooner.
Two, the name is in use by a LOT of different groups. It's not like i registered a name that really couldnt be confused with any other product... like "microsoft excel" or "google search."
Three, i did a TM search in various federal and state databases, and didnt find anything relating to their claim. I did find a couple variations on the name trademarked to an unrelated company, though.
Id really appreciate some advice on how to handle this. Should i just pass it off as yet another legal bluff? Does anyone have any experience with this type of situation?
Recently i sent out a few emails to the organizations i thought might be interested in purchasing the domain. One of them responded back that they had a trademark on the name, and were forwarding the matter to their attorneys.
Now, im thinking that they have nothing to stand on based on several factors:
One, i got this .com from a dropcatch service. The name had never been registered to the lawsuit-threatening company to begin with. Even if they had a legitimate trademark on the name, they never attempted to defend the integrity of their name by getting the .com name sooner.
Two, the name is in use by a LOT of different groups. It's not like i registered a name that really couldnt be confused with any other product... like "microsoft excel" or "google search."
Three, i did a TM search in various federal and state databases, and didnt find anything relating to their claim. I did find a couple variations on the name trademarked to an unrelated company, though.
Id really appreciate some advice on how to handle this. Should i just pass it off as yet another legal bluff? Does anyone have any experience with this type of situation?
