Poker Typos Legality

[capiche]

I know poker typos are flying off the shelves, I even own several, but each time I reg one, I can't help but think of TM issues. I've gotten some really good advice from a fellow that is really knowledgeable when it comes to poker typos and poker names in general. (I'm sure you know who I mean, but keeping it on the low, so he won't get a flood of PM's and emails) He says that no poker name is trademarked except for logos and whatnot. But there are no actual name trademarks. There have been attempts, but have all failed.

So is it ok to reg these without any worry whatsoever.
It seems if you use the very close typo of a major poker site to re-direct to the actual site, as in an affiliate situation, then no one is harmed and both may profit. I have just regged 2 names that I would like to do that with, but I'm kind of afraid of mentioning that I have domains very close to their own, even though I want to re-direct to their site.

Has anyone else had any similar situations and how did it turn out?

Any info is apprciated.

 

[BriGuy20]

Cap:

I would say that this is a sort of stealing-from-theives situation (couldn't think of any other good analogy).

Assuming you're dealing with the online poker/casino sites and not the land-based ones (i.e. Sands, Rio, Horseshoe, Luxor, MGM Grand, NY NY, Paris, etcetera), I'd say you're okay. Since these companies aren't based in the US (and technically aren't legal in the US), I'd say that you don't have to worry about trademark issues at the moment.

If, however, online casinos are legalized and regulated in the US, I think you'll have the proverbial floodgates opened up above you.

I'd check the respective sites' terms of service with a fine toothed comb to see if they make any mention of typo traffic (if they do, they likely prohibit it). If not, I'd say go for it and redirect to their site. I'm sure there's a lot of money to be made in the casino typo area if you're smart about it, and you seem like you're in a good position to capitalize on it if you play your proverbial cards right (so many metaphors...).

 

[capiche]

Thanks for the reply BriGuy.

I'll just take my chances on it. I'ts not like I'm the only one with poker typos. I guess they would have to go after everybody if they went after one. :bah:
I will still check their TOS, however.

For now, I'm gonna park them and watch the traffic.

Thx again

 

[Michelle]

Cap:

I would say that this is a sort of stealing-from-theives situation (couldn't think of any other good analogy).

Assuming you're dealing with the online poker/casino sites and not the land-based ones (i.e. Sands, Rio, Horseshoe, Luxor, MGM Grand, NY NY, Paris, etcetera), I'd say you're okay. Since these companies aren't based in the US (and technically aren't legal in the US), I'd say that you don't have to worry about trademark issues at the moment.

If, however, online casinos are legalized and regulated in the US, I think you'll have the proverbial floodgates opened up above you.

I'd check the respective sites' terms of service with a fine toothed comb to see if they make any mention of typo traffic (if they do, they likely prohibit it). If not, I'd say go for it and redirect to their site. I'm sure there's a lot of money to be made in the casino typo area if you're smart about it, and you seem like you're in a good position to capitalize on it if you play your proverbial cards right (so many metaphors...).

Interesting

I have a couple of typo's how can you have them parked and re-direct them to their site :?

 

[Keynes]

In general, the poker sites have been able to obtain logo trademarks but not traditional trademarks on their names. If they are a longstanding group such as WPT or Harrah's, the trademark situation is obviously different. Poker Stars, on the other hand, is trying to get a trademark on their name, although they haven't been sucessful as of yet. While some poker sites might look down on typo registrations, it does capture traffic that might have otherwise been lost, and so they may not mind the links in some cases. If we are moving closer to legalized, regulated online gambling then it is a good point to evaluate the situation long-term: the industry is relatively young and the standards today are still being shaped. If you look at Party Gaming, you can see how the industry is beginning to mature, and, in the larger sense, all affiliate gambling relations are changing so we'll have to wait and see what this means for affiliates, typos and the like. RF :gl:

 

[capiche]

Thanks Rocket. We shall see.

Mellow, to answer your question, I know that PartyPoker just gives you a tracking URL to use with links, banners, or in my case and many others, I just use domain forwarding through Godaddy to re-direct to my tracking URL.
For instance, you type in OmahaPartyPoker.com and you go to PartyPoker.com with my tracking #.

Hope it helps.

Well I'm gonna try to see how AbsolutePoker responds about their typos, I'll keep you guys posted.

Capiche

 

[Michelle]

Thanks