Prominent Trademark Clearing House Warning

[Ms Domainer]

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On Go Daddy, I tried to reg a domain in a .gTLD. It's not an obvious trademarked term, a very diluted term.

A HUGE warning came up letting me know that the term was trademarked and by who, the "who" having applied to the clearinghouse.

I had the option of regging the domain anyway, but decided to pass. I probably would have been okay, but this is a major company with very deep pockets.

Not worth the headache.

I'm very happy that this clearinghouse has been added because I would have regged this domain.

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[Zuke]

I've been faced with quite a few of those, and if you read the companies 'type of business' and it doesn't have much to do with the name, then I would go ahead and reg them. I did get a few like Disneyland and Olympics for the photos extension, but I figure if they want it, I'll just give it to them at cost. But both of those names are used by so many people with their own holidays or events that I don't see them trying to hold onto it. Have you ever heard of a company wanted to sue you before they just asked for the name first?

 

[gpmgroup]

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---------- Post added at 10:56 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:33 AM ----------

I've been faced with quite a few of those, and if you read the companies 'type of business' and it doesn't have much to do with the name, then I would go ahead and reg them. I did get a few like Disneyland and Olympics for the photos extension, but I figure if they want it, I'll just give it to them at cost. But both of those names are used by so many people with their own holidays or events that I don't see them trying to hold onto it. Have you ever heard of a company wanted to sue you before they just asked for the name first?

What's the point in registering them? If you build anything on them you have a massive risk of losing all your efforts. If you try and sell them you risk getting blocked from the auctions/forums.

Domains are different from just using the wording on a website or any other materials.

New gTLDs are much more difficult for companies to protect their brands and simply registering everything is not economic for most, if not all companies. This means there will be a different approaches.

If they can get $10,000s of damages per name, some companies may see that as a very profitable route and just handing domains over will not be an option.

 

[Dave_Z]

Have you ever heard of a company wanted to sue you before they just asked for the name first?

Yup: Dell and Microsoft. Then again, they went after serial cybersquatters rather than individual ones.

 

[Kate]

I did get a few like Disneyland and Olympics for the photos extension, but I figure if they want it, I'll just give it to them at cost.

Ouch
I advise you to ditch these names asap.

Have you ever heard of a company wanted to sue you before they just asked for the name first?

Yes. Sometimes, someone wants to make an example out of somebody (and file for monetary damagse).

 

[Ms Domainer]

Ouch
I advise you to ditch these names asap.

Yes. Sometimes, someone wants to make an example out of somebody (and file for monetary damages).

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sdsinc is absolutely correct.

It is likely that Zuke doesn't have deep pockets, but, occasionally, TM holders get fed up and will go after squatters by filing large monetary lawsuits.

Zuke, don't buy trouble.

There are enough pitfalls in this biz without inviting it to march right into your bank accounts.

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