realtorcom.tv TM issue

[imaginat]

I purchased RealtorCom.tv with intentions of starting my real estate listing company and was contacted about a possible trademark infringment.

My question is, what can I do with the name now. I would like to sell it. but no one seems to be interested. I was told that I could keep the name but I would have to do something different than use it as a real estate site.

Think I'd be able to do a real estate review site or something?

 

[Broker]

Realtor is a tm obviously, I'd just cancel the domain or let it drop. Bad investment, hope you didnt pay too much for it.

 

[Dave_Z]

If you're a Realtor member, check with them first before doing anything with it.
Otherwise, just drop it as Broker said since they're protective of their mark.

 

[ripley]

Unfortunately for you they're very aggressive in protecting their "realtor/realty" TM.

ripley.

 

[imaginat]

The hard way

I found that out the hard way. I thought I was ok because realtorcom was one made-up word. I wasn't looking at it as if it was just realtor. They said it sounds too much like realtor.com and I can't use it in a mannor that they use it.

Which leaves me trying to figure out what else I can do with it.

Would be nice if they would buy it from me. ( doubtful but would be nice )

 

[DeenaEsq]

Really your best bet, legally, is to drop it and never look back. Look at it this way, it was a relatively inexpensive lesson...

Deena
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[imaginat]

So true

 

[ripley]

Really your best bet, legally, is to drop it and never look back. Look at it this way, it was a relatively inexpensive lesson...

Deena

Totally agree, unfortunately. But better than going through a lawsuit and/or URDP.

ripley.

 

[duceman]

I'm a REALTOR member and you are entitled to use the term in your advertising as long as you are a member in good standing

I registerd REALTORcontract(.)com a few years ago and was contacted by NAR advising me that they did not approve of the domain. They said that you can use REALTOR in a domain as long as you don't use a geo or discriptive term. If you want to use BillTheREALTOR, or BillJonesREALTOR you would be fine.

The bottom line would be as long as you are a member they will give you some leeway for the use of the mark in a domain. They still reserve asking you to not use certain combos though.

Also look for local MLS to start clamping down on members using MLS in domains. For more on that you can check out REW (real estate webmasters) for a few good threads.

cheers

 

[imaginat]

That is exactly what I was told, I had to be a member. As I stated on RealtorCom.tv. they told me I had to change the title and the site content because it was to much like what they were trying to do.

Unfortunatly, I'm not a realtor or part of their company.
and that's why I changed the name to SellingRealEstate.

I still have the name Realtorcom.tv, now I'm trying to get rid of it or make it work in my favor. Just a matter of How.

 

[Steven]

Unfortunately for you they're very aggressive in protecting their "realtor/realty" TM.

ripley.

As far as I know, realty is not a TM
Just realtor