Someone’s Name

[Nyamache Joshua]

Is registering someone’s names as a domain name illegal? For example registering a celeb name without her consent or any other person.

 

[exsedo]

The actual registering of the name is not illegal.
However what you do with the domain after you register it could be.
Like offering it for sale, parking it, developing it into a website for profit, placing damaging content on a website.
In the case of famous people its called profiting from someone elses intellectual property ( Infringement ).

You could, however, make a non-profit fansite, which most celebs tolerate, but there is no guarantee that they won't come after you.

 

[ssamriga]

As long as there is more than one person with such a name and you don't profit from the website it is fine.

 

[Erdy]

Here is a wipo case about brucespringsteen.com.
WIPO Domain Name Decision: D2000-1532

Transfer to Bruce Springsteen was rejected and the owner was allowed to keep his domain. This was 9 years ago and still the same person owns that domain.

 

[exsedo]

I would like to bet that Bruce sacked his lawyers after this case :lol:
I don't think the guy would have kept the domain if the complaint was in 2010.