Trademarked LLLL

[My User Name]

I just purchased a lot of 5 LLLL's. I come to find out that one of them, are the call letters of a radio station. Of course upon further investigation, I see there is a trademark. Could that domain be a problem for me? I will definitely not develop it. I will only resell it. I came here for your expertise. Thanks.

 

[chenzen]

I would suggest you not to park it.

 

[My User Name]

I would suggest you not to park it.

Ok,
I wont park it.
What about selling it? I had no idea it was a radio stations call letters. Should I offer it to them for what I paid?
Thank You.

 

[cache]

first see if there is any traffic (whether it is worth the risk)

 

[My User Name]

first see if there is any traffic (whether it is worth the risk)

So if there isn't traffic, then I should offer it to them?

 

[raredn.com]

So if there isn't traffic, then I should offer it to them?

I think what cache meant was first see how much traffic the domain name gets before you decide what to do with it. Also see if the traffic converts to paid clicks if parked with a domain parking company, maybe check traffic progression after a week. Also you should decide whether it is worth approaching the radio station as there is a slight possibilty of them to sue you for pushing your name that matches their radio station, as pushing it on them may be seen as bad faith


cache can correct me if I got anything wrong when cache drops by again

 

[weblord]

just let it drop or cancel if you're within 5 day limit.

 

[raredn.com]

just let it drop or cancel if you're within 5 day limit.

We do not not know what kind of LLLL this person holds, it maybe a .com, but I doubt it since this was not mentioned

 

[weblord]

yeah we can only speculate and advise him always be on the safe side.

We do not not know what kind of LLLL this person holds, it maybe a .com, but I doubt it since this was not mentioned

 

[My User Name]

Thanks for your replies. This was a lot of 5 .net's and it was very cheap, $70.00 total. I thought it was a very good deal. A couple of good pronouncables and no garbage letters. Well, I didnt research these at all, before grabbing them, and found that one is the radio call letters. This was a private sale, so no such luck w/the 5 day limit. I guess I wont approach the station. I really dont have any bad intentions at all. I dont even care about making a dime on that one, but it would be nice to get the few $ I spent on it. Thank you all!

 

[JMJ]

I wouldn't be too worried radio stations are having a hard enough time paying bills so I would think chasing after domain names for thousands in legal fees is the least of their concerns.

 

[My User Name]

I wouldn't be too worried radio stations are having a hard enough time paying bills so I would think chasing after domain names for thousands in legal fees is the least of their concerns.

Thats what I was hoping. I dont stand to profit too much, but just in case??? I really dont know what to think of this domain. Even with some incredible luck what could I get?
Most likely less than $1000. So, I was hoping they wouldnt even care. Thx JMJ.

 

[accent]

Just because a radio station owns a trademark on a four letter sequence does not mean that they own all possible uses of that sequence. That is nonsense and we domain holders are getting stampeded by predatory lawyers into throwing away valuable domains.

If you were to set up a website on that domain pretending to be that radio station, or trying to lure that radio station's listeners to their competition that is trademark infringement.

If you were to set up a website on that domain selling shoes, cauliflower, race cars or just about anything else that was not a radio station you are not infringing on their trademark.

Offering it to the radio station for more than your cost is considered bad faith. Parking when ads for that radio station or competing radio stations are displayed by the parking company is a gray area and is better avoided.

Understand that it costs several thousand dollars to prepare and file a UDRP challenge - only the most bull-headed companies would do that for a domain worth a fraction of that amount unless you are deliberately hurting their business.

Someday the Snowe bill, or something like it, could create a feeding frenzy for corporate sharks. That would plunge the internet into chaos, with no website secure. I believe Congress will not be that foolish.

 

[raredn.com]

Just because a radio station owns a trademark on a four letter sequence does not mean that they own all possible uses of that sequence. That is nonsense and we domain holders are getting stampeded by predatory lawyers into throwing away valuable domains.

If you were to set up a website on that domain pretending to be that radio station, or trying to lure that radio station's listeners to their competition that is trademark infringement.

If you were to set up a website on that domain selling shoes, cauliflower, race cars or just about anything else that was not a radio station you are not infringing on their trademark.

Offering it to the radio station for more than your cost is considered bad faith. Parking when ads for that radio station or competing radio stations are displayed by the parking company is a gray area and is better avoided.

Understand that it costs several thousand dollars to prepare and file a UDRP challenge - only the most bull-headed companies would do that for a domain worth a fraction of that amount unless you are deliberately hurting their business.

Someday the Snowe bill, or something like it, could create a feeding frenzy for corporate sharks. That would plunge the internet into chaos, with no website secure. I believe Congress will not be that foolish.

Yes too true, the letters can stand for whatever you want besides the radio station, for instance if it was twfm.com it could stand for 'total wild flower man' or what ever else you want. But if you approached a radio station that was using the initials twfm.com and tried to sell the name to them, this could land you in trouble

 

[My User Name]

accentnepal, and raredn, thank you for your posts. I "completely" agree with each of your statements. I believe that every letter combination in the whole world has been used at one time or another, already. I just dont now, for what? Business, Personal, etc. ??? I have nothing but the most honest intentions, and some of these gray areas really confuse me. But, I can tell you tthis much, I will definitely not approach that station and offer this domain to them. I dont want to seem like I came to them for any squatting or anything. This is a fun business, and hobby, also kinda confusing to know what is exactly the "right thing to do". I think I will just throw it into a bulk package myself and try to get rid of it, so it is not really highlighted, if that makes any sense. Thank You both!

 

[ankaksh]

I just cancelled my domain cars-bmw.net because I got a mail regarding Trademark Infringement.

 

[slapman]

twfm.com it could stand for 'total wild flower man' or what ever else you want. trouble

im a daffodil man myself

 

[Andrei P.]

I just cancelled my domain cars-bmw.net because I got a mail regarding Trademark Infringement.

Ok. If you receive an email that there is a trademark infringement and don't cancel the name. What happens then? As I understand the worst thing is that you will loose your domain? Or is there something worse than this can happen?

 

[accent]

Ok. If you receive an email that there is a trademark infringement and don't cancel the name. What happens then? As I understand the worst thing is that you will loose your domain? Or is there something worse than this can happen?

There is a good chance that nothing will happen, Cease and Desist (C & D) letters, as they are called, cost a company very little.

If they decide to pursue the matter then you will get, at the email address listed for the domain, a copy of a UDRP complaint. You get three weeks to answer, in proper legal form. If you do not answer your registrar will probably, but not certainly, be told to give your domain to the complaintant.

You can answer yourself, that will cost you next to nothing, but the odds are much better in your favor if you hire a domain specialist lawyer. An ordinary attorney would be of very little use. Figure around $5000 your cost, win or lose.

The panel(ists) get only $1000 each so do not expect them to put much time into the case. Decisions are rather random, but often favor the corporations, and are often appear to have an anti-domainer bias.

 

[Rob J]

IANAL, but I think the worst that can come of it is you'll lose the domain (or voluntarily give it to them to avoid a fuss). Don't sweat it, just don't use it for anything radio related and you'll be fine. If they do happen to send you a letter you can drop the name or give it to them and forget about it. What i'd probably do is tell them it's $500 and see how much they really want it, they're not going to spend $5k+ on lawyers and filing complaints when they can avoid it all for $500.

If I checked I probably have 2 dozen call letter domains. There are alot of radio and tv stations, any KLLL or WLLL domain has a pretty good chance of being a station somewhere.