Legal Concerns: Expiring domains

creativepotion · Oct 15, 2012

So I found this really cool expired domain today.
As usual, i did some background check on this domain before purchasing.
To my surprise, the previous owner is located in the same country and city as me; and i believe it was operate as a registered business (LLC).

So lets call it "dogtrainingsupplies.com" (just an example)

If I purchase this domain and monetize it using amazon, is that legal? (assuming he did not trademark this name)
Or is it illegal because I am misleading visitors believing that 'dogtrainingsupplies' now works with amazon?

Thanks

seoreports · Oct 15, 2012

if its a generic domain , ie a keyword, then you should be ok. if it's a trademark name, then you could get an UDRP.

creativepotion · Oct 15, 2012

seoreports said:
if its a generic domain , ie a keyword, then you should be ok. if it's a trademark name, then you could get an UDRP.

How can I check if that name is trademark or not?
And what if it is NOT trademarked but registered as a business name LLC? Is that the same?

and what if I purchased that domain and not monetize using amazon? but use it as a blog about those supplies instead (for link building)?

SEOWhizz · Oct 15, 2012

creativepotion said:
How can I check if that name is trademark or not?

You can check US trade marks here:

Code:

http://www.uspto .gov/trademarks/process/search/
(remove space)

creativepotion said:
and what if I purchased that domain and not monetize using amazon? but use it as a blog about those supplies instead (for link building)?

If the domain has a trade marked name within it, you will run the risk (at some point in the future) of action being taken by the trade mark owner.

fredge · Oct 15, 2012

If it isn't a trademark, you can still violate the law. If it can be clearly confused with a specific business.

creativepotion · Oct 16, 2012

fredge said:
If it isn't a trademark, you can still violate the law. If it can be clearly confused with a specific business.

So does that mean NO ONE can ever monetize that domain anymore if thats the case? (except for the original owner)?

creativepotion · Oct 16, 2012

bumping this. thanks

JoshN · Oct 17, 2012

just wanted to add a resource here that I use to check this stuff www.trademarkia.com

Legal Concerns: Expiring domains

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