Got contacted to take domain name down. Anyone ever had this happen?

The email doesn’t sound like they’re going to do anything.

I bought yesterday a domain name with the name of the restaurant that is still under construction in my building.

Wondering how much they’ll pay.
Ahahaha, nice way to plan a pre-blackmail. Don't settle for anything less than 4 figures mate. ;)
Some restaurant owners are rich and would be willing to lash out any amount to keep their name.
 
Guys, I want to understand this clearly. Wikipedia is a trademark. So, suppose I buy the domain "zzwikipedia.com". Can they do copyright claim on me?

What are the chances for losing this domain or selling it to wikipedia for a good amount? I'm just trying to understand.
 
What are the chances for selling it to wikipedia for a good amount?
0, that's not how it works.

You need to understand how trademarks are registered, to what regions they apply and were registered to and to what categorizations.
 
A trademark on a word has nothing to say.It depends for which niches the trademark has been registered for.For example if somebody registered that trademark for tourism than you still are allowed to use that word for other niches and they can't do shit since their trademark is limited to the tourism niche.
informational, product reviews and shit.
 
0, that's not how it works.

You need to understand how trademarks are registered, to what regions they apply and were registered to and to what categorizations.
Do you know how that works and got any idea if I can prevent anything from happening at all?
 
Lol at the frustrated part. Well guess ill wait till they force google to slap me.

Unfortunately its not earning well enough for me to sell it yet :l

If it's not earning much, then weigh your risks. They may sue you for damages and for your revenue if they think you're making $$$ with it.
 
Guys, I want to understand this clearly. Wikipedia is a trademark. So, suppose I buy the domain "zzwikipedia.com". Can they do copyright claim on me?

What are the chances for losing this domain or selling it to wikipedia for a good amount? I'm just trying to understand.

Yes they can.

I use a similar strategy with some of the well known commercial brands.

No chance to sell it to them at all... ZERO.
 
Yes they can.

I use a similar strategy with some of the well known commercial brands.

No chance to sell it to them at all... ZERO.
Thanks for the reply mate. So, the trick is to bank as much as possible until you get the final notice of any strong incoming action, right?
 
Thanks for the reply mate. So, the trick is to bank as much as possible until you get the final notice of any strong incoming action, right?

Yup - that is how I do it over and over and over and over and over again.

Doing it right now with 4 domains actually.
 
Yup - that is how I do it over and over and over and over and over again.

Doing it right now with 4 domains actually.
Nice. So, you don't fear seeing something bad after all these multiple C&D letters that you got as you said?

Just for knowledge, in case of any trademark issue, the main company first sends the C&D letter to the person and then slowly strong steps are taken, right?
 
Nice. So, you don't fear seeing something bad after all these multiple C&D letters that you got as you said?

Just for knowledge, in case of any trademark issue, the main company first sends the C&D letter to the person and then slowly strong steps are taken, right?

I've been getting them since 2009 and never had any real legal issues at all. In fact, to explain how scared I am of them, my username here is one of the brands that sent me a C&D back in the day.

Your step thought process is pretty much how it goes.
 
I've been getting them since 2009 and never had any real legal issues at all. In fact, to explain how scared I am of them, my username here is one of the brands that sent me a C&D back in the day.

Your step thought process is pretty much how it goes.
Wow. Just saw trackerboats is a brand.

You are a pro player in this field as you are doing this from 2009. :)
 
Ahahaha, nice way to plan a pre-blackmail. Don't settle for anything less than 4 figures mate. ;)
Some restaurant owners are rich and would be willing to lash out any amount to keep their name.

Blackmail? It's called smart
 
First of all, that email sounds stupid, 2nd thing - did they send you any proof of trademarks like letter, certificate, registration no. blah blah

If not, Ask them if they don't provide any proofs, ignore it.
 
First of all, that email sounds stupid, 2nd thing - did they send you any proof of trademarks like letter, certificate, registration no. blah blah

If not, Ask them if they don't provide any proofs, ignore it.

Since when are you required to send any proof ?Its by law the buyers obligation before registering a domain to not violate any trademarks.
And asking if Wikipedia has a trademark is a joke.
Its obvious for what OP is using that domain and yes they could start a court case.The question is will they be able to recover their cost.People from india won't get sues since companies would lose a big chain of their money for lawyers .
But living in the US and having your details as US citizen on the domain changes things dramaticly.
 
Since when are you required to send any proof ?Its by law the buyers obligation before registering a domain to not violate any trademarks.
And asking if Wikipedia has a trademark is a joke.
Its obvious for what OP is using that domain and yes they could start a court case.The question is will they be able to recover their cost.People from india won't get sues since companies would lose a big chain of their money for lawyers .
But living in the US and having your details as US citizen on the domain changes things dramaticly.

1. You own the trademark/copyrights - you have to show it to other person that you own it. No one will believe it until you provide proofs.

If you own the domain - howaboutgoogle.com - It contains the trademark of google so in this case google has the right to take it off. For that they can show their trademark and it will be taken down at the registrar level.

On the other hand a kid can troll around and say "hey you own the domain its my trademark take it off" doesn't make any sense. It doesn't matter what buyer obligations are when registering the domain.

Contacted by an official authority and by a kid who only wants to claim the handle is a different thing.
 
Last edited:
Blackmail? It's called smart
I look at it this way If someone is starting a company, restaurant, whatever and they don't register the domain name that would be their brand or store or whatever, their loss. That's one of the first things you do. However, in the case that you are buying a "branded/trademarked" domain name "the intent to sell" it back to the brand/trademark name company etc., that is deemed cyber-squatting and that friends, is against the law. The important part being "intent to sell it back to the brand". That is a hefty hill to climb in legal terms because unless you have actually said it, wrote it, or testified to it, intent can't be proved. So, if you are buying a branded domain name to make your own website and your own intellectual property with, the only recourse they would have legally is copyright/trademark registration infringement, then they go running to the registrar and get them to take the registration away from you, contact google to shut off the traffic, etc. Hell they may even register the domain name themselves at some point to tie it up. Personally, it think if these big trademarks were so damned worried about it they would purchase the domain names themselves, but then they wouldn't be able to harass the shit out of the little guy if they did.
 
A few years back I received a request from lawyers of a top investment bank to transfer a domain I owned to them. I told them make me an offer and they refused. I kept the domain for years and they did nothing.
 
A few years back I received a request from lawyers of a top investment bank to transfer a domain I owned to them. I told them make me an offer and they refused. I kept the domain for years and they did nothing.
I have 1 for a nice sized bank now. I have no idea what to do with it at the moment, I thought of making it a banking review site.
 
Back
Top