Simple copyright question about domain names

[loclhero]

I basically want to write about facebook. For SEO reason and relevancy i'd like to stick some reference to facebook in the domain.

I'm not clued up on copyright infringement or anything of that nature.

How should I go about this?

Thanks for the help by the way it's appreciated.

I can't offer any opinion on "FB" as it does seem pretty generic but I can assure you that any mention of facebook in your url will be smacked down if (that's IF) they notice your site. Also, any graphics that are similar to face's graphics will also be "marked" and are not going to be allowed.
These trademark threads pop up way too much and there are too many people who think it's okay/legal to use a trademark in a domain. It's not.

 

[CEPI]

There is an acception to the rule though...

@ Loser - Call your book " Mastering the Social..." or whatever and list a sub-title, like " An expert look into how to market from Facebook.com "

You can leagally do that. It is done all the time, because it is called a ' description title ' in professional publishing. It is allowed, as you aren't mislieading anyone to believe you are directly associated with FB.

Great point! Might go put this into practice myself (no worries Gorang i don't do anything in the realm of social networking so your secret is safe here)

 

[tivowatcher]

Folks - as someone that just went through this, lemme give my 2 cents:

1. Any domain name that contains a trademarked name (such as Facebook) is going to attract the attention of that trademark holder. Why? Because it is part of their job to protect their branded name. Even if your site has nothing to do with the trademarked biz - you can expect a letter asking you cease and desist. They will cite "confusion in the marketplace" by your use of the domain name.

2. Just because you get contacted with a nasty letter - do NOT assume you are in trouble. More than likely they will PAY YOU to transfer the name. How do I know this? Like I said, I just went through this with a not-to-be-named HUGE company that we all know and love around here. It started with a letter and then MANY phone calls pestering and threatening. It was a parked domain (i never got around to using it) so you couldn't even argue I was infringing on their business model.

Bottom line - I refused to just "hand it over". They finally asked what it would take - I said $3000. We then negotiated a dollar amount (that they paid me) and I transferred it to them.

I would NOT expect to use this is as any form of business model - but if you get contacted about a domain, I would suggest you take the attitude of "ok, you want what I own, let's deal".

I am not a lawyer nor suggest this as legal advise - it is just my experience.

-Dave

 

[aftershock2020]

I can't offer any opinion on "FB" as it does seem pretty generic but I can assure you that any mention of facebook in your url will be smacked down if (that's IF) they notice your site. Also, any graphics that are similar to face's graphics will also be "marked" and are not going to be allowed.
These trademark threads pop up way too much and there are too many people who think it's okay/legal to use a trademark in a domain. It's not.

I completely agree, on both counts.

@ gang - Don't use it in your domain at all. You can be pulled up by your content relation to the facebook keywords without putting it in your domain name at all, as it has very LITTLE pull at all on your SE ranking for the project site anyway. It is all about the keywords you use and the content relation to it in your content.

 

[aftershock2020]

Folks - as someone that just went through this, lemme give my 2 cents:

1. Any domain name that contains a trademarked name (such as Facebook) is going to attract the attention of that trademark holder. Why? Because it is part of their job to protect their branded name. Even if your site has nothing to do with the trademarked biz - you can expect a letter asking you cease and desist. They will cite "confusion in the marketplace" by your use of the domain name.

2. Just because you get contacted with a nasty letter - do NOT assume you are in trouble. More than likely they will PAY YOU to transfer the name. How do I know this? Like I said, I just went through this with a not-to-be-named HUGE company that we all know and love around here. It started with a letter and then MANY phone calls pestering and threatening. It was a parked domain (i never got around to using it) so you couldn't even argue I was infringing on their business model.

Bottom line - I refused to just "hand it over". They finally asked what it would take - I said $3000. We then negotiated a dollar amount (that they paid me) and I transferred it to them.

I would NOT expect to use this is as any form of business model - but if you get contacted about a domain, I would suggest you take the attitude of "ok, you want what I own, let's deal".

I am not a lawyer nor suggest this as legal advise - it is just my experience.

-Dave

No reason you shouldn't stand your ground, however, must easier and more profitable to just use another name and take their business out from under them with good, old fashioned effort and a better business/seo/marketing plan.

 

[CEPI]

Folks - as someone that just went through this, lemme give my 2 cents:

1. Any domain name that contains a trademarked name (such as Facebook) is going to attract the attention of that trademark holder. Why? Because it is part of their job to protect their branded name. Even if your site has nothing to do with the trademarked biz - you can expect a letter asking you cease and desist. They will cite "confusion in the marketplace" by your use of the domain name.

2. Just because you get contacted with a nasty letter - do NOT assume you are in trouble. More than likely they will PAY YOU to transfer the name. How do I know this? Like I said, I just went through this with a not-to-be-named HUGE company that we all know and love around here. It started with a letter and then MANY phone calls pestering and threatening. It was a parked domain (i never got around to using it) so you couldn't even argue I was infringing on their business model.

Bottom line - I refused to just "hand it over". They finally asked what it would take - I said $3000. We then negotiated a dollar amount (that they paid me) and I transferred it to them.

I would NOT expect to use this is as any form of business model - but if you get contacted about a domain, I would suggest you take the attitude of "ok, you want what I own, let's deal".

I am not a lawyer nor suggest this as legal advise - it is just my experience.

-Dave

I'm making this an eBook by tomorrow and selling it on DP and as a WSO! LMAO totally joking! It just goes to show you that things like that happen though since you did have to put a disclaimer as to not use it as a "business model" because you knew people WOULD! LOL


Congrats on not rolling over and being scared though! At least you got some extra cash and had the last laugh.

 

[gorang]

What about this for example www.addictedtofacebook.com

The MAIN reason I want facebook in the name/brand is for relevancy. The first thing people want to know when they land on a site or see a domain is "where am i?".

I want them to understand the concept of my site before they even reach the page.

 

[grayven]

Its definitely a good idea to conduct some research whenever you are in doubt. This reminds me of my early days in IM when I registered a domain called "microsftonlineworld". I even mis-spelled microsoft, but two months or so after I registered the domain the Microsoft lawyers descended on me like a plague from hell. They were not nice and cuddly. I ignored their first nasty letter - Big, big mistake! Their second letter was a notice of litigation. I was very new to domains and registrars so I had some problems transferring the domain to them. To make a long story short, they didn't care. Rather than help me through the process their approach was intimidation. I have not been a much of a Microsoft fan since this happened.

 

[tivowatcher]

Well, like I said, you can do this but just COUNT on them coming to take it away, ha ha, hee hee, ho ho.

What about this for example www.addictedtofacebook.com

The MAIN reason I want facebook in the name/brand is for relevancy. The first thing people want to know when they land on a site or see a domain is "where am i?".

I want them to understand the concept of my site before they even reach the page.

 

[gorang]

Haha hahaha

 

[glaxxon]

I think something like this should be fine. There are so many big sites that are running with all major company names.
Depends on how you use it. What you are planning to do should be perfectly fine.
Just don't go start doing some BH stuff on it and selling affliate stuff.