Can I get trouble with a domain name like this?

[Gintoki]

So I was wondering, can I get in trouble if I register a domain name that, together with the letters after the 'dot' part, makes out a copyrighted term? Some stupid examples for this would be: app.le , microso.ft , (not sure if these extensions are even available, but you get my point). So? Can they take the domain away from me?

 

[Wilson Grant Fisk]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Typosquatting
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cybersquatting

 

[Gintoki]

It seems I have to find another way to 'brand' my site then.

 

[bust-in]

From what I understand it is only considered squatting if you are parking the site to sell to the brand or competitors or to mislead them to think they are on the brands site. If you do your own thing on the site you should be fine

 

[olystyle]

I agree with bust-in

Lets say if you were to register merced.es and would set up a Forum for Mercedes Car drivers and enthusiast on this site you should be perfectly fine.

cheers olystyle

 

[wiseass]

until they drown you with legal costs

 

[Furious George]

Add whoisgruard... you may get a threatening email saying to take it down. Unless you're breaking the law, such as copyright infringement... you have ZERO issues to worry about.

 

[ok888]

Depends

 

[Pilfer7]

Add whoisgruard... you may get a threatening email saying to take it down. Unless you're breaking the law, such as copyright infringement... you have ZERO issues to worry about.

whoisguard isnt foolproof. if u have legal issues and are counting on that to protect you, you are in trouble

 

[Jagged55]

No matter what trickery you use, if you are trying to infringe on a trademark, they can take it from you. The size of the company and the damage you are causing will determine how quick they are to sue. Remember that many of these companies have teams of in-house lawyers so they're bought and paid for out of the gate so they can send letters out all day.

And as Pilfer7 pointed out, whoisguard won't stop legal troubles. Also, just because you have a site that is "friendly" to their trademarked brand, they can and sometimes will take it from you.

You can always find a domain name that is in the same niche and create a subdomain or category with the trademarked name as a starting point if you want to test the waters.

 

[Furious George]

Yes, it is not foolproof. If you're breaking the law, you're screwed...

My point was (is) you should add that so they don't send you written correspondence.

Lets say you're selling an ebay guide, and "ebay" is in the name of your site. my ebay guide.com... you'll most likely get an email from ebay saying that you're using their name in an inappropriate fashion. Which of course, you're not. You're selling a guide for how to whatever on ebay. Using who is guard will help you ignore erroneous legal threats.

If you made a bid site called ebay2.com, you're in trouble... and who is guard won't help. If you make a site called eb.ay, and you market it like eb dot ay, you're fine.

 

[BrianKade001]

You'll land in soup sooner or later. I have seen this happen more than once.

 

[squadron]

So I was wondering, can I get in trouble if I register a domain name that, together with the letters after the 'dot' part, makes out a copyrighted term? Some stupid examples for this would be: app.le , microso.ft , (not sure if these extensions are even available, but you get my point). So? Can they take the domain away from me?

The short answer is Yes. But more importantly to fight such a legal action would cost big bucks even if you did win.

 

[watley]

App.le is still the domain name "app." If Apple says you're infringing on their copyright, they're just racially discriminating (in regards to the press nightmare I'd create if they tried to take a name like that from me) against the country of .le. Domain hacks are hacks....they're not supposed to exist (or so they say).

An interesting example of this is Apple.co.uk. You should check it out (not the website, but the story surrounding it).