Advice needed, regarding a "threat letter" I received a couple of days ago...

criticalmess

criticalmess

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I do not want to disclose the actual domain names involved, so I will use a different city name.

I own columbusshuttle.com, ranking #2 for "columbus shuttle"

I contacted the owner of columbushuttle.com, offering him the oportunity of advertising in my site.

He wrote this:
Please nоte that yоu are trading оff оf оur name and reputatiоn.
I suggest yоu clоse dоwn this site immediately оr i will be instructing my lawyer tо start legal prоceedings against yоu.

By the way, I'm not using the term 'columbushuttle' anywhere in my site, in his site the logo states 'columbushuttle'
 
Last edited:
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Is the word / their name trademarked? IMO, talk with your trusted (not any but trusted ONLY) lawyer.
 
Are you usining any copyright material on the website or directly inferring anything that would be concieved that you are talking about his company?
Just think about how many domains that are out there that refer to google or other big names.

The other option is to save on hassle would be as a gesture of good will is to offer to sell him the site. As far as I am aware, a ddoottccoomm domain name dispute would cost him a minimum of $3000
 
How about pushing your rights to your domain? Who really holds the rights to use the name?
 
Web Echo said:
Is the word / their name trademarked? IMO, talk with your trusted (not any but trusted ONLY) lawyer.
Click to expand...
Will do that today, thanks


dynamic1 said:
Are you usining any copyright material on the website or directly inferring anything that would be concieved that you are talking about his company?
Just think about how many domains that are out there that refer to google or other big names.

The other option is to save on hassle would be as a gesture of good will is to offer to sell him the site. As far as I am aware, a ddoottccoomm domain name dispute would cost him a minimum of $3000
Click to expand...
No, I have original content written, praising the idea that a shuttle service in columbus is the best thing ever.
On top of that, I'm not even promoting anyone right now, I wanted to wait until the site is ranked high enough


Four Seasons said:
How about pushing your rights to your domain? Who really holds the rights to use the name?
Click to expand...
Well, I just checked and indeed he has the trade mark in that specific country, actually he owns:
"columbus shuttle service"
"columbus shuttle"
"shuttle columbus"

Maybe I will do the same in USA?

some more facts:
1. the domain is .com
2. the country is outside the USA
3. there are practically shit load of active sites where the domain contains the combination "columbus shuttle"
 
Just checked and there are 7 sits with a domain name that holds the same combination of keyword.

This whole drama started when I sent a friendly "I come in peace" email, offering to promote that service

Now, regardless of the outcome, I will overthrown hist site from #1 (with or without this domain)
 
After consulting with a lawyer:

Basically, since I'm in country #1, site is hosted in country #2 and the crazy guy is in country #3, it would be pretty hard to even reach me.

I'm not doing anything wrong and if he wants to go to court - he will have a pretty hard time (not cost effective)

So, plan continues.

Thanks all!
 
Wow, yeah screw this bastard, I'd send him an e-mail letting him know I can play his game, then steal the #1 spot, then kick his ass in court with all the money your making from being in #1, then counter sue him and have him pay reparations.
 
Before we get all "screw this bastard" I would mention that he hasn't send you a solicitors letter merely told you to quit. You have shown an ability that he doesn't possess, namely your ability to rank his business better than he can do. If he doesnt want to play ball then screw him but I still see a window open for negotiations that are in your favour
 
Haha, in your case just send him an email that you laugh at him. it's impossible for him to get you
 
true

But I think that outranking him would be sufficient and persuasive enough
 
Don't email him back. Out rank him in SE ranking and contact his competitors to advertise on your site.
 
From this posted information on the thread, it sounds like a mostly-empty threat due to the lack of an official letter from a lawyer or any evidence of trade marking. If the title and keywords in question are on other sites, it sounds like the one making the threats might not have much of a leg to stand on. While a copyright or trademark violation can be a rather messy situation, it still needs evidence in order to hold up as a genuine case. It sounds like an empty threat and a desperate grab for easy-seeming lawsuit money to me.
 
i guess you are making a killing with that one that made him contact you and asking you to shut down.You did not copy anything so there should be no problem
 
Tell him to shove it.

If you hear from a lawyer, tell him to shove it.

If you get an actual C&D notice, start considering listening to what they have to say.
 
If the name you have is indeed the correct spelling, then google the "shuttle services" in that city and offer his competition the advertising option he declined.
 
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