Advice Please: Lawyers threatening me for using "their" domain name
- Thread starter wizzkidd
- Start date
I love this! Especially due to the fact I own www:GoogleInstantPreview:com.
Like I'm going to give away that domain if Lawyers come knocking... It's going to eventually be my show piece as I want to get it ranking above Google for Google Instant Preview.
As far as I'm concerned a domain on the public market is legally available for purchase by the public. If they don't like it, they should have bought the domain themselves.
Like I'm going to give away that domain if Lawyers come knocking... It's going to eventually be my show piece as I want to get it ranking above Google for Google Instant Preview.
As far as I'm concerned a domain on the public market is legally available for purchase by the public. If they don't like it, they should have bought the domain themselves.
OnlineGodfather
Senior Member
- Mar 3, 2010
- 1,122
- 413
as the previous members said, If you are not in the same country, ignore it, but the best would be if you try to sell it.
carlito
BANNED
- Aug 22, 2010
- 1,152
- 328
false.
TM are the owners of dn containing their name even if they dont have bought it.
And good luck with your google site (some people are really inconscious...)
I would drag it out for as long as possible then just give it back to them or nix it like others have said. Remember its costing the mortgage firm probably $100/letter or more (shame your giving the lawyers business but hell thats life) so let them suffer - they can spend hundreds for a domain thats worth pennies - it sucks but at least you would get a chuckle out of it and you could make a little bit of cash for the couple of months it rumbles on.
- Nov 3, 2010
- 1,621
- 1,268
Give it back to them and get on scrapebox and blast the hell out of it and send them down the google penalty path....
Just joking....!!
I agree and let them have it but i would make them do it as professional as they can. Not just an email....
At the end you need to ask yourself what your time is worth...
Just joking....!!
I agree and let them have it but i would make them do it as professional as they can. Not just an email....
At the end you need to ask yourself what your time is worth...
jasonmbeamer
Junior Member
- Jan 11, 2010
- 104
- 31
I had a similar matter, but my case was different. I made sure there was no trademark first. Then sure enough the morons came a knocking and stated this was fraud. I told them what for...
TM is a legal property. It doesn't matter if its a domain name or letter head or on a billboard. You have to have written permission to use their TM.
That domain is a .info not a .info.uk
They have the right and the law is on their side. Be nice and give it to them, some day the table will turn.
TM is a legal property. It doesn't matter if its a domain name or letter head or on a billboard. You have to have written permission to use their TM.
That domain is a .info not a .info.uk
They have the right and the law is on their side. Be nice and give it to them, some day the table will turn.
loclhero
Supreme Member
- Jun 11, 2007
- 1,284
- 2,444
These trademark threads pop up here constantly. The bottom line is that if they own the mark, it's theirs. Period. Whether they have the funds to pursue it is another thing but I would think that they will. People seem to think that if IBM.com didn't have IBM.info registered well then it must be okay for someone to register it. It's not. The same applies here.
If they were so concerned with branding they should'e taken the time to register the domain themselves. Offer it to them at a price, I'd even offer them some SEO services with it. Basically, make your money.
I wouldn't worry about it too much....actually, if I were you, I'd look to see if both twitter accounts were already registered....if not, grab them and add them in the deal....know someone who just sold a twitter account to a lawfirm for $10,000.
Trust, they know the value of their brand a few thousand shouldn't make them gasp, especially if you show how you are saving them money by avoiding court and just paying you off.
I wouldn't worry about it too much....actually, if I were you, I'd look to see if both twitter accounts were already registered....if not, grab them and add them in the deal....know someone who just sold a twitter account to a lawfirm for $10,000.
Trust, they know the value of their brand a few thousand shouldn't make them gasp, especially if you show how you are saving them money by avoiding court and just paying you off.
Bill Gates
Registered Member
- Jan 5, 2009
- 99
- 471
The honest truth is whether or not they own the trade mark.
If they do and its registered already then you don't have any grounds.
If they don't they can't touch you.
BG
If they do and its registered already then you don't have any grounds.
If they don't they can't touch you.
BG
negligence
Regular Member
- Jan 3, 2010
- 257
- 333
One important thing that hasn't come up at all is what exactly is the first word?
Is it a family name that is very specific (ie: Stoudemekellson) or is it a generic descriptive term that just so happens to be the family name (ie: Quality). If it's Stoudemekellson Mortgage, then you're probably pretty fucked. If it's QualityMortgage.info then you'd probably be safe enough to tell them to piss off.
Also, keep in mind, ICANN is a US based organization. They are bound by US trademarks and will likely support StoudemekellsonMortage.info as a trademarked name.
Is it a family name that is very specific (ie: Stoudemekellson) or is it a generic descriptive term that just so happens to be the family name (ie: Quality). If it's Stoudemekellson Mortgage, then you're probably pretty fucked. If it's QualityMortgage.info then you'd probably be safe enough to tell them to piss off.
Also, keep in mind, ICANN is a US based organization. They are bound by US trademarks and will likely support StoudemekellsonMortage.info as a trademarked name.
The first name is not a family name in the respect that you're thinking of. They say it is apart of family of marks including "Sxxxxxxx", "Sxxxxxxx Mortgage, Inc", and "Sxxxxxxx Home Motgage", basically meaning it is a name that is used in a bundle/group of other names. The first name is not anything like Stoudemekellson, its actually a word that describes a type of person, i.e "Warrior" or "Shopkeeper" or "Chef".
I've already sent them an email. I knew i would get conflicting advise, but nevermind, we'll see what they say.
Who know ey?
I've already sent them an email. I knew i would get conflicting advise, but nevermind, we'll see what they say.
Who know ey?
goodseoman
Power Member
- Jul 1, 2010
- 612
- 344
I like this.
D
Deleted member 36594
Guest
Just drop the domain.
Or simply just do a 301 Redirect to their main website. Afterwards, just ignore them forever.
Happened to me recently... I registered a domain name with a company's name, made a MFA site out of it. Just 2-3 weeks after that, the company emailed me and told me that I was infringing their copyright and bla bla. Told me I was cybersquating and it's a crime. But since I wasn't monetizing from that site (I think just a couple of bucks from adsense a MONTH), I simply did a 301 redirection to their main website and ignored them since.
No more complains or bitch about since.
BlackSeng lives his life happily ever after.
Or simply just do a 301 Redirect to their main website. Afterwards, just ignore them forever.
Happened to me recently... I registered a domain name with a company's name, made a MFA site out of it. Just 2-3 weeks after that, the company emailed me and told me that I was infringing their copyright and bla bla. Told me I was cybersquating and it's a crime. But since I wasn't monetizing from that site (I think just a couple of bucks from adsense a MONTH), I simply did a 301 redirection to their main website and ignored them since.
No more complains or bitch about since.
BlackSeng lives his life happily ever after.
┼blackrat┼
Senior Member
- Jul 31, 2010
- 980
- 799
Monrox
Power Member
- Apr 9, 2010
- 617
- 588
Drop the .info, immediately register a .net or something with a nigerian registrar (using BS info of course) and when they come knocking again point them to one of the 'lawyers' that contact you daily with offers to transfer $50.000.000 to your bank account. They are real professionals you know.
Or just use a scammer's email in the contact info.
Or just use a scammer's email in the contact info.
Bartholomew
Regular Member
- Dec 31, 2009
- 291
- 105
First, you have absolutely nothing to lose. The worst thing that could happen - you'll lose the domain after ICANN dispute. AFAIK there were no precedent of going after domain owner in such cases. You bought this domain legally, don't forget it. You didn't steal it.
So spend your time wisely. Fuck them up thru this domain as much as you can while this domain is yours, just for lulz. Make them pay.
I don't know UK TM registration fees, but if you would register the same trademark in the UK (you should have the right to do this if they haven't done that already) - this would be really hilarious. But I think this will be expensive.
So spend your time wisely. Fuck them up thru this domain as much as you can while this domain is yours, just for lulz. Make them pay.
I don't know UK TM registration fees, but if you would register the same trademark in the UK (you should have the right to do this if they haven't done that already) - this would be really hilarious. But I think this will be expensive.
Im now in a predicament because after reading what everyone has wrote above, there are mixed messages coming in. I got even more concerned reading the sh*t that could happen to me if I do challenge them and lose, and also I should not even have contacted them etc. This info made me worried considering that I had recently emailed them asking them to "pay me for it"... well, i've just checked my outbox on my ever so trusty MS Outlook client, and there is my email sitting there - it hadn't even been sent. Arghhh!
So now what? Can we have a little vote or something? I know I shouldn't trust the views from a forum, but you guys between you have a wealth of knowledge and experiences.
Options are:
1) Contact them and say im giving up the domain
2) Offer them to buy the domain off me
3) Stand my ground and simply say "you cant have it, its mine"
4) Strike some sort of deal with them
5) Change the WHOIS info and tell them I sold it
6) Purchase the UK TM of the domain and stand my ground/or then sell it to them
7) Other?
I have until February 2nd to reply.
- Neil.
So now what? Can we have a little vote or something? I know I shouldn't trust the views from a forum, but you guys between you have a wealth of knowledge and experiences.
Options are:
1) Contact them and say im giving up the domain
2) Offer them to buy the domain off me
3) Stand my ground and simply say "you cant have it, its mine"
4) Strike some sort of deal with them
5) Change the WHOIS info and tell them I sold it
6) Purchase the UK TM of the domain and stand my ground/or then sell it to them
7) Other?
I have until February 2nd to reply.
- Neil.
flexnds
Power Member
- Jan 4, 2010
- 643
- 699
I had to stop using a domain once due to someone owning trademark of the name. I ignored them until they sent legal docs to my hosting provider and domain registrar, then I finally discontinued using that domain after my hosting provider sent me an e-mail stating I would have to remove the trademarked name. However, they never took the domain, I just simply had to remove anything on the site that had the trademark name on there. So, unless they have the name trademarked, I don't think you have to worry to much. LOL, offer to sell them the .info you own if they want to throw fit over.
And if they do take it from you, then I would make it to where they would need to hire a full time internet rep manager after I bend them over. If they F you, F em back.
And if they do take it from you, then I would make it to where they would need to hire a full time internet rep manager after I bend them over. If they F you, F em back.