Keeping a Trademark Domain?

Okay, I was recently approached with the opportunity to purchase a great domain name, one that could have many great blackhat uses, yet the domain is infringing upon trademark/copyright laws (its the exact name of the game in question, but with an odd extension)

So far the current owner has kept the domain without trouble, the random extension must be keeping them under radar, but so far the domain is undeveloped.


What I am wondering is, how do I go about protecting a domain from being seized and given to the trademark owner? Will registering it with an offshore registrar work? Is there other steps I should take to protect it?

Are you sure that the trademark owner hasn't contacted the current owner of the domain and that is why they are trying to sell it off to you?

That's what came to my mind, too.

If the owner wants it he will get it. Nothing you can do about it unless you want to waste time and money and fight for it (a fight you will lose)

If the price is worth it, you can risk it.

It's all your choice.

I have a trademark domain lying around in my godaddy account.

Dont know what to do with it.

PM me if you want it

what defines a trademark domain ?

I have a two word domain, one of the word is a trademark name, and I also invested some time in it. I saw tons of high traffic domains with trademarks words and graphics.

agreed w/nufaman. If a company owns a trademark on a certain term, if they want to go after domains using that term, they will and there's nothing you can do about it. What happens is it goes to ICANN (basically the domain name judging force) and if they rule that TM holder has more reason (as in legal right) to the domain than you do, they will rule in favor of the TM holder.
it's always a gamble when dealing w/TMs - some TM owners go after everything and some don't. just depends how much the TM owner wants to 0wn the web.

nufaman said:

If the owner wants it he will get it. Nothing you can do about it unless you want to waste time and money and fight for it (a fight you will lose)

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My advice - Dont do it !
Nufaman is right. I just went through a 3 month ordeal with this and it sucks. Everything is weighted in the favor of the trademark holder. In my case they filed with WIPO, without sending me so much as an email. WIPO in turn contacted my registrar, and they put a lock on my domain. This domain would now stay in limbo until there was a resolution, which could take a year or more.
I just gave in and let them have the domain, but it was a gigantic pain in the ass

So offshore registrars won't matter?

OTrap said:

So offshore registrars won't matter?

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No, because all the registrars are some kind of "sub-registrars" of the organization called ICAAN.

If the TM owner turns to them directly, your registrar (e.g. Godaddy or whataver else you are using) can not do anything.

what do i do to get rid of them. i have two, one with big G's and the other of ya***. Anyone want it. Both are info's though. Please suggest. I want to get rid of them. If interested PM me for the names..

I had one that contained the letters r-o-l-e-x in it.... and within a couple weeks of adding content I received a letter from a lawfirm in switzerland. They were willing to pay me for my registration cost, but if I asked for a dime more than I could prove I paid they were going to come after me for cybersquatting. I wouldnt mess with it. You might be able to buy some time with private registration, but either way they will come knocking.