[Question] Trademarks in Domainnames

Hi all,

as far as I understand it is a bad idea to use trademarks in domainnames.

So something like:

sonycamera(.)com


But are names of products a bad idea too?

For example if sony has a camera called "alpha 500" can I get in trouble to own a domain like:

alpha500(.)com ?

Or lets look at nintendo. Can it get me in trouble to use a domain like:

wii-games(.)com ?


Thank you in advance

 

You can use it till you get the cease and desist letter. If you do buy a trademark domain and do not use it in a compeditive manor then you would would be fine.... maybe.

 

This is a very gray area. If you are not trying to profit from their brand then you are fine. For example you can not registered johndeere.com but you can register usedjohndeere.com if you have a classified ad site selling used john deeres because it is relevant to use.

 

yes but my main question is: what actually is a trademark?

well "nintendo" is a trademark but is "wii" a trademark too? Or is "alpha 500" a trademark?

I dont yet get where the line is I have to avoid

What about modelnumbers like if sony had a product with a modelname like "p23450KT"

is it save to have a domain p23450KT(.)com ?

Where is the limit ?

 

Registered Trade Mark = TM

Google "Trademark" and all the definitions are there.

My little LLC company is a TM. Anyone can get a TM

 

I think there won't be any problem for registering sonycamera.com

 

just follow the stipulations of the trademark

each one has different rules and you have to check to see if they are even TM on

Code:

http://www.uspto.gov/trademarks/index.jsp

click on search marks
new user
then enter the name and click search

 

As mentioned, there is a bit of a gray area here. You could in fact get in trouble for any of those but that chances that you actually do are up in the air.

I would just stay away in general. Just my thoughts.

Kind Regards,
killxp