Domain Name Trademarks


As your Internet business grows, the value of your domain name increases. The issue of a domain name trademark should move to the top of your list. You need to guard against unscrupulous competitors that may try to incorporate your domain name in their meta tags to obtain search engine rankings under your name. If you have a domain name trademark, you can go after these individuals and compel the search engines to remove their listings.

What Is A Trademark?

A trademark is a distinctive item that is used to identify a logo, product, device, package or service. The trademark identifies the item as being provided by a particular firm. To protect these items you can obtain a mark from the patent and trademark office that prohibits others from trying to gain economic advantage from your mark.

Domain Name

The patent and trademark office views domain names in a unique way. The office views the "http://www" element as a part of the file transfer process, not your domain name. The ".com", ".net", etc., designations are considered top-level domain identifiers and are also disregarded for the purpose of a domain name trademark. For example, our domain name is http://www.sandiegobusinesslawfirm.com. If we submitted the domain name for registration, only the "sandiegobusinesslawfirm" portion would be considered for a mark.

Locators Cannot Be Registered

A domain name is a locator for file pages. When you type in your domain name, a server locates and displays files. If a domain is used solely for this purpose, it will not be granted a mark. Instead, the domain name must be incorporated into the site. For instance, Amazon is recognized as an online bookstore and the site actually has the word "Amazon" on every page. Since "Amazon.com" is more than a locator, Amazon can apply for and receive a trademark. If Amazon used the domain name, bookstore.com, the company would be able to register "Amazon", but not "bookstore."

Generic and Descriptive Terms

Domain names that are generic or descriptive in nature cannot be registered because they fail to designate a distinctive product or service. For example, "sandiegobusinesslawfirm" is comprised of generic terms and describes who and where we are, to wit, a San Diego business law firm. This domain name cannot be trademarked. The same result would occur with bank.com, book.com, advice.com, etc.

You may be thinking, "What about 'Coke?' "Coke" is a trademarked term because it is a distinctive term for a soft drink product. It just so happens that a brilliant marketing plan has convinced most people to refer to soft drinks as "cokes", even if they actually prefer another brand!

Trademarks are an important factor in protecting your Internet business. Armed with a trademark, you can keep competitors from pulling traffic off the search engines when people search for your site.

Richard Chapo is with http://www.sandiegobusinesslawfirm.com - a law firm providing legal advice to California businesses. This article is for general education purposes and does not address every facet of the subject matter. Nothing in this article creates an attorney-client relationship.





Latest News:



Site: Yahoo! News Search Results for news
Jeff Ritter: Beware the Tampa QB, more fantasy news, views (Sports Illustrated)
We're cruising full speed ahead into Week 2 of the NFL season. It's been a wild week of news, from Tom Brady's ligaments, to Vince Young's grumpiness. There have also been a few new stories that could affect your fantasy lineup this Sunday, such as ... Futures flat; Lehman buyout news, data awaited (Reuters via Yahoo! News)
Stock index futures were little changed on Friday as investors awaited news on the fate of Lehman Brothers after a slide in its stock this week heightened fears over whether the investment bank can survive. Myanmar's Suu Kyi to get family letters, news mags (Reuters via Yahoo! News)
Detained Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi has managed to wring small concessions from the ruling generals in the form of letters from her family and some international news magazines, her lawyer said on Friday. SEC Looks Into UAL Stock Scare; Implications For Online News? (CBS News)
A ton of digits have been devoted to this in other spots but the SEC's decision to investigate takes it to another level. The backstory: a six-year-old news story about UAL declaring bankruptcy made it into the Tribune-owned Sun-Sentinel 's current news flow, was picked up by a Google (NSDQ: GOOG) News bot and, via a reporter for a newsletter, made it onto Bloomberg News. After a lot of buck ... JCDecaux in talks for News Outdoor Group in Russia (AP via Yahoo! News)
French outdoor advertising firm JCDecaux SA said Thursday it is negotiating to buy Russian rival News Outdoor Group from global media company News Corp. JCDecaux and News Corp. in talks to combine outdoor ad groups (International Herald Tribune)
The News Corp. chief executive, Rupert Murdoch, has recently expressed nervousness about investments in Russia, where News Outdoor generated the bulk of its revenue last year. Help News pick Stadium's greatest moment (New York Daily News)
The News is marking the countdown to the final game at The House That Ruth Built by reflecting on Yankee Stadium's greatest moments - and we're asking you - the reader - to help us pick out the best of the best. Get Indexed and Ranked in Google News (Search Engine Journal)
Google News can bring tons of traffic and boost your site performance. If you own news site and consider it ?newsworthy?, getting included in Google news is one of the first thing you should do: Make sure your site meets all requirements to be included: Shimon Sandler did a great job listing the factors that will help [...] News Corp tightens grip on Premiere with new CEO (Reuters via Yahoo! News)
Rupert Murdoch tightened his grip on German pay-TV broadcaster Premiere by appointing News Corp executive Mark Williams as CEO in a move to get the company back on track. SEC Looks Into UAL Stock Scare; Implications For Online News? (paidContent.org via Yahoo! Finance)
A ton of digits have been devoted to this in other spots but the SEC's decision to investigate takes it to another level. The backstory: a six-year-old news story about UAL declaring bankruptcy made it into the Tribune-owned Sun-Sentinel's current news flow, was picked up by a Google News bot and, via a reporter for a newsletter, made it onto Bloomberg News.

Site: news - Google News
Gas Supplies To Poland Stable, No New Caps Planned - Operator - CNNMoney.com

ABC News

Gas Supplies To Poland Stable, No New Caps Planned - Operator
CNNMoney.com - 4 hours ago
The Polish government has also adopted new rules allowing it to restrict supplies to industrial clients if the situation worsens. (END) Dow Jones Newswires ...
Video: Ukraine leaves Europe without gas - Gazprom RussiaToday
Medvedev: Russia will reopen to Ukraine only on new contract (Extra) Monsters and Critics.com
Across Europe, a new 'cold war' Minneapolis Star Tribune
Xinhua - RTE.ie
all 7,058 news articles
Ballmer touts Windows 7 beta, new deals - CNET News

Sydney Morning Herald

Ballmer touts Windows 7 beta, new deals
CNET News, CA - 8 hours ago
Microsoft will also announce new deals for Windows Live that will see Microsoft's search engine become the default on PCs from Dell as well as touting a ...
Microsoft's news at CES not so new Seattle Times
CES News: Ballmer Keynote Doesn?t Quite Fit The Bill Twice
Windows Live Essentials released, more Windows Live news from CES LiveSide
IT PRO - CRN - UK
all 933 news articles
New UN Gaza resolution proposed - Aljazeera.net

Times Online

New UN Gaza resolution proposed
Aljazeera.net, Qatar - 2 hours ago
Condoleezza Rice, the US secretary of state, David Miliband, the British foreign minister, and Bernard Kouchner, the French foreign minister put the new ...
Video: Israeli war on Gaza continues after second lull - 08 Jan 09 AlJazeeraEnglish
News roundup: Lebanese rocket northern Israel; passengers ... USA Today
New jobless claims down...Obama's `dramatic action'...UN driver ... KXMC
Monsters and Critics.com - Council on Foreign Relations
all 32,818 news articles
MORTGAGES: Tenth Straight Decline Sends 30-Year Mortgage To New Low - CNNMoney.com

The Money Times

MORTGAGES: Tenth Straight Decline Sends 30-Year Mortgage To New Low
CNNMoney.com - 2 hours ago
... of mortgage-backed securities issued by Freddie Mac , Fannie Mae and Ginnie Mae," said Frank Nothaft, Freddie Mac chief economist, in a news release. ...
Freddie Mac: Benchmark mortgage rate continues to new low MarketWatch
New York Fed starts buying agency MBS Reuters
all 791 news articles
US Senate Democratic Leaders Outline New Agenda - Voice of America

FOXNews

US Senate Democratic Leaders Outline New Agenda
Voice of America - 1 hour ago
By Deborah Tate A day after a new Democratic-led US Congress was sworn in, lawmakers are focusing on an ambitious agenda. ...
Video: Obama to Bring Accountability to Spending Plan AssociatedPress
New Voices in Congress Will Change the Tone of the Democratic Majority New York Times
Obama inherits $1.2 trillion deficit ? even before new stimulus Christian Science Monitor
The Associated Press - WELT ONLINE
all 11,242 news articles
BCS Title Game: The News Media Predicts - New York Times

New York Daily News

BCS Title Game: The News Media Predicts
New York Times, United States - 10 hours ago
Florida 51, Oklahoma 17: Gators dominate special teams and stymie Sam Bradford to become the new preeminent program in college football.
This BCS title game is a complete sham; Pac-10 news, notes & links The Oregonian - OregonLive.com
all 2,588 news articles
A double-header for 'Fox News Sunday': President Bush and his father - Los Angeles Times

BBC News

A double-header for 'Fox News Sunday': President Bush and his father
Los Angeles Times, CA - 1 hour ago
In the competition for the biggest Sunday morning interview, ?Fox News Sunday? may have scored the best get this weekend. Brit Hume, filling in for host ...
Video: Obama Has 'Extraordinary' Moment With Presidents AssociatedPress
CNN Student News Transcript: January 8, 2009 CNN
George W. Bush and father talk to "Fox News Sunday" The TV Guy
The Associated Press - U.S. News & World Report
all 2,342 news articles
Stocks' New-Year Rally Fizzles - Wall Street Journal

Stocks' New-Year Rally Fizzles
Wall Street Journal - 3 hours ago
By PETER A. MCKAY, ROB CURRAN, and GEOFFREY ROGOW A barrage of glum economic and corporate news hit stocks from every direction Wednesday, prompting an ...
Wal-Mart News Weighs on Stocks - BusinessWeek

Reuters

Wal-Mart News Weighs on Stocks
BusinessWeek - 3 hours ago
Sentiment was hurt by news that Wal-Mart (WMT) forecast lower earnings due to disappointing December sales. Also, while initial jobless claims fell 24000 to ...
STOCKS NEWS US-Credit Suisse sees pension underfunding in 2009 Forbes
Wall Street Declines On Economic News BankInfoSecurity.com
Lower start on tap with WMT news, overseas losses SmallCapInvestor
AOL Canada - U.S. News & World Report
all 1,751 news articles
American Technology Announces $2.7 Million in New LRAD(R) Orders ... - CNNMoney.com

American Technology Announces $2.7 Million in New LRAD(R) Orders ...
CNNMoney.com - 6 hours ago
"We're off to a strong start in the first half of fiscal 2009 with over $5.5 million in new orders received in our first quarter, of which approximately ...

MORE RESOURCES:
Site: Yahoo! News Search Results for domain names
"Brews.com," other domain names up for auction through Sedo (Boston Business Journal)

Sedo, an online marketplace for buying and selling domain names, has announced a list of domain names that will be up for sale in an upcoming auction. Fake Antispyware Purveyor Doubles as Domain Registrar (Washington Post)

A cyber gang known for aggressively spreading fake anti-spyware programs through hijacked and malicious Web sites has become an authorized reseller of domain names. Security Fix has learned that this gang is using its access as a registrar to ease the process of creating new Web sites used to push their invasive software. Klikdomains.com, also known as Vivids Media GMBH, sells Web site names in ... Aggressive Fake Antispyware Seller an Authorized Domain Registrar (CircleID)

A group known for aggressive distribution of bogus anti-spyware programs through hijacked and malicious websites is found to be also an authorized reseller of domain names. Vietnamese domain name unmarketable (Vietnam Net)

Bridge ? Just 3,800 domain names have been registered in Vietnamese since they were first issued 18 months ago. Most site owners said they registered their domains in Vietnamese to not miss advertising opportunities on search engines like Google or Yahoo. Presented By: BuyDomains.com, get the domain name you want! (Tom's Hardware)

   Choose the premium domain name for your business from the world?s largest inventory and marketplace for domain names - BuyDomains.com. We?ve helped thousands of businesses get the name they want. Call 866-830-6476 and let our Domain Consultants help you! www.buydomains.com Ads by Pheedo Premium Domain Names Including Love.Me and MovieRentals.com to Be Part of Live, Open Domain Name Auction (PRWeb via Yahoo! News)

Buying descriptive and easy to remember domains offers businesses a faster way to generate traffic and build brand awareness Domain Strategies Launches Slideshow.com - From Parked Domain to Thriving Business in 45 Days (PRWeb)

Domain Strategies and Gil Benatar (domain owner) partnered to develop a parked domain into a full functioning site that is poised to grow in the secured presentation and image display market. Domain owners looking for a way to derive the full value of a domain name have turned to domain development companies like Domain Strategies to realize the dream. (PRWeb Sep 12, 2008) Read the full story ... September Hosting And Domain Promos (Web Host Industry Review)

September 11, 2008 -- ( WEB HOST INDUSTRY REVIEW) -- Many hosts and domain registrars have announced deals in the first weeks of September. ResellerClub and DomainPeople are offering cheap domains, Host595 is trying to attract new customers, and Hostway is giving away iPhones. Service Channels (Web Host Directory)

Sedo, the leading online marketplace for buying and selling domain names, today announced premium domains for its September GreatDomains Auction. 29 names crowd Rosemount ballot (Minneapolis-St. Paul Star Tribune)

Interest mushroomed after a mass mailing encouraged residents to run, citing an eminent-domain controversy. Site: domain names - Google News
Negotiating the Domain Name Thicket - E-Commerce Times

Negotiating the Domain Name Thicket
E-Commerce Times - 23 hours ago
By Jim Offner An Internet domain name can make or break a business, so choosing wisely is critical. Even pricey names may offer value that far exceeds a ...
Geek Trivia: Master of your (top-level) domain TechRepublic
all 3 news articles
Condé Nast to Cityfile: Please Return Our Editors' Domain Names - New York Observer

New York Observer

Condé Nast to Cityfile: Please Return Our Editors' Domain Names
New York Observer, NY - 16 minutes ago
by Irina Aleksander | 2:03 PM January 8, 2009 Since its inception, the gossip website Cityfile has been buying the domain names of powerful New Yorkers, ...
Appeals court set to rule on Kentucky effort to seize domain names - Computerworld

Gambling911.com

Appeals court set to rule on Kentucky effort to seize domain names
Computerworld, MA - Jan 6, 2009
The appeals court is deliberating whether to uphold a lower court's approval of a state plan to seize Internet domain names belonging to 141 online gambling ...
Kentucky Online Gambling Domain Name Ruling Will Be Unenforceable Casino Gambling Web
2008 Year in Review: Kentucky Internet Gaming Squabble PocketFives.com
Kentucky Gambling Row Rages On Online Casino Reports
all 9 news articles
INTERNET LAW - Domain Name Disputes Involving Automobile Manufacturers - IBLS INTERNET LAW (subscription)

INTERNET LAW - Domain Name Disputes Involving Automobile Manufacturers
IBLS INTERNET LAW (subscription), CA - Jan 7, 2009
The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Arbitration Panels frequently find likelihood of confusion where domain names incorporate automobile ...
101domain Releases New Site, Services - Including ... - PR Web (press release)

101domain Releases New Site, Services - Including ...
PR Web (press release), WA - Jan 7, 2009
Today 101domain.com launched a freshly-overhauled website along with a portfolio of new services, including internationalized domain name (IDN) registration ...
Companies Have Fiduciary Responsibility to Lock Down Domain Names - Domain Name Wire

Companies Have Fiduciary Responsibility to Lock Down Domain Names
Domain Name Wire, TX - Jan 7, 2009
It would seem that protecting domain names ? especially mission critical ones like CheckFree.com, Dell.com, Amazon.com, and ATT.com, would fall under that ...
DomainPeople Accepts Preregistrations for .Tel Landrush Phase - PR Web (press release)

DomainPeople Accepts Preregistrations for .Tel Landrush Phase
PR Web (press release), WA - 20 hours ago
To help customers get the domain name they really want, DomainPeople has opened preregistration for .tel domain names in anticipation of the February 3, ...
Major cities lobby ICANN to cut prices on new domain names - Telecompaper

Major cities lobby ICANN to cut prices on new domain names
Telecompaper, Netherlands - Jan 7, 2009
Paris, Barcelona, Berlin, Hamburg and New York have written to ICANN to lobby for lower prices for new top-level domain names such as .paris, ...
MagneGas Corporation Purchases Patents, Trademark, Domain Names ... - Earthtimes (press release)

MagneGas Corporation Purchases Patents, Trademark, Domain Names ...
Earthtimes (press release), UK - Jan 7, 2009
... from liquid waste, announced that it has purchased the patents, domain names and trademark for the MagneGas technology, previously held under a license. ...
Host Color Gives Web Hosting Customers Free .US Domains On King - The Open Press (press release)

Host Color Gives Web Hosting Customers Free .US Domains On King
The Open Press (press release) - 14 hours ago
It has announced that it marks the birthday of Elvis Presley with a promotional campaign on domain names and web hosting services. ...
Home | Site Map | Resource Links