Can a person register a "celebrity name" or a typo of a "celebrity name" as a domain...I realize it being done (or already done) but is it legal..I am basically asking about a two word name (not something vague like "Prince".. the singer) or even a one word name like "Beyonce"?
Well, if I am not wrong, there are celebrities which have sued those who tries to profit from the name and some have gotten their domain name back. If you are registering a celebrity related domain name for the sole purpose of making money from it, you may not be able to do so. If it is just a fan club, it may be permitted as long as the whole purpose is not to profit from it. If it is totally unrelated like your web site is talking about motor vehicles then that may be fine. If unsure, check directly with the celebrity concerned about the usage. The Anticybersquatting Consumer Protection Act http://www.rjg.com/basf.html typically states that. Here is one case involving the domain name Kevin Spacey http://www.arbforum.com/domains/decisions/114437.htm
I say just go for the domain and worst comes to worse you have to drop the domain. i wouldn't worry too m uch, it is the internet, and assuming your not bashing or selling things of that celebrities you will probably be fine.
lol I can think of worse things...my plan (hopefully) is to register a few name..park them..sell the unproductive ones or sell if the right offer comes around but I not sure of the legal aspects and kinda the moral issue!
Celebrities are cheap and they always want something for free, like they deserve it. This is typical in domain names. Its a free market and just because you BECOME famous should not entitle you to a domain name that someone else owns, as long as you are not pretending to be that person you should be fine. They should just shell out the dough, the general public pays their salary anyway, the general public should be able to profit off them.
Indeed. But...there are trademark laws applicable towards domain names. You break it, you can lose it. Just be aware of what you can and can't do, especially if commercial interests are involved.
It really depends on what you're doing. It sounds like you want to cybersquat, and most celebrities have won these cases.
I don’t really want to cyber-squat, I just want to have a fairly static websites which either produce a income (at least twice reg fee) or not! So True been reading about some cases in the U.K.