I it legal to add copyright to my site in footer?

Well i own a mobile related blog -
motorolafans

Can i add "Copyright © 2008-2009 Motorolafans" in the footer?
I have not registered it anywhere.

 

Perhaps a better question is: why did you register a domain that is Trademarked? I wouldn't be surprised if motorola requests you to turn over your domain name in the future if it starts getting a lot of traffic or if one of their companies that protect their brand uncover it.

 

Well its a fan club! Why they will have problems with it?

 

Because you are using their trademark! Large companies spend a lot of time and money protecting their image and trademarks. I am not saying that 100% it will occur. I am mearly saying that registering a domain with a valid trademark has a certain percentage of risk.

To further illustrate my point. Here is a recent case where Coca Cola had requested a fan site be turned over to them

http://www.zdnetasia.com/news/hardware/0,39042972,13025028,00.htm

 

Ignoring the trademark problem, the answer to your question is that, at least in the US, you do not have to register a copyright to use a ©.

The official word:
http://www.copyright.gov/help/faq/faq-definitions.html#notice

 

Well i am in India, will it be any problem?

 

Probably not a problem, no. But heed what Imbo told you: Motorola could take your domain away, so don't invest too much in it.

 

I had an ebay domain name and was contacted my ebay's legal team asking me to hand it over. I told them NO BUT took everything off the domain name a.s.a.p. I get their point BUT don't agree to hand over anything but rather let it drop the next year.

Big companies are not worth trying to fight especially when their name is in your domain. Lesson learned and best to use either a portion or a play on the words rather than their full copywritten name.

 

donluttrull, you're lucky they didn't pursue you. If you reached an agreement to do that, then yes, that is ok. But, the company has every right to demand you hand over the domain. You violated their trademark and should just count your blessings that you didn't get a notice to appear instead of just an email to hand it over.

 

Well i have bought a new domain (two new domains) and probably replace this one with them and redirect it to them (one of them which i will use). Will Google think that their content is original (Google have indexed every article in my motorolafans.info) is doing 301 redirect and telling them via webmaster tool enough for them to index the new domain and believe that it have original content and motorolafans and the new domain are same site?

 

Redirecting is still not a good idea. You're gaining traffic off their good name. Still infringement. And you can still loose any and all profit you've made, as well as damages they incur.

 

Well traffic is not due to their domain, i have posted many articles there. Wuill google think the articles in new domains are original?

 

Don't try to justify it. Just don't link to/redirect to any site you own. Let it expire or try to sell it but don't gain anything at all from it.

 

Well if the original articles are indexed in Google, then NO. Google will view them as you copied them directly from your original site.

 

Well i have made a 301 redirect to the new domain. Will Google still think that they are copied? And there is one more site with the domain motorolafans.com and it have been there for more than 4 years! and working great. Gets more than 3000 visitors per day!

 

If they ask you to take it down, just put goatse up on it and dont hand it over.

 

They are not asking me to do anything! There is another site which is since 2005 and still working fine!

 

It's bad for businesses to shut down fan clubs that are in good favor for them. You should be alright in most situations, but they may go after you. You must realize they do own you basically, so you might need to always have a one sided opinion not to offend them, but critizism is alright at times if your giving good feedback. Just remember since your using their trademark they can control you not saying they will though.

You also need to state that you are not part of the company in your TOS. You in no way represent their business, but love their products. It seems to small of a niche for me, but it may end up good for you.

 

you could always 301 your site to a new site that doesn't break their TM... use the linkjuice from that site, and keep building your fan site without breaking the law...

 

i agree with the guy/girl above me... that seems like a viable option!