Big Sites, TM and the law!

hi, I was wondering if big sites like fanfiction.com and mediafire.com.
Do they TM their site name so like for example if I want to register example
Mediafire.co.uk and use the site will it bring me any problem? Thanks

 

They probably did , however, they are idiots for not registering all other extensions. So go for it, if they give you shiz for it, tell them they will need to kiss your ass. If they didn't register it before, there obviously not interested in it. Although, co.uk is a ccTLD, so either way you could probably get away with it. Just dont go cybersquatting now.

 

Thanks. Very emo answer Whats cybersquatting by the way? and if I create a similar site niche example ImageShack.us - I build ImageShack.co.uk nad offer Free Image upload service?
Rep +. cheers

 

I wouldn't go this route unless you have money to pay for lawyers.

They can send you a cease and desist letter and if you don't respond you will be involved in a lawsuit. At that point, you will need to pay a law firm $$$$.

 

Well, if you bought the domains you would have more difficulty selling them on if you wanted to.

 

Yet you told the OP to do what's potentially cybersquatting anyway. Oh how
easy to tell others what to do when it's not your hassle and have nothing to
lose, nice.

You pretty much know the answer, wussadotcom. Up to you if you still want
to play with fire, but obviously no one is going to help you if you get burned.

 

I did the same thing with a site that hadn't registered all other extensions, and they threatened to sue because they owned trademark on that name, so technically I had to hand over the domains. Which is true, if they own copyright, you gotta handover the domain name. Some guy got sued by microsoft for registering xboxfans.com

 

Nice how the people who give good advice don't get + rep, but the bad advice does.

 

Well how do we know if they own or not the trademark?
Thanks anyway everone for their comment but I was banned for a week for bumping so thats why no response
Anyway rep+ for all. Cheerio

 

Copyright has nothing to do with trademark.

 

Technically speaking, they own a common law trademark on the site name if they're using it to identify and/or brand their business whether or not they've registered. Besides, in a WIPO action (which is where you'd find yourself, I'd imagine) they're going to look at the character of your actions and whether you have rights or legitimate interest in the name (UDRP 4(c)). It does not appear that this is the case here.

I would suggest not registering the name and if you have, to either develop it in an entirely different field or turn the domain back in.

Deena
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