im starting a site which offers Adobe products to be download for free. You dont know the plan so dont complain about giving a way illegal versions as its not. The concept is being kept quiet. but when it comes to register a name, would i be allowed to have the word 'ADOBE' in the domain and still be safe from being sued, EVEN if i place a copyright to adobe in my footer?
Sounds like trademark infringement to me. You shouldn't use another company's name as part of your domain name, even if your free Adobe software scheme is lega.
sounds like you plan to be sued if you have adobe in the domainname.. if you really plan to make a commercial venture and have it work, make sure you contact adobe first and have any agreements written on paper (and checked by lawyers) anything else may get you in legal trouble (even if you think you're ok)
The solution is to use a name that doesn't contain a trademark or anything that could be confused with their trademark. Anything else is asking for a lawsuit.
very possible as the name is still similar, it could confuse people, especially and if you're going to put adobe tutorials on there only if the site has nothing to do with adobe or their products you could try a sitename like this
sounds like a plan .. im being serious now, surely you would think as long as im not promoting illegal versions or 'slagging' them off, they would be ok with it?
i would not take the risk ! they defend their brand name FIERCELY !! - you been warned ! - you will be asked to surrender the domain - to them - very very likely to happen !
If your site were truley a tutorial site you could use the name adobetutorials and be safe under the doctrine of "fair use." However, if your site is for selling software, then fair use does not apply and they would, as you say, eat you alive.
its not selling software though, its basically supplying the trail downloads just on a different site?
To clarify that, usage would likely need to be non-commercial in nature. Most people with these questions are talking about monetizing a site in some way (advertising, selling product, etc.). Of course, millions of dollars have been spent "proving" or trying to prove "fair use" in a court of law. If a deep pocket TM holder doesn't want you to use the domain, you are at risk for being forced to spend huge sums of money in court to keep the domain. OP- Get permission, or don't use it. It's a pretty simple concept that you seem to be having a hard time understanding.