I'm an iPhone fan and like this site/community for it a lot: 3GS.com The owner has it up for auction. My friend and I are interested in bidding on it. http://greatdomains.com/auction/auc...id=57282&tracked=&partnerid=32392&language=us But could we get sued by Apple for name infringement? How would I check (other than asking in the forum?
Guess I need to make up my mind and go ahead and bid... The bid for 3GS.com was only $400 this morning. Now look at what it's up to already: http://greatdomains.com/auction/auc...id=57282&tracked=&partnerid=32392&language=us I know this is a smart deal, but sheesh...
You could certainly be sued for trademark infringement if you used the domain for anything related to the iphone. The domain could be used for something completely unrelated to apple or the iphone. You can't jump on the bandwagon and try to use a domain to ride the goodwill of another company - which is exactly what the owner of the domain is doing.
The min. amount is 10k!! thats the reserve... its crazy What if someone paid at least that much and apple took it away
Yep, this looks tricky, legally speaking, on its surface... But you can buy iPhone accessories "everywhere" online. Those people aren't getting sued by Apple, so maybe it would be worth it. I just keep thinking about how nutz people on Twitter are about the 3G S and know in my gut this is one that could have untold value for the owner. I wonder if this is really the *right* time for the domain/forum owner of 3gs.com to auction it off? He'd probably get more if he put all the affiliate bells 'n whistles on it.
No, I don't own it -- but I sure want to. I'm going to look into how Apple has registered the name of its new iPhone. I understand what you're saying, but wouldn't Apple have bought 3gs.com a long time ago if they considered someone else using it a competitive threat?
1) Apple doesn't have to register it. 2) They probably didn't want the domain, but if someone used it for apple products, they can take it. 3) If you really want to buy a domain, you probably shouldn't make a half dozen posts on a webmaster forum with a link to the auction. Doesn't make a lot of sense.
Do Apple own the rights to the 3G techonology? I'm sure other mobiles use this techonolgy to stream the Internet across their phones, that said the "S" part is more tricky. But i'm sure Apple wouldn't give a monkeys bum as long as the domain was marketing the mobile and it's other products in a good way. Why would they sue some one marketing their name? Makes no sense...
You obviously have no experience in trademarks, nor are you familiar with the thousands of lawsuits against people "marketing" a trademark. From Apple: Domain Names: You may not use an identical or virtually identical Apple trademark as a second level domain name. Read the WIPO's decision against those "marketing" the apple brand, including the "former" owner of applefans.com.
Read up trademark dilution. Some do, others don't. But each will decide on their own, despite what others think.
You should buy it and call the actual site "the three G's" have a picture of three guys on it and say it means 3 gentlemen. Then sell blackberrys on the site lol. The guy is probably selling it because he already got one of those cease and desist letters from apple and he wants to get some $$$ out of the site before they just take it.
How about if you get a reseller license from Apple and make a store there? Surely they will support you selling their product?
It is possibly because I believe the phrase 3G is trademarked so they could send you a persuasive cease and desist letter. IN that case you would probably have to hand over the domain.
If the domain was registered before the idea was conceived by apple then I think that you should be fine, to stay safe, if you buy it do not put apple related things on there, but I doubt that they would do anything unless your making big bucks and taking profit from them.