my newest blog, www.ebayzine.com is a blog that focuses on crazy, weird, and obscure ebay items. i just wanted to know if anyone thought that this might be some sort of copyright problem. i dont think there is, but i just wanted to see if anyone thought that there might be a problem with this?
Well you are using thier trademarked name in your domain. If they want, they can make trouble. I know google has been doing so.
What copyright are you fearing? If you don't duplicate their content or images then you haven't copied anything. And I believe you can even get away with thumbnails and snippets of that. There are plenty of places reporting on ebay auctions. As far as ebay being in the domain name that may conflict with their affiliate program if you happen to be part of that...haven't really read their affiliate agreement.
The issue is using the word "ebay" in the domain. I would think twice about doing so with a large companies trademarked name.
The ebay lawsuits seem to focus on companies that offer competing services. There are trademarked names all over ebay auctions, but I guess domains are different. I bet you would be safe unless you got really big. Then ebay may see it as friendly advertising, or feel the need to knock you down on general principle. A trademark attorney would probably discuss it with your for 5 minutes for $500.
Here is one that looks like it was shut down. ebayscandals.com mentioned at http://www.chillingeffects.org/domain/notice.cgi?NoticeID=812
eBay could use the domain name Uniform Dispute Resolution Policy to try to snatch the name: http://www.icann.org/udrp/udrp.htm http://www.icann.org/udrp/udrp-policy-24oct99.htm They would have to show: (i) your domain name is identical or confusingly similar to a trademark or service mark in which the complainant has rights; and (ii) you have no rights or legitimate interests in respect of the domain name; and (iii) your domain name has been registered and is being used in bad faith.