I have quick couple questions about domain trademarks Is it illegal to have "Xbox 360" in your domain? Even if you are not selling anything directly, but just using Amazon Affiliate, which is selling the legit product? Does it help if I have on the website that the site has no relation to Microsoft Corporation or Xbox Technologies? What happens if they come after me? Do they just ask for me to hand over the domain/close my site? or will they immediately sue my, making me fork huge amounts of $$ over? Why is it bad to have a trademark in a domain and make money, but fine if you don't make money? Yet you can have an article with a trademark and make thousands and have affiliate links and such? Thanks
Having xbox360 in a domain name is trademark infringement unless you have express permission to use it from Microsoft. A disclaimer will not get around TM infringement. Microsoft has taken more domains than any other company. They have also sued people for large sums of money. You might be able to argue fair use if you had a TM in a domain that was a fan site with no monetization (no ads, no memberships, no affiliate links (perhaps even links to other sites you own) - of course, Microsoft could still sue you and force you to spend tens of thousands of dollars to keep the domain. You win, you have a domain you can never make money with and are out legal fees. You lose, you could be forced to pay damages and treble their legal fees. Stay away from TM's in domain names. Articles are completely different as long as you are not trying to represent yourself as an authorized site of the TM holder.