Is it illegal to own a company domain name?

I was thinking of buying/selling domains.

But I was wondering like IF you got Microsoft.org (Im using it as an example) can they sue you for it back since they own the rights to the name Microsoft?

Also could I sell it back to them?

 

If you have to ask such a question, then you should not even attempt this.

No, they wont buy it, and they will make sure it is no good to you either....

If you think you are going to dangle a domain over a billion $$$ company, then you
have just lost your mind, or any big company for that matter...these big compaines
are on alert, the moment you register anything similar, you will probably get a legal letter
from their legal dept...

 

I dont plan to get one like Microsoft.com nor a giant internet company.

 

you are asking lets say microsoft.com let them name go by accident, then can you take it and resell it.
I do not see why not, they let it go, but whom ever buys it still will not be able to use it as
microsoft is trademarked...I heard awhile back that some police dept failed to renew their domain,
and someone else got it, and used it against them for giving him a ticket. It is possible to get
ahold of any domain if it is expired, but if it trademark company, it will be useless to use....so if
you are waiting for high dollar names to become avail, then you will probably die waiting, and some
bigger company that has exp will get it long before you do...

I just paid $1000 for my seo domain. They have about 1.5 million domains in their database...
Think you can compete with that? It takes a lot of money and resources to get high dollar domains.

 

I know a domain that has their entire company name in it... literally.

 

So what? You might know someone who had their car stolen and never did anything about it. Doesn't mean it's legal.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cybersquatting

 

Ok - well if I registered the domain. Can I sell it back to them?

I will just put a for sale page on the site when registered - I will use no intention of hurting their company, or nor will I use any of their content.

Is this all legal.

 

No, trying to sell a domain to back to the trademark holder will get you into trouble. It's a bad faith registration. Perhaps you would like to pay a $100,000 fine?

"The law was designed to thwart “cybersquatters” who register Internet domain names containing trademarks with no intention of creating a legitimate web site, but instead plan to sell the domain name to the trademark owner or a third party"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anticybersquatting_Consumer_Protection_Act

 

Im not talking about the main .com - Im talking about a .co

Now if it was a fresh registration - and I wanted to sell it to them... thats legal right?

 

How can I make this any clearer for you? NO > NO > NO - the extension makes absolutely NO difference - you can't do it, period. You are cybersquatting and at risk for being sued. Drop the domain.

 

I agree with him dont risk

 

I tried the same and sold the domain for $100
But the company holds full rights to sue us on this regard. Cybersquatting isn't allowed

I went thru the same case before ..... http://forums.digitalpoint.com/showthread.php?t=910956

Better to avoid... i had some domains with sonyericsson name into it and also at & t....
but never bothered to renew them after i came to know of cybersquatting legal issues...

 

this is some of the best advice ever given on this forum. You try and shaft a multinational, you'll end up in a world of pain.

 

This company has a site which only has 4 other
Entensioions registered
Under that name. Should I risk it on a smaller company?

 

Dont risk for this kind of cheating business. Better u try something better.

If you check this forum people had been sued by big as well as small companies.....

May be if you register 1000 domain names then u might be able to sell 1.... But there are greater chances u will get a sue.

 

What if that smaller company won't afford to buy it from you?

 

Haha. True. I'm done with this idea.

 

You could still use it.. You just couldn't say Microsoft. Instead the title of the page could be microsoft.org because they don't have that trademarked.

 

Wrong. Why are people with no legal knowledge posting GUESSES on trademarks? "microsoft" is a trademark. Adding words or numbers doesn't matter. The domain extension doesn't matter. It's still infringement.

 

i doubt that they will sue you but they might buy it from you it depends on the work you'll do in it