is it legal to use words "ebay" or "google" in a domain name?

Hi,

My question is as in the subject.

I have seen some sites running with ebay and google in the domain names. But how far they are legal ?

I plan to use a domain name with ebay word in it. However, i am going to create a store of ebay only in it.

Thanks for the help,

Regards,

Yajunithish

 

As long as you don't so something to piss them off, you're okay. They can, and may, issue a cease and desist letter as it is their trademark. So watch it, its always risky.

 

It sure is, yeah.

 

That is a very good point. I should think of it. I dont want to move with burdens like this. However, i thought the keyword can make the site hot.

Regards,

Yajunithish

 

Avoid it , is all I can say.

 

Don't do it. I think they can claim your domain anytime, as it will contain their TM.

 

Thanks friends, I plan to avoid that. Well i can relax and go smooth with better alternative keyword domain. Thank you all,

Regards,

Yajunithish

 

It's not worth the effort even if you get the site up and going strong,
then bamO' they put the noose around your site. It's a no-no.

 

I used facebook in my domain facebookasciiart.com i got a letter from a lawyer asking me to transfer the domain to facebook inc. I didn;t response. nothing happened. so far.

 

Probably filing UDRP or suit. You don't have to reply to lose it.

 

dont even try taking the risk...google has skilled lawyers that have alot of free time

 

It depends on your intended use - having a domain with chesapeakebay about Chesapeake Bay would be absolutely fine - but have ebay as one word and using it for an auction website would be a big no-no. In the context of Google, googlethorpe would be ok if it was about Oglethorpe and did not compete in any of the areas that Google is for which Google is a trademark.

 

lol free time, yeah, I wish...

 

wat abt google.org
isnt it google owned?

 

Registering any name with Google or Ebay is not a smart move. They can come after you anytime.

 

Good post. Explains the concept very well for those who care to read it carefully.

 

Is it the same deal with product names like iphone or is that allowed?

Product names seem to be used quite freely but that doesn't make it okay.

 

What About OrderDirect.TV? As The domain is .TV I can't see them messing with me as I don't use the words DirectTV directly next to each other. If anyone is interested in buying the name let me know. Has about a year till renewal.

 

I dont think there is any restriction in domain name.Any one can have any domain name....domain names are not property of google or ebay !!!

 

Not really true at all i'm sorry, Ebay recently won a suit against Perfume Bay. The domain was registered in 1998 and has never held any resemblance to Ebay, and nobody is likely to confuse the two yet Ebay won the case. Perfumebay.com was named because she envisioned a bay filled with ships importing perfumes.

Ebay also bowled others over such as BrickBay.com who doesn't even have Ebay in the domain as part of two words.