Is it ok to take domain name like this

Discussion in 'Legal Issues' started by bidslover, Aug 15, 2012.

  1. #1
    Hi all
    I want to buy a domain name has the facbook on it like lovefacebook.com
    is it legal or not?
     
    bidslover, Aug 15, 2012 IP
  2. trustybizz

    trustybizz Well-Known Member

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    #2
    to be frank, any domain with "facebook" in it is illegal and can be taken back by "facebook" anytime if they wish. In reality, there are thousands of such domains and I don't think facebook will take those back unless they see a real threat from them. So, unless you are building a big project with investment of thousands of dollars, it is okay to risk it. Same thing with most other services, you are not allowed to have trademark words like "google", "wordpress", "twitter", etc in domain names, just because people do it, does not make it legal and if you grow big enough to be a problem for those companies, they will take action only in such situations or if they want a certain domain and you have it, they can snatch it by legal action as it has their trademark in it.

    Bottomline: purely legal answer - it is illegal. But, in reality, yes you can have it and use it as thousands of people do it.
     
    trustybizz, Aug 15, 2012 IP
  3. Froomple

    Froomple Well-Known Member

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    #3
    Highly risky to deal with such domains.
    You can try domains like lovefb.com or something :)
     
    Froomple, Aug 15, 2012 IP
  4. bidslover

    bidslover Member

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    #4
    Thanks all for your comments. Really appreciated
     
    bidslover, Aug 15, 2012 IP
  5. techlead

    techlead Active Member

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    #5
    it's 100% LEGAL
     
    techlead, Aug 22, 2012 IP
  6. Thephonetech

    Thephonetech Peon

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    #6
    Highly risky, but could be worth it.
     
    Thephonetech, Aug 28, 2012 IP
  7. talas

    talas Member

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    #7
    100% LEGAL, but risky to be arbitrated.
     
    talas, Aug 28, 2012 IP
  8. ladesignandcoding

    ladesignandcoding Peon

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    #8
    There's no law that says you can't register that, if it was illegal as several people have stated. The domain registrants wouldn't allow them to register the domain in the first place.
     
    ladesignandcoding, Aug 29, 2012 IP
  9. indiaholidaydiary

    indiaholidaydiary Member

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    #9
    Its legal...but let's say your site become so popular than facebook may create problems for you..I would suggest you take little risk because less chances of getting caught.
     
    indiaholidaydiary, Aug 29, 2012 IP
  10. marketingmanuk

    marketingmanuk Greenhorn

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    #10
    I'm not quite sure on what basis people here this it is "legal". Curious to learn more!

    ..there is an argument to say that if you buy the domain and do nothing with it then it is legal, however if you attempt to use it in the course of business (and this is wide) or sell it, or even piggy-back in any way off Facebook itself (and I don't see how you can ever argue you're not doing this!) then it's TM infringement.

    Bidslover I'm not sure where you're based, being off-shore, i.e. away from the US may make your personal risk lower but in terms of the .com domain this could be easily recovered.

    My view is you're unlikely to ever generate enough revenues to cover cost of registration and your own time and effort so why bother?!
     
    marketingmanuk, Sep 3, 2012 IP
  11. marketingmanuk

    marketingmanuk Greenhorn

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    #11
    The domain registries allow you to register anything because it's in their interest to - i.e. if I go and register 100 domains which infringe any companies TM (whether mistypes or otherwise) the registry get their money. If I then have to hand over my domain to the TM owner its me that looses out - not the registry.

    As I said provided you buy a domain and don't use it (or attempt to sell it) - you can potentially register any trademark.

    All IMHO - DYOR etc :)
     
    marketingmanuk, Sep 3, 2012 IP
  12. na09

    na09 Member

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    #12
    not good for a long-term business
     
    na09, Sep 3, 2012 IP
  13. ebiztrendz.com

    ebiztrendz.com Well-Known Member

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    #13
    You can own any domain, even anythingatgoogle.com, the logic here not to suggest that there is no point in owing some thing is not with your own brand.

    For long run, this will not help!
     
    ebiztrendz.com, Sep 4, 2012 IP
  14. tom11011

    tom11011 Well-Known Member

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    #14
    Is it ok to own, yes. Is it ok to use, probably not, depends on how you will use it. The main question is will your use of the domain be deceptively similar to facebook?

    If you are selling a paper book with pictures of peoples faces on the pages, you are probably ok.
     
    tom11011, Sep 5, 2012 IP
  15. omgcats

    omgcats Member

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    #15
    With these sorts of domains, it all depends on how you use it. A non-profit news site or fan site should be ok. An ad-supported news site may or may not be. A site selling services will almost certainly be a problem.
     
    omgcats, Sep 17, 2012 IP
  16. pupul

    pupul Prominent Member

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    #16
    If you grow big with this domain, you will got into problem.
     
    pupul, Sep 17, 2012 IP
  17. pxranger

    pxranger Peon

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    #17
    I used to work in webhosting long ago, and we had to manually check all domains to make sure that obvious names like that (especially "paypal") weren't in any part of the domain name. Though I think they were more worried with people making phishing sites, there were a few cases where companies would lodge complaints against us and demand the domain name be handed over.
     
    pxranger, Sep 21, 2012 IP
  18. kinghax

    kinghax Well-Known Member

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    #18
    If its positive stuff towards facebook then probz not
     
    kinghax, Sep 21, 2012 IP
  19. MilesWeb

    MilesWeb Well-Known Member

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    #19
    It more depends on your intention. If you are going promote facebook eventually no issues would be there but if you are misusing it then there would be a watch on such domain.
     
    MilesWeb, Sep 21, 2012 IP
  20. goodboy133

    goodboy133 Member

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    #20
    To be honest... just purchase the domain... I bet you won't be able to chase facebook until 2030-2040. Lol.
     
    goodboy133, Sep 22, 2012 IP