Hi, I am interested in maybe starting an online classifieds. There are alot of good two word premium domains that are for sale which is ideal for the business. The problem is that usually the other domains containing only the generic word by itself is a MFA/scrape sites. Usually sites with categories leading you to sponsored/featured links or dsplaying PPC ads. Would I be infringing on the generic domain if my two word domain is selling online classifieds? Technically, their both selling advertisements(but doesn't every form of business do it) but is their a business distinction in selling goods/service between online classifieds and MFA/scrape sites displaying sponsored/featured ads or ppc ads? Thanks in advance, -DigiP
It depends on whether the judge understands anything about the web. Chances are though, that people using one word domains for MFA sites are not concerned with trademarks. In a UDRP, it has been generally held that a parked page with nothing but ads is not considered a legitimate business interest. Of course, those cases are usually the other way around (a trademark holder with a real site going after somebody that uses their terms for an MFA site).