I am interested in making a game guide ebook for a popular video game. The name of the game will not be in the URL or ebook name. Is it illegal for me to be selling this guide and profiting from it?
Understand that no can give advice about whether what you propose is illegal or not because they have not seen it to factually evaluate legal issues - and no one is going to give legal advice on the forum in any event. Conceptually, though, the question can you create a guide about playing a game? Yes. I think your concern is trademark issues (based on your noting the game name is not in the url, etc.) You will find plenty of guidebooks in the library and in bookstores about how to use different products, play games, etc. Even more online. A trademark does not prevent someone not owning the trademark from using the mark. Eg: eBay, Microsoft, Apple - not going to sue because their trademarks are mentioned here. The primary purpose of trademark law is to prevent consumer confusion as to who owns or is responsible for a product. Keep that in mind and you should not have a problem. Of course, make sure your content is also legal.