Registering someone's initials and name - legal?

Discussion in 'Domain Names' started by modartis, Sep 30, 2007.

  1. #1
    Is it legal to register someone's initials and name like 'LBJOHNSON.COM' ?

    The site I'm considering investing in is just 8 chars and it is a dot com.

    There are currently no companies or products which are branded under this name or anything similar.

    So my market would be those professionals (or anyone else) with that name and initials. I think that it can look impressive to have your your own name as a dot com so long as it isn't too obscure or short.
     
    modartis, Sep 30, 2007 IP
  2. tobycoke

    tobycoke Well-Known Member

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    #2
    IANAL, but I believe it would be 'legal' as long as you don't try to make money off a famous person's name. The market for a specific 2 initial + last name must be small so I would consider it a long shot as opposed to an investment - especially as (example) LBJOHNSON could alternately register LawrenceJohnson, LarryJohnson, LarryBJohnson or LJohnson...etc..
     
    tobycoke, Sep 30, 2007 IP
  3. modartis

    modartis Peon

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    #3
    I don't think there is anything wrong with what I am proposing. I'll be picking up a domain, making a site, and then selling the idea of owning the site to individuals with the given surname and initials. A quick search showed there to be a good number of people with this surname+initials. I won't be cyber squatting I will be creating value.

    If you get my point, there doesn't have to be a large number of people interested in this domain to generate a return.

    It is a gamble. If it pays off $xx that is nice. $xxx would be great.
     
    modartis, Sep 30, 2007 IP