It looks like some people are confused about trademarks, so here's a little FAQ. I am not an expert by the way. What is a trademark? A trademark is something that is used to identify a product. It can be a word, phrase, name, design, symbol, etc. and the use of it is legally restricted to the owner. Is registration of trademark necessary? No, federal registration is not necessary. Trademarks can be established by being used in the marketplace. How are trademark rights maintained? Trademark rights are maintained by being actively in use. What if it's not in use? In the event of non use, these rights will diminish overtime (3 to 5 years) even if it's registered. Once a trademark is abandoned, you are free to use it. Can the trademark be re-registered? Yes. Anyone who is associated with the original trademark owner can do so by establishing active use. I found a domain name that I want to use, but the word is trademarked. Can I register it? It is physically possible to register such a name if it is available. However, by proceeding to do so, you may end up facing legal consequences. _____________________________ All statements and expressions on this post are not meant to be legal advice. Although I assume all information to be truthful, I cannot guarantee the accuracy of this information.