Brand Name in domain name

[nikon]

Hello

Can I keep any famous brand name in my domain name? What legal procedure should I follow? I am not going to use for same business purpose, but I am going to use it for forum or discussion purpose.

[technica]

Suggest you to read their policies first then decide.

Its always better not to use because they might change their policies over period and you may never know it.

Instead make your domain as brand name

[techkid]

You can use brand name in your domain name if you are not using that site for same business as their competition.

[Kay]

You can use brand name in your domain name if you are not using that site for same business as their competition.

I don't know what you mean there, techkid, sorry. If you mean it's okay as long as you're not launching a competing product that's not entirely true.

Nikon, if you're going to be making money because you're incorporating their trademark, they may want a share of your profits at the very minimum. For example if you took the Wii and called a site Wiidiscussion or Wiiforum or something like that, you're making money from their name even though you're not manufacturing a competitive product.

Thousands of companies go after other webmasters that profit from their brand indirectly by claiming trademark infringement on a name they have registered. If you're lucky they'll only insist you take down the site and if you're unlucky, they'll sue you for up to $100,000 and hand your site over to the trademark owners. You could very well fall under the 1999 cybersquatter law.

[The law] specifically addresses the problems of applying traditional trademark law theories to cybersquatters, including the remedies. The courts can now have a domain name registered by a cybersquatter cancelled or transferred to the trademark owner. The trademark owner can also elect to collect statutory (versus actual) damages in an amount of from $1,000 to $100,000 per domain name improperly registered.

... So who is a "cybersquatter" under this new law? Basically, it is anyone who: (a) "registers, traffics in or uses" a domain name; (b) that is the same or similar to the trademark of another; (c) with "bad faith intent to profit" from the trademark. The phrase "bad faith" is not defined by this new law. ...

Read more.

The best idea is to get a lawyer with expertise in trademark or internet law to look into it. You'd probably need permission in writing from the company to use a domain name with the product name in it. I'm no lawyer, but it's the only way to safeguard yourself in my opinion. It's still a very murky area of law indeed.

[syuxx]

I dont think so you can insert along famous name domain name in your domain.
For example like ebay, if you register domain name with ebay in it for example:

ebayprofit dot com

you will received a notifications from ebay. Highlt not recommend you to do this. better create own brand.

[JoelJonathan]

It depends on how you use the domain and whether the company decides they want to bother with you but most likely you will get some form of cease and desist letter from the company's legal department.

[donald]

It depends on how you use the domain and whether the company decides they want to bother with you but most likely you will get some form of cease and desist letter from the company's legal department.

yes i am totally agree with you dude...
and i also visit the link you have posted..
Domain Names | SUPER Premium Domain Tools | DomainSuperstar.com
and really it is the right for that one........

[djk]

yes, you can use that brand name but first you get to permission from brand and if they give you permission you use it.

[alexsmithom]

Its always better not to use because they might change their policies over period and you may never know it.
It will cause some troubles

[anthrax]

I think you should contact the brand before you use any part of their name so that you do not get into any legal issues