Trademarking Domains

Are you violating another's trademark with the domain name you just purchased? Find out the rules about trademarking domains.

The last little thing to consider when choosing a domain name is trademarks. Whether intentional or not, if you purchase a domain name that is another company's registered trademark (like Pepsi.com) they can legally remove the name from your possession (without refunding you) and could even sue you if they choose.

Recent legislation has been put into place to prevent greedy domain pirates from hoarding all the domains of big companies in an effort to sell them later for outrageous prices.

So how do you know if the name you've chosen is a registered trademark? You have to be proactive and check it out. The following link may help if you are concerned. For U.S. companies, search the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office at http://www.uspto.gov/main/trademarks.htm.