Trademark Infringement
When you are looking for a URL you need to make sure that you aren't using a Trademarked term.
trade·mark
- a symbol, word, or words legally registered or established by use as representing a company or product.
Places like Amazon, Apple and Sony actively protect their Brand identity.
Several years ago one of our members was promoting coffee. Specifically Keurig.
The company did a very poor job with their website and our member followed the training here. He readily outranked the company site while promoting their products. Sadly that site is no more due to a cease and desist legal order.
They apparently took notice that his site was outranking theirs. Sadly, this could have been good for both the company and our member who was doing quite well with the products being promoted.
But their brand was paramount to them and since his URL contained their company name they were well within their rights to make him shut down his site. Of course he could have changed the name, created a 301 redirect and he would still be in business with that site. He freaked out and shut it down instead.
So, the bottom line. If a company has a trademarked term, don't use it in your URL unless you don't wish to keep the site for any period of time.
Big Brands Protect Their Trademarks!!
They also have law departments or lawyers on retainer. You, as a small business can't compete with them. Don't do it, just don't.
Recent Comments
67
This is a great point, Labman. Always make sure you are not infringing on someone else's trademark, whether it be a URL, term, product, or a service, before embarking on a journey that is futile and frustrating..
To do this, go to the uspto and do a trademark search: Click on "trademarkes" and enter the term you are seeking in the search bar
https://www.uspto.gov/
Hope this helps
Kaju
Very worthwhile info. I remember when that happened to our friend/WA member. Lesson learned. :)
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Wow, good information to know! Thank you for sharing.