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Do you know a hosting company that allows product name domains?

by Chris MC Cannon
12 replies
Hi there,

just bought a domain with a product name like this example:
www buyappleiphone4 com

but when i wanted transfer the domain to the host hostgator, they told me it would not work out with them because of their company rules.

Do you know a hosting company that allows me to use such a product name domain?

greetz,
Chris
#company #domains #hosting #product
  • Profile picture of the author mr2monster
    Not gonna matter much, you'll get a C&D (cease and desist) because of the domain anyway... Worse case, you'll get sued..... most likely case you'll be told to remove any site on that domain and let it lapse since you're infringing on a trademark.


    Buying domains with trademarked terms is almost always a losing battle.


    The company that owns the trademark (in this case, apple) has no choice but to defend their trademark or they could potentially lose it.



    I'm not an attorney, don't play one on the internet, seek legal advice if you really want it.
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  • Profile picture of the author Seekness
    I've never known a hosting company to be the authority on this. I don't think they have the time or resources to screen every domain name that enters their system. The greater risk comes from getting a C&D letter from the actual company with a trademarked name itself.

    I'd stay away from this. Not worth the potential risks, costs, and hassle.
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    • Profile picture of the author Chris MC Cannon
      well i must say i´m pretty confused now, because i bought Bring the fresh of kelly felix and mike long and all their advice has been great so far and one of kelly´s tips had been to buy domains with product Names inside.

      For him this must have worked otherwise i guess he would not give that piece of advice.... at least that´s what i think

      but maybe this was doable without problems in earlier times (last year?) when he released the BTF product.

      has this never been a good idea?

      i mean all i wanted to do was being an affiliate for the iphone, do you think they would still sue me for promoting their stuff?
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      • Profile picture of the author tpw
        Originally Posted by Chris MC Cannon View Post

        well i must say i´m pretty confused now, because i bought Bring the fresh of kelly felix and mike long and all their advice has been great so far and one of kelly´s tips had been to buy domains with product Names inside.

        For him this must have worked otherwise i guess he would not give that piece of advice.... at least that´s what i think

        What I think is that if you want to ignore the great advice you are getting in this thread, you are free to do so...

        But when Apple finds out what you have done and either:

        A) Takes your domains; or

        B) Sues you for Trademark Infringement;

        You will have no one to blame but yourself and Kelly Felix and Mike Long.

        If you sue Kelly Felix and Mike Long, do you think you will win?

        Maybe and maybe not.

        Do you think you will have anything left to sue them with, once Apple is finished with you?

        I don't know Kelly Felix and Mike Long, but they have given you bad advice.

        Apple has a long track record of locating people like you and squeezing their balls in a vice...

        The ball is in your court right now...

        You need to decide who you trust more... Kelly Felix and Mike Long OR us...

        Let your gut instinct guide your next steps...
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        Publish Coloring Books for Profit (WSOTD 7-30-2015)
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  • Profile picture of the author John Alves
    You're breaking the law with that domain name. That's why they don't want it on their server. It's trademark infringement. I don't know what will happen to you if you use it, but you are taking a risk with that domain name. Yes, Kelly does say that in Bring The Fresh. I consider him a black hat marketer that does a lot of stuff on the edge.
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    • Profile picture of the author Bill Farnham
      Last year or in 2009 there was a guy posting on here Apple took 16 of his domains away.

      They don't fool around once you get on their radar.

      I know yours was an example, but the karma still applies.
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  • Profile picture of the author Chris MC Cannon
    Damn, i didn´t expect that. I thought this should not be a problem if i don´t do any nonsense with the domain.

    I´m going to write apple and ask if they mind me using that domainname for affiliating them, if you guys are right then they will tell me.

    (because in fact it was a domain for apple, but not the example)

    I think you rather are right, but i guess asking won´t cost me a dime and then im sure about their mindset on this one
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    • Profile picture of the author CDarklock
      Originally Posted by Chris MC Cannon View Post

      I´m going to write apple and ask if they mind me using that domainname for affiliating them, if you guys are right then they will tell me.
      Do your due diligence.

      Apple - Legal - Copyright and Trademark Guidelines


      9. Domain Names: You may not use an identical or virtually identical Apple trademark as a second level domain name.
      End of story.
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      "The Golden Town is the Golden Town no longer. They have sold their pillars for brass and their temples for money, they have made coins out of their golden doors. It is become a dark town full of trouble, there is no ease in its streets, beauty has left it and the old songs are gone." - Lord Dunsany, The Messengers
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    • Profile picture of the author Black Hat Cat
      Banned
      Originally Posted by Chris MC Cannon View Post

      Damn, i didn´t expect that. I thought this should not be a problem if i don´t do any nonsense with the domain.

      I´m going to write apple and ask if they mind me using that domainname for affiliating them, if you guys are right then they will tell me.

      (because in fact it was a domain for apple, but not the example)

      I think you rather are right, but i guess asking won´t cost me a dime and then im sure about their mindset on this one
      1. Pretty much every host will allow you to host that domain. Hostgator is the exception, not the rule.

      2. Apple is going to say no, lol.

      3. This is a viable method, but it is one that is built on sand. The trademark holder may never contact you about it, but.....they might. It would suck to lose a profitable domain over something like this, especially since it isn't necessary. You can rank just fine without the product name in the domain.
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  • Profile picture of the author LondonPaladin
    Apple will catch you. They do google searches for their trademarks all the time. Once they catch you they will take away the domain and any money you ever made from it. Believe me the experience sucks.
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    • Profile picture of the author Chris MC Cannon
      Thank you all for answering, since i read the post of CDarklock it´s senseless to write apple

      definetly not a good idea to do it =(

      i really don´t know why kelly gives that advice, the rest of his stuff really sounded great and i guess he is really a great Internet marketer but i would have expected him to give some warnings about the possible dangers too

      ...

      thanks to everyone who responded
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      • Profile picture of the author CDarklock
        Originally Posted by Chris MC Cannon View Post

        i really don´t know why kelly gives that advice
        Because it works. It just so happens that it's also against the law and carries risks. The risks are reasonably small, and their incidence is comparatively low, and Kelly doesn't host on HostGator.

        The question is whether "it works" is more important than "it's illegal" - and only you can decide that.
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        "The Golden Town is the Golden Town no longer. They have sold their pillars for brass and their temples for money, they have made coins out of their golden doors. It is become a dark town full of trouble, there is no ease in its streets, beauty has left it and the old songs are gone." - Lord Dunsany, The Messengers
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