Is eHow a trademarked name??

17 replies
Okay so i was thinking of starting a site that is like eHow but for a specific niche.

I know that eHow has a whole bunch of categories and such but I think that if I create a site that like but for only one niche it could be quite profitable.

I want to register a domain like ehownutrition.com (that's not my actual niche, just an example). Would that cause issues with eHow because I am using their name in my domain name???
#ehow #trademarked
  • Profile picture of the author Richard Van
    Originally Posted by MarkThompson86 View Post

    Okay so i was thinking of starting a site that is like eHow but for a specific niche.

    I know that eHow has a whole bunch of categories and such but I think that if I create a site that like but for only one niche it could be quite profitable.

    I want to register a domain like ehownutrition.com (that's not my actual niche, just an example). Would that cause issues with eHow because I am using their name in my domain name???
    I don't know for a fact if it's trademarked but I'd certainly assume it was and if that's the case, unless you have expressed permission from them to do so, I wouldn't touch it with a barge pole.
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    • Profile picture of the author MarkThompson86
      Okay, thanks for your input.

      Damn it, now I'm back to the drawing board....
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      • Profile picture of the author Richard Van
        Originally Posted by MarkThompson86 View Post

        Okay, thanks for your input.

        Damn it, now I'm back to the drawing board....
        Well, just do your own due diligence and make sure as I suspect, it is trademarked and they definately won't let you use it first.

        One more thing, when it comes to trademarks and possible violations, just speak to a lawyer, never rely on information from a forum like this, despite the good intentions of anyone, me included, that may answer questions on legal issues.

        Good luck Mark.
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      • Profile picture of the author Alexa Smith
        Banned
        This is second-hand gossip, but I read somewhere that they started legal proceedings against the owners of Firehow, because it contained the letters "ehow" in that order.

        Drawing board probably a very good idea, I think.

        By the way, "eHow" is apparently trademarked: it has that little "TM" symbol right next to the name on the home page of their own site.
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        • Profile picture of the author MarkThompson86
          Originally Posted by Alexa Smith View Post

          This is second-hand gossip, but I read somewhere that they started legal proceedings against the owners of Firehow, because it contained the letters "ehow" in that order.

          Drawing board probably a very good idea, I think.

          By the way, "eHow" is apparently trademarked: it has that little "TM" symbol right next to the name on the home page of their own site.
          Wow I didn't even think to look for the "TM" symbol. Thanks a bunch Alexa!
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  • Profile picture of the author x3xsolxdierx3x
    Originally Posted by MarkThompson86 View Post

    Okay so i was thinking of starting a site that is like eHow but for a specific niche.

    I know that eHow has a whole bunch of categories and such but I think that if I create a site that like but for only one niche it could be quite profitable.

    I want to register a domain like ehownutrition.com (that's not my actual niche, just an example). Would that cause issues with eHow because I am using their name in my domain name???
    Mark,

    Honestly, that site alone rakes in several million dollars a month in ad revenue. I would stay clear of using that title in any domain name/website name. If you grow it, and become even a remote competitor, they do have tremendous resources to come after you.
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  • Profile picture of the author WebsiteDeck
    I agree, don't risk the ehow name - pick something better . Something that is just yours and not related to any other company.

    Also, one piece of advice, I love your idea but please do focus on QUALITY rather than QUANTITY unlike many similar websites around who fail to understand this.
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    • Profile picture of the author MarkThompson86
      Originally Posted by WebsiteDeck View Post

      I agree, don't risk the ehow name - pick something better . Something that is just yours and not related to any other company.

      Also, one piece of advice, I love your idea but please do focus on QUALITY rather than QUANTITY unlike many similar websites around who fail to understand this.
      Quality is my middle name. If I do pursue this idea I will be doing all of the writing myself to insure high quality content.
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  • Profile picture of the author retsek
    Find another name. You can come up with a better one. Or better yet browse through Godaddy Auctions and find one that contains the niche keyword. You'll have the benefit of an aged domain.

    I have the same idea and picked up a really great .com that i didn't even think of. Plus it's 5 years old.
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  • Profile picture of the author Brian E Adams
    Mark,

    when I select a domain for a major undertaking, I typically check for trademarks. Just use this free government site to search for the trademark:

    uspto dot gov

    I've been burned in the past with not first searching for a trademark. the lawyer can send you a nasty cease and desist letter. In other circumstances, you may get your domain snatched with a DCMA through your domain registrar. This also applies if you're using someone elses trademark buried within your own domain. They can get to you.
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  • Profile picture of the author sbucciarel
    Banned
    Yes, it is trademarked
    Search http://tess2.uspto.gov/

    There are two live trademarks and your proposed use of it would be a definite trademark violation.
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  • Profile picture of the author tpw
    Before buying the domain, make sure you have an attorney on retainer. You will need him/her.
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    • Profile picture of the author MarkThompson86
      Thanks for all of the insight guys! I think it's pretty clear that I should stay away from this name.

      I just need to come up with a better domain name now!

      Once again thanks for the help.
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  • Profile picture of the author E. Brian Rose
    I think you should buy the domain and infringe. It will make a great case study for me to put on my blog. After that, you should register newebay.com for your auction site.
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    • Profile picture of the author Charles Jones
      Here is how to make searching for trademarks easier:

      Trademarks Home

      This is the main trademark site for the US. Click on search marks and you go here: Trademark Electronic Search System (TESS)

      Now do a basic work mark search. Here is the one for eHow -

      TESS -- Error

      You can see that there are 2 marks that are trademarked and several that are dead (no longer in use). The ones that are LIVE means someone is using them and is a no-no really.

      I am not a lawyer, so definitely consult one when trying to trademark. I do know that there are times you can trademark a terms that someone already has, BUT it cannot be in the same industry.

      Hope this helps you for future reference.
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  • Profile picture of the author OrangeBull
    Every dot com you use is technically a Trademark.

    A Trademark occurs through "use in commerce" under the Lanham Act and WIPO treaties.

    Given that the audience for a dot com is worldwide, that's a pretty good territory to have covered by your trademark as well.

    Use in a given market creates the trademark. Registration merely adds an extra layer of protection.

    The question is in regards to a confusingly similar mark. In the case of ehownutrition, yeah, I think any judge and jury in the world would say you are trading on a competitor's goodwill.
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