Use a brand name in domain - please help!

Please Google "domain trademark" and hopefully you'll find the right answers.

Best of luck.

You'd be better off not using a brand name and using something more generic so if you ever decide not to promote that brand anymore you can easily switch to something else.

Plus, if you use a brand name in your domain, you open yourself up to potential legal battles that you probably don't have the time and money to fight.

The risks are that you are using a trademarked name. There is a reason their product is called proactiv and not proactive. It is because when a brand name is one that is made up and isn't an official part of a language it is much easier to protect your trademark.

The risk is that you would put time and energy into your site and then they could turn around and have it taken down.

I really wouldn't take the risk, its not worth building up a site, getting traffic etc only to have a letter from the company threatening you.

Use google's keyword tool: https://adwords.google.com/

Type in Proactiv cream or something and see what it comes up with


Best of luck

What if we reverse the order around

Say it is something like omahasteaks

Is steaksfromomaha good?

If you are thinking of using a trademark in a domain, contact the company in question and ask their permission IN WRITING for you to do it. If they say yes, do it with their blessings and know that if they change their mind you have their written permission (we call it covering your rear end).

If they say no you can do it anyway and risk a C&D and the website being shut down or you can ignore it and move on.

Cheers

Jason

It is against their TOS, so the risks are that you won't get paid and your domain will be taken away from you.

Guidelines for Using the GUTHY-RENKER LLC's Service Mark
These guidelines apply to your use of GUTHY-RENKER LLC and other trademarks and service marks belonging to G|R (the "Trademarks") in content that has been approved by us.

You may use the trademark only for purposes expressly authorized by us.
You may not modify the trademark in any manner. For example, you may not change the proportion, color, or font of the service marks.
You may not display the trademark in any manner that implies endorsement of your web site or business by G|R outside of your involvement in the Affiliate Program.
You may not use the trademark to disparage G|R, its products or services, or in a manner which, in our reasonable judgment, may diminish or otherwise damage our good will in the service mark.
You may not use the trademark in an effort to drive traffic to, sell, or market a competing product.
You must use the TM, or R symbol as applicable next to the trademarks.
You may not engage in paid keyword search marketing using any of our trademarks or common misspellings (e.g., "Proactiv," "Proactive," "Proactiv Solution," "Proactive Solution") as the search string without prior written approval. This prohibition includes, but is not limited to, paid search campaigns run through Google AdWords, Microsoft adCenter.
You shall not engage in any paid search advertising in a manner that causes your ads to appear in place of Guthy-Renker LLC's ads (for example, using Guthy-Renker LLC domain names in your "Display URL"). You shall not use Guthy-Renker LLC domain names in the display URL of any paid search ad at any time. Without waiver of any of Guthy-Renker LLC's rights or remedies under applicable law, violation of this provision is cause for immediate termination and forfeiture of any Referral Fees owed.
You acknowledge that all rights to the service mark are our exclusive property and all goodwill generated through your use of the service mark will inure to our benefit. You must abide by the following Prohibitions: You shall NOT use the trademarked name GUTHY-RENKER LLC, except as specified in Section 8 ("Identifying yourself as an Affiliate"); you shall NOT use Guthy-Renker LLC name, or any variation thereof, in your domain.