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Expired Domains and Legal Concerns

by ChristianSites
8 replies
  • SEO
    • |
I have found a legit PR2 expired domain (91 backlinks; it's legit) for under $15. I'm about to pull the trigger and buy it, but I have one concern. The organization using the website moved from this .org domain to a .com domain and changed its name. In case that's not clear, organization XYZ owned the domain xyz.org, but the organization is now called ABC and using abc.org.

Should I be concerned about purchasing the expired domain, because it had the former organization's exact name in it?
#concerns #domains #expired #legal
  • Profile picture of the author MikeFriedman
    If it is a registered trademark, I would dump it. Otherwise, you should be ok.

    Worst case, it's only $15.
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    • Profile picture of the author ChristianSites
      Mike, Thanks for the prompt reply. Would I be ok to just put up a homepage that says "Organization XYZ is now Oranization ABC and has moved to this site. To learn about more organizations similar to this one, check out my site."

      Or, should I include more content than that?
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      • Profile picture of the author MikeFriedman
        Originally Posted by ChristianSites View Post

        Mike, Thanks for the prompt reply. Would I be ok to just put up a homepage that says "Organization XYZ is now Oranization ABC and has moved to this site. To learn about more organizations similar to this one, check out my site."

        Or, should I include more content than that?
        Why even mention them?
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        • Profile picture of the author Mike Anthony
          If its a brand name forget it. A PR2 is not worth the potential hassle.
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    • Profile picture of the author kmanbloquet
      Originally Posted by MikeFriedman View Post

      If it is a registered trademark, I would dump it. Otherwise, you should be ok.

      Worst case, it's only $15.
      Worst case you get sued .......not something to be take lightly.
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      • Profile picture of the author MikeFriedman
        Originally Posted by kmanbloquet View Post

        Worst case you get sued .......not something to be take lightly.
        You are only going to get sued if you are infringing on a trademark. Otherwise they are probably just going to demand you turn over the domain.

        There are probably at least 100 different "Marcello's Pizza" restaurants in the United States. Hell, I know of 4 within an hour of me.

        Only one of them can have marcellospizza.com, and the other 99 are not suing them over it.
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  • Profile picture of the author yukon
    Banned
    Not worth the headache.
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  • Profile picture of the author SEODollz
    Why not check: Search Trademark Database
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