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Anyone else getting bullied by Facebook?

by baldandwrinkly
9 replies
I've got a small sales funnel set up on a domain named f***book-business-guide.com.
It's been around for about 8 months, and doesn't rank on the first 10 pages on Google. I've stopped google listing anything but the squeeze page, so it doesn't get any rankings.
Out of the blue this weekend I've received an email from what appears to be Facebooks legal department telling me to remove my website from the domain and let it lapse when it comes up for renewal. The email address was enforcement@mm-facebook.com and the mm-facebook.com bit points to a websitre regarding FB's trademark.

As my site clearly isn't FB, and clearly isn't endorsed by them, can they really do this to me? Any advice would be very welcome.
#bullied #facebook
  • Profile picture of the author Paul Myers
    Yes, they can. And it could be argued that they must, to avoid losing control over the trademark.

    Note: Still not a lawyer. (I must be doing something right. )


    Paul
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    Stop by Paul's Pub - my little hangout on Facebook.

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  • Profile picture of the author David Braybrooke
    If you have the funds to be potentially legally challenging a company as large and powerful as Facebook, then I say Good luck to ya!
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    "The scientific theory I like best is that the rings of Saturn are composed entirely of lost airline luggage." - Mark Russell
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  • Profile picture of the author Mark Singletary
    It's best not to ask for legal advice on a forum such as this. You never know who or what is behind those usernames.

    But the fact is that, whether you think it's a problem or not, FB believes you are infringing on its trademark. It is obligated by law to defend its trademark or it will lose all protection. Whether or not it's a winnable or defendable case on your part is best left to legal experts.

    Search the forum because this has been discussed countless times for more insight.

    Mark

    Originally Posted by baldandwrinkly View Post

    I've got a small sales funnel set up on a domain named f***book-business-guide.com.
    It's been around for about 8 months, and doesn't rank on the first 10 pages on Google. I've stopped google listing anything but the squeeze page, so it doesn't get any rankings.
    Out of the blue this weekend I've received an email from what appears to be Facebooks legal department telling me to remove my website from the domain and let it lapse when it comes up for renewal. The email address was enforcement@mm-facebook.com and the mm-facebook.com bit points to a websitre regarding FB's trademark.

    As my site clearly isn't FB, and clearly isn't endorsed by them, can they really do this to me? Any advice would be very welcome.
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    • Profile picture of the author David Braybrooke
      Originally Posted by Mark Singletary View Post

      It's best not to ask for legal advice on a forum such as this. You never know who or what is behind those usernames.
      He wasn't specifically asking for legal advice actually, he was asking for 'any advice'. Shared experience can be a useful exercise in such circumstances.
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      "The scientific theory I like best is that the rings of Saturn are composed entirely of lost airline luggage." - Mark Russell
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  • Profile picture of the author Freelancing10
    Facebook has its own legal department, and although they can make mistakes, I would say that they are pretty knowledgeable in trademark laws. Is it really worth the hassle to pay an attorney to find if its a winnable case? I would abandon the domain, but how valuable (money-wise) is this domain to you?
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  • Profile picture of the author Chris Chicas
    You are infringing on their trademark name, of course they can do this. And consider it a good thing that they told you early on, that way you can build you own business with your own name without them hounding you once your business is established.

    I also have a domain with the words FB that pertains to their platform but even that I'm weary to put to use. It's better to steer clear of all that. Good luck.

    *Not Legal advice* =D
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  • Profile picture of the author azsno
    You made the fatal mistake of using a trademarked name in the domain. Most large companies have complete legal teams (or outsource this function to a legal team) and one of their main functions is to protect their trademark...

    I first learned this lesson with sites I built back in 2007 using Ferrari, Corvette, and John Deere in the domain name...

    Once I received the cease and desist order from their legal departments, I just transferred the domains to them and that was the end of it....

    ~AzSno...
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  • Profile picture of the author onSubie
    People are warned over and over not to use trademarked names in domains.

    They still do. The still say: "What about '<trademark>-secrets.com' or '<trademark>-blackhat-tool.com', they are using a trademark and they are fine".

    If you use a trademarked name in a domain you are always susceptible to a CND. It is just a matter of time.

    As you seem to have found out.
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  • Profile picture of the author Danny Cutts
    Baffles me why people still think its ok to register other peoples trademarked domain names then come moaning about it here...

    I will be sending out a fair few letters to people who are using my trademark without a permission but I wont be going lightly...

    Your lucky facebook is giving you the chance to take it down without any action....

    Danny

    /rant
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