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Using Trademarked Name in URL?

by teamind
8 replies
I've been pondering the use of trademarked names in URLs, and how to get around the risks associated with them (i.e. the company or organization sending you a Cease & Desist, and forcing you to give up the URL).

I'm concluding that I don't want the risks of losing my domain name (and all the traffic to it). So, is FREE Wordpress.com a way around it - i.e. http://(trademarked).wordpress.com? Or, would Wordpress receive the C&D and take my site down without notice?

If I'm off base on this, how do you treat AWESOME search terms that contain trademarked words, and that you ideally want as some part of your main URL/home page?

Kelly
#trademarked #url
  • Profile picture of the author gravtex
    Register your own domain that doesn't use their trademark, and just use their trademark as a subdomain or folder.

    (Please note - I'm not a lawyer, but that's worked for me)

    Gary
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    • Profile picture of the author teamind
      Originally Posted by gravtex View Post

      Register your own domain that doesn't use their trademark, and just use their trademark as a subdomain or folder.

      (Please note - I'm not a lawyer, but that's worked for me)

      Gary

      Yes, I've thought about that, too. However, I have a special situation where I'm really wanting/needing it as a main Keyword.

      Hmmmm....maybe one solution is to use articles centered on the trademarked keyword to drive traffic to the site's main page (and the site's main page being focused on a similar, but non-trademarked keyword).

      :confused:
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  • Profile picture of the author TomBond
    I would say it's very dodgy ground and all your work could be taken away at any time. I'd focus on more stable ideas....
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  • Profile picture of the author mr2020
    Keep it simple. Take the high road.

    If you are building on egg shells, the end result is obvious.

    Twenty Twenty
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    Almost Free NLP
    My life is a non stop adventure. Enjoy!
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  • Profile picture of the author dv8
    I'm not a lawyer....

    You can use it. BUT, be prepared for the day when you get the C&D letter. That day may never come. But if it does, don't be surprised and just be grateful for the time you had using the name.

    It's only $10. So I would just go for it. They send a letter, then just take it down and move on. Nothing else you can do.
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    • Profile picture of the author teamind
      Originally Posted by dv8 View Post

      I'm not a lawyer....

      You can use it. BUT, be prepared for the day when you get the C&D letter. That day may never come. But if it does, don't be surprised and just be grateful for the time you had using the name.

      It's only $10. So I would just go for it. They send a letter, then just take it down and move on. Nothing else you can do.
      Thanks, dv8. I think I've just come up with a way to do this. I'll build my site on a related Keyword. Then, I'll take 2 additional steps:
      1) Article marketing with the trademarked Keyword linking back to site
      2) Free Wordpress site with the Keyword in the URL

      I'll never lose the article links. And, if I ever do lose the FREE WP site, it won't be my main site...just a feeder to it.

      Cheers,
      Kelly
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  • Profile picture of the author Paul_Kuhn
    Don't use trademarks within domainnames! Never!

    Ahoi!
    Would you allow this if it would be your trademark?
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