Is this word ok to use in a domain name?

Thanks Khemba!

Is the word "UK" ok aswell?

regards

blueclcl

There are several ways of protecting intellectual property. The written word, for example, is protected by copyright law.

But names of products or businesses are something a bit different. They are considered trademarks and are protected under trademark law.

In the United States you can search for trademarks online.

If you find that something is registered as a trademark you will probably not be able to use it, unless it is for a product that cannot be expected to be confused with the original product.

For instance, you cannot have a hamburger stand and call it McDonald's. But you could probably have McDonald's Tractor Sales, because no one would be expected to confuse the hamburger stand with a tractor.

In general you cannot trademark common words, such as those found in the dictionary. This is because a common word does not fulfill the definition of a trademark which is, "any word, name, symbol, device, or any combination, used or intended to be used to identify and distinguish the goods/services of one seller or provider from those of others, and to indicate the source of the goods/services".

Using your example, "football" does not "identify and distinguish." Now, National Football League does identify and distinguish their product from others, the name is a trademark and they are very scrupulous about protecting it.