Celebrity Names?

**RMF** · 11-22-2002, 01:10 AM

Anybody ever register celebrity names?

If you register a celebrity name and don't show anything about that celebrity can you get in trouble?.

What kind of ways can you utilize a celebrity domain without getting in trouble?.

RMF

**.com.net.org** · 11-22-2002, 02:08 AM

You can set his / her official homepage ?

**RON2** · 11-22-2002, 02:24 AM

You can do okay if you use the name in good faith and build a website that is not designed to confuse visitors or compete.

It's important that you respect copyrights and put a notice on your site that you are a fan site and not affiliated with the celebrity. And whatever you do, don't ever put the name up for sale or appraisal.

It would do you well to read up on some of the past cases that have gone through the UDRP system.

http://www.icann.org/udrp/

**dtobias** · 11-22-2002, 07:57 AM

If your intent is to create a noncommercial fan site, I would suggest using a .org or .info name instead of .com, which would imply that you're trying to commercialize it.

**TrafficMonsterRRR** · 11-22-2002, 08:24 AM

Originally posted by -RJ-
[B]You can do okay if you use the name in good faith and build a website that is not designed to confuse visitors or compete.

One other mistake people make is to misuse email addreses of such domains which adds to exposure to risk:

Example if you own TomCruise.com do not plaster Tom@TomCruise.com all over the celeb boards, rather use a more modest FanBase@TomCruise.com etc.
You are already playing with fire and you do not want to tickle the intellectual propoerty owner.

PS If your name is Thomas Cruise and you want to use Tom@TomCruise.com, see one of the attorneys in the legal section of this forum.

**fizz** · 11-22-2002, 09:04 AM

Originally posted by TrafficMonsterRRR
PS If your name is Thomas Cruise and you want to use Tom@TomCruise.com, see one of the attorneys in the legal section of this forum.

If I had the same personal name as a celebrity and was fortunate enough to own the .com domain name too, I'd definitely go ahead and use it without hesitation for e-mail and a personal website.

BTW, just noticed TomCruise.com goes to a website about celebrities, and the domain name is owned by Alberta Hot Rods, which I've seen in the whois of other great domain names.

**DNQuest.com** · 11-22-2002, 02:30 PM

I have some experience in this area. I do have several famous names which I have registered and put up bios sheets. I did receive one C+D for which I replied back in September 2001. I still have the name and there was no followup by his attorneys. I do not advertise this name for sale, I don't offer any subscription or sell products. I wrote back to his attorneys and let them know this.

The amusing thing about the letter, the lawyer said they were in the middle of the process of renewing the domain. I told them that it only takes 15-30 seconds max to renew a domain. There is no real process.

As long as you don't do something that would lessen the name (porn site, passing yourself off as the famous person, using the name to sell a product/service), you should be ok. Of course, people can sue for anything....