Initial permission from a trademark

Mizzoula · Jan 19, 2003

My question is this: can you get sued by a company later or be forced somehow to turn over a domain which has a company's trademark in it if they initially approve of your utilizing it?

I was thinking about the scenario where an employee of the company makes use of the domain whether it be for personal or business reasons but later ends his/her employment with the company. For whatever reason the relationship is terminated, is one still liable to fall in a grey area, or does the initial approval still stand, especially if you have documentation?

jberryhill · Jan 20, 2003

Those were in fact the circumstances of the mother of all domain name disputes - mtv.com

http://www.lectlaw.com/files/inp10.htm

draqon · Jan 20, 2003

what was the end result of that case? did MTV kick that registrant's butt in court?

KatieBeez · Jan 20, 2003

I browsed Adam Curry's website and it looks like they settled out of court confidentially. The domain is now registered on Whois under MTV.

Wonder if he got some money out of them? There was some litigation before it was settled but it didn't go too far...

CoolHost.com · Jan 20, 2003

Very quickly, one CAN be sued for just about anything! Whether they are successful or not is an entirely different matter, as I understand it.
Good Luck.

PS. I ain't no lawyer!