closed MissAmerica.us

[rawkinrich]

Overture - 44930 miss america
Google - 6,230,000 miss america
Google - 278,000 "miss america"

Appraisals?

Thanks-

 

[BGray]

Fantastic Name! Probably as relevant as .us can be. I honestly have no idea on appraisal value though. Good Name.

 

[StockDoctor]

Agree. Nice use of the extension. Cold be worth a decent amount if you develop it in a class of products or services not already trademarked. Check the USPTO site.
Doc

 

[gogeorge]

Overture - 44930 miss america
Google - 6,230,000 miss america
Google - 278,000 "miss america"

Appraisals?

Thanks-

If not trademarked, could be worth XXXX.xx

 

[quadtree]

Sorry, but I can see only TM issues.

 

[mogtnomr]

sell it to Trump.. I think he owns the rights to the miss america pageant, doesnt he?

 

[Kevin]

Without TM issues = HUGE name!

 

[rawkinrich]

Sounds good! I may spend some time in developing into something great.

Or if anyone is interested in taking it off my hands, pm me.

Rich

 

[rawkinrich]

Just done a search on "MissAmerica.us" (the domain I snapped up) and it seems that the previous owner wanted $11,000.00.

Is this accurate?

 

[William9]

rawkinrick stated “Is this accurate?”

If the question about accuracy relates to whether the previous owner offered it for sale at $11,000, that appears to accurate. To be fair, that owner has not asked us to appraise the other domains listed for sale which include PeekaBoo.US for $250,000.00.

On the other hand if the question is whether the $11,000 asking price is an accurate appraisal, I agree with Stockdoctor’s appraisal above which is “…worth a decent amount if you develop it in a class of products or services not already trademarked.”

But as it is NOT developed in a class of products or services not already trademarked, it is NOT worth a decent amount, in my opinion.

 

[Nodnarb]

The only value is in selling it to the Miss America people for a couple of hundred bucks. The minute you try to commercialize it, they will have their attorneys mail you a letter demanding the removal of content and transfer of the domain. They will typically reimburse your documented costs (for the domain name only, no hosting fees, etc) if you cooperate with them.

You might try contacting the pageant people to let them know that you currently hold the domain (as opposed to the guy who wanted 11 grand.) Ask them if they will give you permission in writing, to construct a 3rd party fan site/forum, or a history of past MIss America's -- because you enjoy the Miss America show so much. If they accept, its free advertising for their show, and you could safely display banners. If they decline, then perhaps they will send a counteroffer to take the name off the market in the future.

Never explicitly offer to sell it to a trademark holder or directly mention money. They can use that against you.

For the record, I had this happen with a Warner Brothers trademark. Upon receiving the letter from their attorney, I immediately forwarded the site to the appropriate WB home page, and notified them of my immediate action. They initiated the domain name transfer, released me in writing, and offered to reimburse me. I declined since the reg fee is so minimal, and learned a $7 lesson.

 

[Laird Mobi]

With these trademark issues in hand, i would suggest rather than trying to get into trouble and sell it, go with them, start a miss america fan site or maybe go against them and create a critism site, that way when your cease and desist mail comes through you have a legitimate reason to own such a domain name. And also make a little cash through affiliate programs for make up or modeling schools etc etc.

 

[rawkinrich]

Thanks for your comments people.

I like the sound of setting up a site, where people can buy Womens Clothing through Affiliate RSS feeds, and maybe a directory of Modeling schools, where companies can have a full page advertising thier services (sounds good). This may lead to some good traffic, and then see what happens.

Good idea? Or pushing the trademark issue?

Thanks again fellas-

 

[Laird Mobi]

As long as you keep within the realms of fan site or critism site then you may be ok. The only other thing is if they send you a cease and desist notice, find out how much it will cost them to take you to court (iccan hearing i think by memory is $1500) and charge $100 less! That way they will either waste $100 and continue, or give you the money and get lost!

 

[rawkinrich]

Oh joy. Miss America gonna take me to court. As long as there's some chicks there, it'll be worth the $1500.

 

[Laird Mobi]

Hee hee hee! You'll have to ask to personally interview all the witness's!!!! Wish i were you! Nah but seriously i think that as long as your domain is either fan/critism site then you have a better chance than having it just parked on Sedo etc, but keep the stategy in mind, that way you'll get at least some money for your efforts, and if they do take you to court just roll over and let em have it, or you will lose more than them!

 

[rawkinrich]

Mmm women witnesses. I'll give them a good home.

Still like the idea of Modeling schools classifieds etc. It'll be worth the risk. If they think I'm in breach of copyright, i'll just take it down. Or something.

Cant stop thinking about girlie witnesses.

 

[Nodnarb]

Does it get any traffic now?

Personally, I think you're better with a fan site. As soon as you commercialize it, especially for something female related, they will say that you are trying to profit from their trademark. By my judgement, modeling schools is a definite infringement, as are womens clothes. To commercialize it without infringing on their TM, I think you'd need to go an entirely different direction. As an example, Howard Stern published a book titled Miss America, but it had nothing to do with females or the pageant. (Plus, he and Trump are friends.) You'd probably have to sell tractors or something to really avoid the issue. That's why I say you're better off trying to ride a parallel line with them, by creating a history site, or fan message board.

 

[rawkinrich]

Suppose your right yea, it gets about 2 unique's daily. I don't know enough of Miss America to make a fan site.

The clothing stuff was a good idea but yea will be subject to copyright issues. A message board maybe the way to go.

Any idea's on how to fully implement this idea?

 

[Laird Mobi]

Sign up to something like proboards.co.uk then forward the domain, submit to numerous search engines and your flying!