Registering a PERSON'S NAME?

If I register someone's name, i.e. an actress/popstar etc, I heard a rumour that they can claim it off of me if it is a Top Level Domain. Is this true?

I registered someone's .com name and am now trying to sell it, but can they claim it off of me, or could I try selling it to their agent?

Any comments would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Charlie

 

[EM @MAJ.com]

A good example is madonna.com domain, this was owned by someone who is dedicated to madonna in church (not the singer/actress) he fought for it and lost, doesn't have enough money to hire dependable lawyer. If you visit the domain name, now it is madonna main site.

I suggest that you release it as early as you can. You can't win the dispute because you have no valid reason to maintained it.

Just a thought.

 

[domainduck]

Originally posted by TheWatcher
A good example is madonna.com domain, this was owned by someone who is dedicated to madonna in church (not the singer/actress) he fought for it and lost, doesn't have enough money to hire dependable lawyer. If you visit the domain name, now it is madonna main site.

I suggest that you release it as early as you can. You can't win the dispute because you have no valid reason to maintained it.

Just a thought.

In this duck's opinion, personal name registration for sale and profit crosses the line and wastes time.

In the case of Madonna.com, the original owner had it pointing to a porn site. When the Madonna lawyers came after him, he tried to give it to a Catholic sisters charity organization named Madonna sisters, or something like that, which failed.

He lost the domain name, because he was a bad boy.



quack

 

Thanks guys. But what about an actual persons name, say for example www.michaeljackson.com

If I bought this when he was starting off (and he didn't have it registered), and I then kept it to sell it when I wanted, is this ok?

Thanks

 

[Anthony Ng]

To cut a long story short: just keep away from personal names, because they'll almost always get PERSONAL with the celebrities involved. It's THEIR names after all.

 

[GiantDomains]

You are talking about cybersquatting. In legal terms, extorsion, so please don't ask us about your blatant illegal practices.

 

[President Gringo]

unless you plan to make a fan site out of it, put your resources into something else.

 

[RMF]

If I had www.michaeljackson.com, and michael tried sueing me for it. I could just go give the domain to someone that has that same name. How could anyone say that "Michael Jackson" has more rights to the ownership of "MichaelJackson.com", then another guy named "Michael Jackson"?... or I could just say I have a pet named Michael Jackson, and I was going to make as it about my pet. lol.

RMF

 

[Anthony Ng]

With all due respect, it would be safe to say that even if you ARE the other "Michael Jackson", you will lose your domain name, unless you too have a roller coaster at home.

The truth is: reasoning doesn't work in the real world, sadly ... it's a capitalistic society we're in. And as a matter if fact, in order to tell Michael Jackson that you're gonna build a website for your pet, you'll need at least $5,000 to start with (by retaining a decent lawyer who is not even of comparable capacity with that of the more famous Michael Jackson).

 

[GiantDomains]

Originally posted by nameslave
With all due respect, it would be safe to say that even if you ARE the other "Michael Jackson", you will lose your domain name, unless you too have a roller coaster at home.

The truth is: reasoning doesn't work in the real world, sadly ... it's a capitalistic society we're in. And as a matter if fact, in order to tell Michael Jackson that you're gonna build a website for your pet, you'll need at least $5,000 to start with (by retaining a decent lawyer who is not even of comparable capacity with that of the more famous Michael Jackson).

actually, you are wrong. If your name is michael jackson, you have every right to register michaeljackson.com. Its when your name is NOT MJ, you are squatting.

Armani.com is not the big fashion designers site, like you would think. The owner is A.R.Mani, and won in court to keep it.

 

[NoFolio]

Michael Jackson is gonna sue us all for typing his name in this forum! :uhoh: We have no right to use those 14 letters in that specific order.

 

Guys

Thanks for the replies

Just one more question, if I registered www.joebloggs.com just as he was becoming famous, and set up a fansite for 'joe', then could he still come and claim it off of me if he wanted.

Is there any point in setting up a website, i.e. can much money be made from these sites?

Thanks again for all the advice

Chas

PS: What is the best way to sell a domain name to someone? I registered the domain name at www.lycos.co.uk and the buyer has an account at www. directnic.com

 

[GiantDomains]

Originally posted by chas100
Guys

Thanks for the replies

Just one more question, if I registered www.joebloggs.com just as he was becoming famous....

definition=extortion.

Do not do this. Think if you were inventing/developing something..but didnt have the domain registered, someone got wind of you idea and bought the dot-com, and tried to sell it to you....

 

[NewSeller]

They cannot claim it off