closed Top Forum Names

[Canoodle]

Hi all

Please appraise these.

WindowsForum.com
FootballForum.com
LaptopForum.com
EmailForum.com
MutualFundForum.com
WeatherForum.com
WebPageForum.com

THANK YOU!

 

[Mr Webname]

windowsforum presents possible TM issues - there have been many.
Others are interesting, but would need development of a forum with content to realise true value.

 

[stuff]

windowsforum presents possible TM issues - there have been many.

How can it be? Windows, thats a common word. You could open a forum where people talk about how to buy windows for theyre house, how to but them in place and so on.

 

[Mr Webname]

There are lots of common words that have TM issues and windows, being the name of the Microsoft Operating System, is one of them. Microsoft actively defends its trademarks and there have been many discussion about the use of "windows" names as there have been many actions and threats of action by Microsoft when this term is used in a domain registration. Nothing is written in stone, hence my use of the word "possibly" but it's not a term I would use lightly in registering a domain.

 

[lukeeales]

Football forum for me is by far the best one. Mid-High $,$$$

Hi all

Please appraise these.

WindowsForum.com
FootballForum.com
LaptopForum.com
EmailForum.com
MutualFundForum.com
WeatherForum.com
WebPageForum.com

THANK YOU!

 

[stuff]

There are lots of common words that have TM issues and windows, being the name of the Microsoft Operating System, is one of them. Microsoft actively defends its trademarks and there have been many discussion about the use of "windows" names as there have been many actions and threats of action by Microsoft when this term is used in a domain registration. Nothing is written in stone, hence my use of the word "possibly" but it's not a term I would use lightly in registering a domain.

Yes and there is also huge POSSIBILITY that nothing will happen.

 

[Mr Webname]

Yes and there is also huge POSSIBILITY that nothing will happen.

There is also the strong possibility that it will, but this is an appraisal thread not a debate thread and I would suspect that Canoodle would appreciate a number of views rather than just two members exchanging opinions.

The following was submitted in a forum by a member who also registered a "windows" domain name:-

Use of WINDOWS registered trade mark

Dear Sir

We have recently become aware that you have registered the domain name www.windowsxx.com and are providing computer software-related services from the website located at this domain. We appreciate your support of Windows®, as Microsoft works hard to deliver quality Windows brand products and services and values consumer recognition of this name. As a trademark owner, however, Microsoft must take steps to prevent others from using its valuable trademarks and logos in unauthorized or misleading ways.

You may be aware that Microsoft is the registered owner of the WINDOWS trade mark and the associated WINDOWS flag logo in The UK. Our trade marks are registered in the UK in relation to a wide range of goods and services, including computer software, computers, computer services and the provision of technical support and information services in relation to computer software. Microsoft also owns many domain names featuring the WINDOWS trade mark, including www.windows.com, www.windowsxp.com and www.windows98.com. As a result of our registration and use of these domain names, consumers have come to associate domain names featuring the prefix WINDOWS with our company.

We have no objection, of course, to your establishment of a bulletin board forum for users of the WINDOWS computer program. However, we have concerns regarding your registration and use of the particular domain name www.windowsxx.com and use of the WINDOWS flag logo on your website. In particular, we are concerned that consumers will be misled into believing that your website is in some way associated with or authorised by Microsoft, when no such connection exists.

In the interests of avoiding any possibility of consumer confusion arising from your website, we ask that you:

1 Complete, sign and return to us page 1 of the enclosed Notice of Transfer of Domain Name in relation to the domain name www.windowsxx.com;
2 Remove the WINDOWS flag logo and all similar logos from your website;
3 Cease all use of the WINDOWS flag logo, and any similar logo, except in accordance with the terms of an authorised Microsoft Logo Program to which you may become a party in the future;
4 Comply with the Microsoft Trademark Guidelines set out on the Microsoft website (www.microsoft.com/mscorp/legal/trademarks), including without limitation the Microsoft Windows Trademark Guidelines (www.microsoft.com/mscorp/legal/trademarks/winguide.asp); and
5 Refrain from registering the name WINDOWS, or any other trade mark owned by Microsoft, or any name which incorporates such a name, as a business name, company name, domain name, trade mark or any other name.
Please provide us with the signed Notice of Transfer, confirmation that the Windows flag logo has been removed from your website, and the assurances referred to above by 20 July 2003.
We thank you in anticipation for your cooperation in relation to this matter.
Yours sincerely,

Russell C. Pangborn

Trademark Attorney

Microsoft Corporation

All I am saying is that Microsoft defends its TM names and that registering a domain with the term "windows" in presents a risk. (The actual name above has been "disguised" by the addition of "x" letters.)

 

[peter]

Football forum for me is by far the best one. Mid-High $,$$$

without development? hardly. there are already so many football forums out there

 

[lukeeales]

Yeah but it's a huge audience. Maybe I did go a little overboard, but definately $$$$.

 

[seeker]

the fact that there are so many football forums out there only increases the value of the correct spelling and name, which is footballforum

mid $XXXX *undeveloped*

 

[StockDoctor]

the fact that there are so many football forums out there only increases the value of the correct spelling and name, which is footballforum

mid $XXXX *undeveloped*

Agree! Others are nice too, but most potential in footballforum.com. I've been letting Baseballforum.com sit there without doing much, but will kick into it with the beginning of the season next year. Yours deserves a vbulletin and lots of attention to set up for next year as well. We'll have to trade links.
Doc

 

[seeker]

the logic is simple really.
think of domains. very large market. look how many 'domain' domain forums there are.
How much do you think domainforum would cost???
Now, football, is even larger

 

[neilfj]

Agree with above post

 

[croupier]

footballforum.com is head and shoulders above the others and has huge potential.

If you're gonna develop it I'd make sure you cater to real football along with that strange American game you have - you're market would increase 10 fold.

Sport goes hand in hand with betting, so profit potential is huge. To the right buyer this could hit 5 figures.

As for the TM issues with windowsforum.com, there's an online casino called windowscasino.com which defended against Microsoft. If you're gonna use it you have to be careful - puttinig trademarked logos on the site as the above developer did is just asking for trouble.

 

[Canoodle]

Thanks to everyone for some interesting input. I would never, knowingly, register a name that was trademarked. That's a zero-sum game, and not my style. If handled correctly, I don't believe windowsforum.com is a TM issue.

I don't know how it's done, but I am now leaning on developing FootballForum.com. Both for soccer and football. (uggg...another learning curve...oh, well)

Thanks again, and Cheers!