Typos for generic words

[hugegrowth]

Are there any legal issues for typo domains of generic words?

For example, 'business' is a generic word and there is a
business.com website. If someone had bsuiness.com
registered, for example, would that be a problem?
(I don't, just using it as an example)

 

[namedropper]

Depends. Like with most trademark situations, it's how you use them that matters.

Generic words can also be trademarks. Target, for example, is a generic word for something people aim for ar at. Target is also used as a trademark for a large corporate chain of stores.

If you had a typo of target as a domain name and used it in a way to conflict with their trademark -- for example directly competing with their business, or putting up a site pretending to be them, or otherwise abusing their good name -- then you'd be in infringement. So if I went to Targer.com and found a big bullseye logo and a store trying to sell household goods, yes, obviously a violation.

But if you used it for either some use related to the generic term, or for something entirely different, then you'd be OK.