where can I find registered trademarks?

[patroiz]

I was offering several possible end users a domain that I registered a year ago for mid XX. One of them replied back claiming to own the Trademark for the term and threatening a lawsuit if I didn't transfer the domain to them.

I always check the TESS database for the domains I register and it didn't show up when I registered it a year ago, I checked it again today and it didn't show up. I was just wondering, where can I look up registered trademarks so that I can be sure that I am not registering a trademarked term?

Transferring the domain isn't a problem since it is a really crappy domain and I registered it for the volume of search results and I was planning on dropping it soon.

 

[BidNo]

TESS is only US trademarks and each country has it's own system (though the EC may use one system?). I'd sure ask where their TM is registered and for them to demonstrate this to you.

Cheers,
BidNo

 

[katherine]

Indeed there are EU-wide trademarks, you can check the database here: http://oami.europa.eu/CTMOnline/
Each EU member country also has its own register of trademarks, EU TMs encompass the 27 member countries.

But the trick is that you can claim TM rights without having a TM formally registered. Say that if your name is 'famous' enough it's sufficient to claim rights.
I believe John Berry-Hill suggests to always look up in Google first, that's the best way to find out about a brand

 

[patroiz]

Ok thank you, the company is based in US. The domain isn't that good (probably less than reg fee) so I'm not worried about that.

sdsinc; are you from Iceland?

 

[katherine]

Eg eyða einhverjum tíma í RVK

If the name is not 100% generic, many companies won't like it if you try to sell them their own name

 

[patroiz]

ok thanks, will remember that next time I'm trying to sell to end users.