USPTO Archive

Video interviews, panel discussions, articles and Q&As featuring USPTO.

Domain Name Trademarks: What You Need To Know To Protect Yourself

If you buy a domain name that contains words that are trademarked, you risk losing your financial investment in the domain name, as well as legal fees and your time dealing with a potential legal issue.

Understand and learn how to minimize your risk. Not doing so could be an expensive lesson for you to learn.

Andrew Tenney July 3, 2011 14

5 Things to Do Before You Buy a Domain Name

It’s easy to buy a domain name. What many people don’t realize is that just because you can buy a domain name doesn’t mean you should. In many cases, it can be risky.

Before purchasing (or even negotiating the price) of a domain name, you should check several key indicators to ensure that the risk of buying the domain name of interest is low.

Aishwar Sharma June 5, 2011 13

6 Ways to Recover a Domain Name from an Infringing Cybersquatter

A trademark owner — whether registered or common law — who finds a domain name that is identical or confusingly similar to its mark has several options for dealing with the possible infringement, including ICANN’s Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy and the Anticybersquatting Consumer Protection Act.

Charles Runyan January 20, 2011 16

Your Domain Name as Your Trademark? Maybe, says USPTO

After a deluge of trademark filings at the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office (USPTO), the USPTO decided to issue specific guidelines that would explain exactly when a domain name may or may not be registered as a U.S. federal trademark.

Andrew Tenney January 6, 2011 3

Do Not Cybersquat (We Know Who You Are)

Cybersquatting (also known as domain squatting), according to the United States federal law known as the Anticybersquatting Consumer Protection Act, is registering, trafficking in, or using a domain name with bad faith intent to profit from the goodwill of a trademark belonging to someone else. Think you have a great idea for buying an unregistered […]

DomainSherpa December 30, 2010 0

How to Negotiate the Price of a Domain Name

You need a good negotiation strategy whether you’re buying an automobile, a home or a domain name. Buying and selling domain names is a business, and you need to approach it as such. Whether your buying or selling a domain name, this article will help you prepare for negotiating your domain name by presenting five […]