I just bought a Web domain name that’s also a semi-famous person’s name. Do they have a right to it?
I don’t know what I am going to do with this domain name, I was sorta surprised it wasn’t already taken. Does a famous person have a legal claim to their .com name, i.e. somebody like Eric Estrada? I notice his name is a parked domain. The person I have could be considered on the same level of fame.
Tags: also, bought, domain, just, name, person's, Right, semifamous, thats, they Posted in
September 3rd, 2010 at 7:28 pm
No. You paid for it. Its yours.
September 3rd, 2010 at 7:35 pm
If your name was google and you became famous, would you be able to get http://www.google.com? No… as long as you do not use the site to smear that person you should be fine.
Go look up the yes men on you tube and what they did with a gwbush website!!
September 3rd, 2010 at 8:03 pm
As strange as it sounds, yes, they do if the domain name is part of their recognized trademark and their lawyer is better than yours. For example, even if the name mcdonalds.com was not taken and you registered it, Big Mac man could take it from you.
September 3rd, 2010 at 8:52 pm
check with your domain name authority and if its ok they will tell you.
September 3rd, 2010 at 9:47 pm
Just GO FOR IT. If they ask, and you are willing to SELL it at a reasonable price… then maybe you can swing a deal.
So let’s say that you did buy Eric Estrada, and you created a website that encouraged an Eric Estrada Fan Club; and your website was in every way positive… Then maybe you would get a better price.
Good Luck and Happy Computing!
September 3rd, 2010 at 10:12 pm
Julia Roberts was able to get JuliaRoberts.com taken down even though it was a Julia Robert fan club through the United Nations of all enforcement agencies. However, Armani lost in his bid to control Armani.com. So I am absolutely sure that the answer is maybe, and definitely if the person does not try to take it from you.
September 3rd, 2010 at 10:43 pm
first come first served. hang on to it and if that person becomes famous sell it for tons of money$$ If that person wont pay just tell them that you are going to make it into a porn site.
September 3rd, 2010 at 10:55 pm
Just a thought , If I would have thought of paying for a domain name like shelloil.com years ago. would shelloil have paid me for it. Stick with it..
September 3rd, 2010 at 11:47 pm
What you are doing is cybersquatting 101.
Registering a domain name of a public person to profit from their name. If the person decides to come after you they will most likely get the name. Don’t waste a lot of time developing the website.
September 3rd, 2010 at 11:55 pm
No, there may be 2 persons with the same name