Find A Credible Domain Registrar
A domain registrar is a company that is responsible for registering and managing domain names. Its accredited by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers , a non-profit organization that controls the rules and regulations of domain name registration.
Choosing a reliable domain registrar is crucial because it can impact a project or business for years. Pick the wrong one and you might end up paying hidden fees or even get scammed. For example, there have been cases where a domain registrar pressures users into purchasing domain names similar to the ones they hold under false pretenses.
It can be challenging to pick from hundreds of domain registrars out there as they all offer similar services. Therefore, consider the following when choosing a registrar:
As we mentioned earlier, people can also purchase a custom domain from a hosting company that offers domain registration services, like Hostinger.
Since having a web hosting plan and domain name is essential to make a website, it may be more convenient to purchase and maintain them together at the same place.
Here at Hostinger, we offer low upfront and renewal costs for the most popular domain names and a dedicated 24/7 support team ready to assist you.
If you buy a domain name at Hostinger, its also possible to activate domain privacy protection. This feature can help hide specific details from being discovered through a WHOIS lookup.
What To Do If A Domain Is Purchased That Matches A Trademark
First of all, it should be noted that the domain name is not bought from an accredited registrar , the domain name is registered by the user with the registrar, provided that the word used as the domain name and coined by the user is not yet registered in the domain registry.
Placement of a trademark on the Internet is officially recognized as a way to use it. The fact of registration of a domain name similar to a trademark and registered for homogeneous goods and services is most often recognized as a violation of exclusive rights.
According to statistics, in legal disputes, priority is given to copyright holders more than 80% of domain disputes are resolved in their favor. However, 20% of the disputes are still resolved in favor of domain administrators. For an interesting case, you can read about Uzi Nissan, the man who fought Nissan Motors for years, over a domain name, and won.
In accordance with the rules for registering domain names, the user is solely responsible for choosing a domain name and for possible violations of the rights of third parties related to the selection and registration of a domain name, and also bears the risk of losses associated with such violations.
There are resources over the web, that allows the person who wants to register the domain to verify that there are no matches with protected trademarks before registering a domain name. So thats what can help you to avoid trademark infringement when you choose a domain name.
Can I Buy A Domain Name Without Hosting
Yes, you can. Domain registration and web hosting are two different services. You dont need to buy or have a hosting plan to register a domain name.Check if your preferred domain name is available, then buy and register it at a domain name registrar.Whether you have a website or not, the domain name will be yours as long as you renew the registration before it expires.
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Free Products + Services When You Register
From free perks like URL and email forwarding to sophisticated account features like Two-Step Verification and DNS templates, Name.com offers more for less.
Fair, transparent pricing
We clearly display domain discounts and renewal pricing during the search process so there are no nasty surprises when your domains renewal comes up.
Everything in one place
Once you have a domain in hand, we make it simple to attach email, hosting, website builders, and more. Its everything you need in one convenient place.
Easy domain transfers
Relationship With Derivative Works
Derivative works include translations, musical arrangements, and dramatizations of a work, as well as other forms of transformation or adaptation. Copyrighted works may not be used for derivative works without permission from the copyright owner, while public domain works can be freely used for derivative works without permission. Artworks that are public domain may also be reproduced photographically or artistically or used as the basis of new, interpretive works. Works derived from public domain works can be copyrighted.
Once works enter into the public domain, derivative works such as adaptations in book and film may increase noticeably, as happened with Frances Hodgson Burnett‘s novel The Secret Garden, which became public domain in the US in 1977 and most of the rest of the world in 1995. By 1999, the plays of Shakespeare, all public domain, had been used in more than 420 feature-length films. In addition to straightforward adaptation, they have been used as the launching point for transformative retellings such as Tom Stoppard‘s Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead and Troma Entertainment‘s Tromeo and Juliet. Marcel Duchamp’s L.H.O.O.Q. is a derivative of Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa, one of thousands of derivative works based on the public domain painting. The 2018 film A Star is Born is a remake of the 1937 film of the same name, which is in the public domain due to an unrenewed copyright.
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The Confusion About Copyright And Trademarking Logos
Quite a lot of confusion arises when it comes to logos since many of them qualify for both copyright and trademark registration. Namely, if your logo qualifies for copyright as a piece of original artwork and is not used to identify your company, your logo can be copyright protected so that you can prevent unauthorized copying.
Additionally, if you want to prevent others from using your logo design and ensure that your companys mark is distinguishable from your competitors, you should trademark your logo. A trademark can only prevent confusion your customers may experience if theres a similar connection to your competitors, while copyright protects against unwanted copying.
Therefore, logos can be a confusing area of intellectual property law, since trademark and copyright protection often overlap. The important thing to note is that neither copyright nor trademark excludes one another, so many business owners opt for protecting their companys logo by both copyrighting and trademarking it.
How Can I Get A Free Domain For Com
You only need to register for any of the web hosting plans that offer a free domain name. However, make sure the value is enough for you to buy the .com TLD.For example, if you sign up for Hostingers Premium or Business shared hosting plans, you will get a free domain for one year with the value equivalent of a .com TLD.
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Why Trade Mark A Domain Name
There are several reasons why you should consider trade marking your domain name. Trade marks are generally:
- more valuable than domain names
- more easily protected, both under common law and statutory protection
Trade marking your domain name will:
- give you legal rights over the name in the country where the trade mark was granted
- prevent others from using a similar domain, if this would cause your business disadvantage or disrepute
- reinforce your brand name and ensure visibility of your business online
Defending Your Website’s Copyright
You’ll have to be vigilant if you want to protect your website’s copyright. Register the copyright and regularly monitor for plagiarism by searching for copycats. Issue “cease and desist” letters if anyone has plagiarized your site.
You can protect your original website content by adding copyright notices to each page, but it’s also a good idea to register your copyright. If your site is complex or includes multiple authors, look for a good intellectual property attorney to help you.
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So If Its Not An Ip Right Is It A Tangible Property Right
The right of enforcement of tangible property is possession. If a domain name is a tangible property right then legal assignment must be by taking possession. Further, to legally assign a tangible property right the assignment must be absolute or unconditional. A domain name owner does not have this absolute right and title to give. There is no legal basis to bring a claim against a bona fide domain name owner . Its entitlement is subject to the terms of the registration agreement with the domain name registrant which is ultimately controlled by the ICANN. It is therefore not a tangible property right either.
Whilst many bundle domain name registrations along with trademarks or other intellectual property rights, unless there are adequate contractual provisions to effect transfer, there is no legal basis which a purchaser of a domain name could enforce its rights against the original party.
How Do I Search For Expired Domain Names
Expiring domain names are just what they sound like: Domain names that were unavailable because they were already registered but are about to expire, making the website name available for purchase again. You can search for expiring domain names using keywords or you can check the list of about-to-expire names. Search domains expiring now
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What Should You Keep In Mind When Choosing A Domain Name
There are a number of important factors that you need to keep in mind at all times when making the difficult choice to brand a specific name for your domain. The combination of words should be pleasant sounding, easy to remember, and easy to spell. Dont give your domain a fancy or exotic spelling of a simple phrase. This will make it harder for people to recall the exact spelling that you employed. Its far better to rely on a simple, easy phrase that captures the essence of your business without overly complicating things.
How Do I Find The Best Available Domain Name
If you have an idea for the name you want, start by searching for that. If the name isnt available, well show you our best recommendations for similar, available domain names. Or, if you dont have a specific domain name in mind, just type in keywords that describe your website or project, hit search, and check out the suggestions.
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Registering A Domain Name
- You have intentionally chosen a name that is similar to anotherdomain name or trademark to create consumer confusion
- You do not carry business under that name
- Neither you nor any other individuals in your companycarry a name that is same or similar
- You are planning to sell that domain name to your competitor for financial gain
- For more information on the Uniform Domain Name DisputeResolution Policy –
- Product
Protect Your Domain Name
Be sure your business owns not only its website content, including graphics and images and your domain name as well. A domain name is a unique identifier on the internet. It appears like “http://www.domainname.extension”, such as “http://www.domainanonymous.com”.
A domain name cannot be duplicated and it can’t be copyrighted. When you register your domain name, you get an exclusive name. But domain names can be the same if they carry different extensions. For example, there might be “domainanonymous.com”, “doomainanonymous.net”, “domainanonymous.biz”, or “domainanonymous.info”.
Buy the name under your own business from a reputable domain registration service, but keep in mind that buying the “.com” extension leaves the other extensions open to be taken by someone else. Someone could buy “domainanonymous.biz” and start drawing potential customers away from you.
If you want to protect your domain name from copycats, you might want to also buy some or all of the most common extensions from a domain registration service then have them forwarded to your main domain name.
The “look” of your domain name is separate from its content. This look might include a graphic like the famous Amazon arrow or Google’s multicolored “G.” You’ll have to register it as a trademark or service mark if you want to protect your website’s logo.
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How Are Conflicts Resolved Between Domain Names And An Existing Trademark
If a company already owns a federally registered trademark, it does not necessarily prohibit someone else from owning the domain name. There are some circumstances when a trademark owner can prohibit the use of a domain name.
- It infringes on a federally registered trademark: If another company uses a domain name that is similar to a trademark and is engaged in a business providing similar goods or services, the trademark owner may prohibit its use under trademark law. This is because the similarity between the trademark and the domain name may confuse consumers.
- It dilutes a famous trademark: If the commercial use of a domain name dilutes or tarnishes the reputation of the famous trademark, the use of the name may be terminated under trademark law.
Can I Copyright My Website
In general, work can be copyrighted if it is an original work and it is “fixed in a tangible medium of expression” . A website is a structure containing content that can be copyrighted.
Content on a website qualifies as intellectual property that can be copyrighted if the work is original, is owned by the applicant, and is clearly described. Your website is protected the minute it goes “live” on a server you don’t have to register the copyright for it to be effective.
Copyright protection on a website is for the content on that site. The U.S. Copyright Office also says that content is “material that is perceptible to the users of a particular website.” It includes just about everything from news articles, literature, blogs, music, audio such as a podcast, webinars, games, and video.
You can only copyright what’s already on your website. The U.S. Copyright Office indicates that the registration extends only to the content presented with the registration. Any content you add to the website later, or any updates to the website would require its own registration.
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A Trade Mark For Your Domain Name
When it comes to protecting your brand, a registered trade mark is a powerful option. Whether you need to register your trade mark and licence your domain name will depend on your circumstances.
A trade mark is used to differentiate your business from your competitors. The owner of a registered trade mark has the exclusive right to use the trade mark in relation to the goods and / or services for which the trade mark was registered.
This does not include use as a domain name. Licensing of domain names is carried out by companies on behalf of the Australian Domain Name Authority on a first in, first served basis. Having a trade mark application or registration does not automatically entitle you to the domain name licence.
If someone has licensed a domain name the same as or similar to your trade mark, you need to lodge a complaint with auDA. This only applies to the .au country code it doesnt extend to other countries, nor generic top-level domains such as .com or .org regulated by other bodies.