Yup, it’s one of the million dollar questions domain name investors ask frequently.
Can I get away with registering this domain?
Let’s be honest here, okay? Because ethics aren’t really a hard thing to understand, or is it difficult to do business ethically. We all have that still, small voice inside us that tells us what is right, and what is wrong. In this case, we also have laws that tell us exactly what is allowed and what isn’t.
Domain squatting is simple to understand. It comes down to registering a domain name that is a registered trademark belonging to another company. If you are using their trademark, you are indeed cybersquatting. Period.
Let me be more specific and give you an example. I knew a domainer a few years back that loved to ride the coattails of the Disney® Corporation. He registered, and built, a ton of Disney® related websites. Tshirts, coffee mugs, etc. Anything that he could find and add a generic keyword to, he owned.
Not surprisingly, Disney® found out about it and slapped him down. Their lawyers are tough and very strict. If they catch you squatting, they are probably going to take swift and decisive action.
Now back to our topic, because there really is a big difference between squatting and speculating. If you are doing research about certain types of technologies and new types of products, then that might be a little different. Once again, it comes down to whether the names are registered trademarks or not. Generic words are never considered trademarks, so the actual technology might be an awesome domain name. Speculation is not a bad thing, and as a domain name investor, it can definitely benefit you to do your homework.
Just remember not to cross the line into squatting territory, no matter how tempting it might be. Companies spend millions, sometimes billions of dollars on branding. Which is why they are so adamant about protecting their brands. It is not right to use their brands for your own gain.
Ever.
Tags: branding, corporate, speculator, squatters