SSWT Internet Marketing Forum

There is a company that offers a franchise and I had purchased a domain name with their name in the domain. Is this legal to do? They called me and wanted me to transfer the domain to them and they said they did not want to go to court over this. Did I do something illegal and do I have to give them the domain?


Thanks
Denise

If they can prove trademark by sending you their info then I think there could be an issue however I don't think you have to give them the domain. If you want to, you could sell it to them and have them pay for any fees to transfer it, etc. BUT I wouldn't just take their word for it.

Hope someone here has experience with this. Wait for a bit and see before making any decisions.

Hmm...I wouldn't think you'd have to give it to them - that part sounds odd. I'm definitely not in the know about these things, though. I do know that a lot of companies will not let you use their name in your domain, though.

I know of an internet marketing lawyer - I'll go dig around on his site and see if I can find something....


ETA: Ok, dagnabbit if I can't even find the guy's site! I'm pretty sure his name is Michael Young and he's in Plano, TX - he specializes in this kind of stuff.

In the meantime, though - I found a interesting, possibly helpful thread at the Warrior Forum (which is where I met the lawyer, I think - oh nooo, maybe I met him at Tony Blake's forum, yeah...) anyhoo - this thread might help you:
http://www.warriorforum.com/main-intern ... dvice.html

If you can't read that, because, you're not a member - I'd suggest signing up - the Warrior Forum is a GREAT place for people like us to learn lots and lots and lots of things. Definitely worth signing up.

Meantime - I'll go check Tony's place...

ETA: Ok, found Mike at Tony's! Here's his blog: http://mikeyounglaw.com/wp/

I hope I've been helpful to you!!

I don't think you have to give it to them for free, but in some cases they can take you to court and ask to have the domain transferred to them if it's a branded and trade marked name.