If you are setting up a new online business, chances are that you have already begun to consider possible website addresses. But did you know that choosing the “wrong” one could land your business in court?
Most businesses now regard domain names that are similar to their own brand name to be copyright infringements. By registering a domain name that’s similar to that of an established business, your risk not only losing the rights to the domain name, but also being sued if the business in question felt you were infringing their copyright.
For most well-intentioned businesses, this is not a problem – they have no intention of using another brand’s image to bolster their own. It does however make good sense to avoid any domain name copyright issues from the outset by checking existing registered trademarks at the Intellectual Property Office. A quick search will reveal whether your proposed domain name will be treading on anyone else’s toes.
If you find another business that had a similar name, you could try contacting them direct for input. Most business owners will be happy to help answer your questions. By letting them know your naming plans in advance, they are also much less likely to take action over perceived infringements of their domain name copyright.
Most important of all though – be creative with your choice. Consider all the potential domain names you could use before making a final choice. You may discover something much more interesting than your initial ideas.
About Broadband Cloud Solutions
Our mission is to supply high quality internet solutions to individuals and businesses of all sizes. From traditional domain names and web hosting to cloud services such as Hosted desktop and LiveDrive, we offer essential services and products that are both affordable and good value for money. Please give us a call on 0141 585 6363 to speak with a member of our friendly team.
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