Domain name of a famous person

Should I do it?

[sd0t]

Hi All,

First post here -- overwhelmed with all the wonderful information at this site.

I have read the Charter for this particular forum, and there is a statement that legal advice should not be requested in the forum...followed by a statement saying "but don't let that scare you off -- there are few places to go on the Internet to talk about domain names". So hopefully I'm not breaking any rules here on my first post. I won't ask for legal information, but let me go ahead with my question:

I just recently registered a .com domain name that has the full name (first and last) of a famous person in it. There is also an additional word tacked onto this. Assuming "Bob Jones" was famous, something like bobjonesthings.com (the word is not "things", by the way, but I did plan on developing a site that would make me money by selling relevant items via affiliate links). However, the LAST thing I want to do is get sued or even get threatened with a lawsuit. I just don't want any part of it. Forgive me of my ignorance, but is it generally acceptable or unacceptable to have a domain name like this and use it for "for profit" purposes? Incidentally, in case it makes any difference, I live in the US.

Thanks for your help,

-sd0t

[bhartzer]

Back in the mid 1990s I owned a LOT of domain names with celebrity names in them. The potential gain from having one of those names is not nearly worth the hassle and money you'll have to spend when you get sued. It's not if you'll get sued--it's when.

I'm not a lawyer, but trust me when I say that you should get rid of that name as quickly as you can. The cybersquatter laws are very strict when it comes to these sorts of things.

[Webwork]

If you've got nothing to lose then don't do it.

If you've got anything to lose then don't do it.

At the very least it's bad karma.

Worse than that it can get you sued.

Also, such behavior puts you in a bad light.

If none of that concerns you then why are you asking?

Be concerned and don't do it, or do it and suffer eternally for your lack of discernment. Really. No kidding. Life's a slippery slope and you're on it.

Your choice: Good guy or bad guy or gray guy. Gray guy is the guy who can rationalize every act, just like we all do, but pangs of doubt increasingly loose their deterrent effect for gray guy.

I promise: You choose to play in the gray areas, you find yourself hanging out with more and more gray people, and pretty soon it just keeps getting darker and darker for many.

[davezan]

but I did plan on developing a site that would make me money by selling relevant items via affiliate links

Check your affiliate terms. You might be surprised.

And this [uspto.gov] might interest you as well.

[luckychucky]

If your own name is not Bob Jones, but you sell Bob Jones items not authorized or licensed by Bob Jones, you'll be a duck sitting squarely in front of a shotgun. Screw the prohibition against legal advice, here's mine: it's suicide, without the slightest legal ambiguity or wiggle room. You'll be a dead duck, slaughtered in court, liable for all you're worth and then some.

[sd0t]

Thanks for the advice everyone, I definitely appreciate it. I just wasn't thinking when I registered it and I'm glad I didn't actually put the site up yet. Incidentally, I have already rescinded the domain name (who cares about the $10 I have to eat compared with a potential loss of bigger $$ and reputation).

Regards,

-sd0t