I recently registered a domain name for my personal blog. The name is a two letter word and is very good. I just realized that there is a charity foundation with the same name and they have registered the .org version of the domain name. I have a feeling I could be infringing their trademark. My question is:
Let's assume that my site becomes popular after a year. I have a lot of repeated readers. Now let's say this foundation or someone else comes along and tells me that I am infringing on their copyrights and that they want the domain name back. What do I do now?
I have thought out a plan in-case something like this happens. I just want to know what you guys think of this plan and if it is workable:
1.) As soon as I get the notice I register another domain and 301 redirect the current domain to the new one.
2.) I notify Google regarding this in the Google webmaster central.
3.) Finally I drop the domain name and give it to the trademark holders.
Will this work? I mean, how much time will I have if in-case I were to file a UDRP (Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy)?
If you guys have any other suggestions, please do let me know..
Things to consider:
- Do they actually have a trademark?
- Are you making money off the domain/site?
- Is your domain/site related to the topic of that charity?
- Get the "backup" domain now and redirect it to the preferred domain. If you need to down the road, simply reverse that.
If you could prove that you had nmo idea of their existence prior to regging the name you should be OK. But it's a hard one to prove of course...
