legal domain name question

[Dr_JohnM]

lets say i want to register a domain name... Is it legal to get one like www.(something)myspace.com/www.(something)google.com/www.(something)ebay.com/www.(something)megaupload.com...
and run a service similar to theirs? But different! or will that get me in trouble?

Thanks John

[jbinbpt]

Forget the question about it being legal. Do you have the monetary resources to fight them when (not if) challenged?

[Webwork]

If anyone here says "yes" or "no" does that settle the issue? Will it be a defense to a lawsuit?

The only practical and realistic answer is "ask the owner of the trademark". No one here is qualified to offer assurances about what MySpace or Google will not do.

Don't count on getting a warning or C&D letter or other warning shot. In the domain/trademark realm, as in the music realm, there will likely be lawsuits filed without warning in the near future.

[trader]

In answer to your question and myspace example, myspace.com has already filed a number of legal actions against owners of similar and misspelled versions of the name, and I am sure will be filing even more cases.

[Dr_JohnM]

Wow! that sucks! I was thinking that i could do that with no problem!

So are you saying that myspace is suing someone for opening a website like myspace?

So what if someone wants to open a site around the same idea? Like myspace but with different style and features? Is that still asking for trouble?

After reading yor replies i think i will just stick with coming up with something on my own!

Thanks John

[cshel]

MySpace will sue if they so much as sniff that you might maybe possibly be thinking about doing something that remotely infringes on their trademark.

Whether it's right or wrong really isn't even relevant unless you have the monetary resources to defend yourself.

If you want to have a service similar to theirs, you have a decent shot at going about your busniess unbothered... there are other sites that are similar to MySpace already. Using a domain name with "my" or "space" in it (and certainly with both my AND space) is just asking for a lawsuit.