Question about a Domain Name soon to be Famous Person

Question about a Domain Name soon to be Famous

[atpservices]

Hi, wondering if anyone knows the rules, legal or otherwise about registering a domain name of a person that you think may soon be famous.

Example: JohnDoe.com

Could a person named John Doe come after you legally?

I would like to register a domain name of a name that I think will be famous soon.

Thanks for the replies.
ATP

[Webwork]

Do you believe in karma?

Is taking someone else's name a good thing?

Maybe, if you reg it and contact the person and give away to them.

Who knows? Maybe they'll remember you and return the favor some day.

Or not.

Not to worry. That's their little ripples.

[hp11]

Do some research on cybersquatting. Basically, if a business or an individual trademarks a name and finds that you own that trademarked name - via a domain - they can legally request that you hand over the domain name without any type of compensation and then they can try to sue you for monitary damages.

[FalseDawn]

It is not quite as black and white as that.
If that were the case, everyone who owns a domain name that isn't also trademarked is at risk of someone else trademarking the name and "taking" the domain name.

There are clauses for "bad faith", and whether or not you have legitimate interests in the domain name.

For example, if you set up a "fan" site in someone's name, while not adviseable, I doubt they'd be able to do much about it.

Just my opinion, I'd seek legal advice if you intend to go this route.

[hp11]

It is not quite as black and white as that.

I agree.

For example, if you set up a "fan" site in someone's name, while not adviseable, I doubt they'd be able to do much about it.

That was the exact example I was thinking about when I posted my first reponse. I happen to be a baseball fan and I will never forget the story about a local college student that was issued a cease and desist for having a baseball fan site. The media covered it here and even after reading the details I was thrown back.

The local baseball team had NO problem with this fan site and even tried to help. But MLB did and they where the ones that enforced the trademark status via court order. Which led to the site being shut down and the domain name transferred to MLB.

I'd seek legal advice if you intend to go this route.

100%! This is really the best advice.

[andrea99]

If it is a fan site that the famous person might approve of, why not just ask for permission? If it's some use that the famous person is not likely to approve of, go see your attorney before proceeding.