Domain plagiarism Yes or no

[dannyx]

Hello, more than once I have heard opinions here not to build a website on a domain that may be a plagiarism of a company in the industry because we may lose this domain and our work. However, I have a slightly more complex problem, I want to make a website, but I don't know if this domain is plagiarized or not.

Example: gpwa.org exists and the wa domain extension. And for example, I have the domain gp.wa Is this plagiarism or does enlargement not count as? (This is just an example of course)

[gil.langelaan]

I think it won't be plagiarism, if the content and overall topic is different. But still, users could be confused and could do mistakes in spelling. I would recommend you to read more at Domains Google. There are a few essential tips for you.

[Mattbar]

Infringing on a registered name / trade mark is common. The main thing is does the company you have a similar domain name to care?

Some care a lot and will hound you out and others care little. For example, discussed recently on here Evolution will shut you down if you have a domain with a similar name to them promoting iGaming content.

A quick search of the term you are worried about should give you a clue whether that is the case or not. If you see a lot of third party sites with similar names it is likely they don't care, but if you see very few or none at all then it's likely because they have been shutting down those that use their name.

It would help to know what the actual domain is that you are worried about could be seen as infringing someone else?

[dannyx]

And would Evolution be allowed to disable my ev.olution domain? This is what is not clear to the less clear since olution is an extension, the name would only be ev. This is, of course, another example. Later I will write more about the domain, but I would like to find out how plagiarism works in such an unusual example

[Mattbar]

And would Evolution be allowed to disable my ev.olution domain? This is what is not clear to the less clear since olution is an extension, the name would only be ev. This is, of course, another example. Later I will write more about the domain, but I would like to find out how plagiarism works in such an unusual example

It depends what you use if for. If you use ev.olution to promote iGaming and specifically evolution games / casinos, then I think they would have a very good case it was infringement of their name.

It really isn't clear cut though, just because the domain could be seen as infringing doesn't mean that someone will take action against it. It all depends on who you think you are plagiarising.

The only way to get clear advice would be to ask a lawyer I would guess.

[ProjectMoolah]

I wouldn't consider this plagiarism at all. Of course depending of the topic of the site.

If the site you have is for example: Comeoncasinoinusa.com - I wouldn't consider this plagiarism of the ComeOn Casino website if you're an affiliate to ComeOn. However, you might want to be careful of using a brand name in your domain without consent from the actual brand. It might be considered infringement on their trademark. Tread forward carefully

[TheGooner]

If you have a domain name (including any nutty suffix or fancy subdomain in front) that combines to infringe on a licensed trademark then you open yourself up to legal problems with trademark infringement (note NOT plagiarism) .

If your site is not successful - then it will probably go unnoticed. A pointless exercise.

But if it is successful and is clearly leaching off the brand name of a successful product then you open yourself up to legal action, and the costs of that legal action. So why would you invest your time in something that you could lose if it actually works? (and lose it expensively too?)

If you can demonstrate that your website is is a totally different field, and that no reasonable person could go to your site by mistake and think it is the original trademark then the website is probably OK.

But if you are looking to leach off an internet trademark by squatting on a domain that resembles the original then it wont matter how many hyphens or dots you have in your domain name - if the owner of the trademark wants your site then they'll be entitled to get it.

Here is a wikipedia primer :
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cybersquatting

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But the rights to a trademark are quite wide-ranging and quite tough. Here are two local (and surprising) examples :
Source : https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/sma...demark-battles

1/ The owners of a local motel in New Zealand (Brenda and Henry Harrod) were ordered to stop trading as "Harrods" (their surname) after a costly 4-year battle with the famous London department store.

2/ Another local business "Harach Tailors" was also ordered to change the colours of it's green and gold sign - again by Harrods - because they said that the name was similar and the colours were what Harrods use.

So don't think that you can take a registered trademark and put in a dot or dash or something and escape a legal charge. IF you squat on a big brand and they notice they will probably win IF they notice and come after you.