(blu-ray) domain names- LEGAL?

[rubberghost]

is it legal for people to use the term, "blu-ray", to sell products, including web ad. space? i have domain names using, bluray,(blu-ray). i intend to use these domain names for profit. will i be under any legal scrutiny? the domain names i have, do not have the dash. they will ultimately help sell blu-ray(adult) movies. isn't that what they want?

[Marquoz]

It could end up with violating cybersquatting and lanham act if you attempt to make it look like the BDA/Blu ray is promoting your website/products. That's about all I can think of off the top of my head, but I'm not a lawyer, so don't take it as advice, if you are truly worried, I would recommend a consultation with a lawyer.

[ay221]

I think you will be fine if you get an hddvd domain. Nobody wants those.

[Bobby Henderson]

i intend to use these domain names for profit. will i be under any legal scrutiny?

Absolutely.

The Blu-ray.com web site is primarily "editorial" in nature, with the overall purpose of promoting the Blu-ray format in general. It has some protection under rules of "fair comment," freedom of the press and freedom of speech.

If the domain is entirely commercial and it spells out a registered trademark belonging to someone else then you can get into trouble.

If you're grabbing up web domains that feature trademarks for the sole purpose of trying to sell them back to the folks who own the brand names then you're really going to be asking for it. I certainly wouldn't be trying that kind of stunt being an American citizen living in the United States.

Various corporations have no hesitation about dragging small time business people and private citizens into court when they may be interfering in that corporation's matters.

It won't matter if you think you're right either. That's not how business litigation works. They just play procedural games until the one with the smaller funded "war chest" is bled dry of money. It's very difficult and very costly to fight any legal battle with a multi-national corporation.

So, yeah, I'd strongly advise talking to an attorney about this stuff.

[w_tanoto]

i think "Blu-ray" would be fine. but if you use "Blu-ray Disc", you're in trouble.
not sure if I am right, though

[owa]

Originally Posted by w_tanoto

i think "Blu-ray" would be fine. but if you use "Blu-ray Disc", you're in trouble.
not sure if I am right, though

I don't know about that. The makeup with the similar named used an underscore (blu_ray) and the link from the website, leaves out the dash (http://www.cargocosmetics.com/bluray.html)

[jw]

I think if they werent legal, they wouldnt be sold
sound reasonable?

[phloyd]

Originally Posted by Bobby Henderson

The Blu-ray.com web site is primarily "editorial" in nature, with the overall purpose of promoting the Blu-ray format in general. It has some protection under rules of "fair comment," freedom of the press and freedom of speech.

This site sells Blu-ray Discs and has plenty of affiliate links which make money for the owners of the site.

I think that for the most part that aspect is tolerated since it is also an effective marketing tool for the format.