We own the copyright but not the domain name

[macmacman]

We took out a copyright to a name after we couldn't get the domain name. The domain name isn't being used. Do we have any grounds to get it? Probably not?

 

[APW]

You could find out who owns it and offer to purchase the domain from them?

 

[StevensOnln1]

Do you mean a trademark? Didn't think it was possible to copyright a name.

 

[fisicx]

Do we have any grounds to get it?

Nope. Had a big US corporation try to get one of my domain names and despite all sorts of legals I was totally bombproof.

 

[David White]

Assume you are talking about Trademark and not copyright. Either way, if they owned the domain first then I'm not sure why you feel you would have any rights to it at all?

 

[macmacman]

Thanks, everyone. Sorry yes, a trademark. And yes I managed to contact them (before GDPR killed off Whois). They won’t get back to me.

I just thought that it’s best to have a business use it then it be idle for years. Guess it’s the age old problem here.

 

[Mr D]

Thanks, everyone. Sorry yes, a trademark. And yes I managed to contact them (before GDPR killed off Whois). They won’t get back to me.

I just thought that it’s best to have a business use it then it be idle for years. Guess it’s the age old problem here.

They appear not to agree with your thought.
Perhaps they are waiting for a suitable offer from you. Suitable as defined by them.

 

[macmacman]

They appear not to agree with your thought.

Yes, obvs.

Perhaps they are waiting for a suitable offer from you. Suitable as defined by them.

It's not so much that. Often people buy domains with the idea of doing something with them. Maybe starting a business idea, whatever. Everyone has their price, but often that's a high price for them to give up their dream of one day (never) doing something with that domain name.

 

[Mr D]

Yes, obvs.


It's not so much that. Often people buy domains with the idea of doing something with them. Maybe starting a business idea, whatever. Everyone has their price, but often that's a high price for them to give up their dream of one day (never) doing something with that domain name.

There are also plenty of people who buy domains with the intention of selling them on for a suitable sum.

 

[menetworkjadaltd]

There are also plenty of people who buy domains with the intention of selling them on for a suitable sum.

It's be pretty dumb if they don't get back to enquiries if they intend to sell them on though, don't you think?

 

[Mr D]

It's be pretty dumb if they don't get back to enquiries if they intend to sell them on though, don't you think?

If they noticed the email.

You had confirmation they read it?

 

[fisicx]

I know people who just use their domain name for emails.

Another uses their hosting for storage only. The domain name is just a marker.

 

[Nathanto]

We took out a copyright to a name after we couldn't get the domain name. Do we have any grounds to get it?

Absolutely none. One of the "grounds to get it" would be that they registered the domain to take unfair advantage of your name; however as they had the domain before you had the name that obviously could not possibly be the case.

The only way to get it is to buy it from them.

 

[macmacman]

It's be pretty dumb if they don't get back to enquiries if they intend to sell them on though, don't you think?

Exactly. There's not a lot of intention to sell it :-( So it's not a domain broker or a buyer/seller

 

[macmacman]

If they noticed the email.

You had confirmation they read it?

Yes, I had one reply from them. Saying "what's this all about?". I think it's an older lady who had a rubbish business idea and doesn't really get domain names and how they work. She said something about trademark. I think she thinks she owns the trademark for it now she has the domain name and I am trying to scam her somehow. Frustrating. Bit like reassuring your Mum all her emails haven't disappeared. She's just minimized the screen.

 

[macmacman]

I know people who just use their domain name for emails.

Another uses their hosting for storage only. The domain name is just a marker.

Fair dos. But come on, I bet most of them aren't used. Be interesting to know. I'd say a good 40% of domains purchased are not used for any purpose. I'm guilty of exactly that! I probably have about 100 domains I own that i don't do anything with. I would be interested in selling them, but can't be bothered. Thanks to GDPR, it's impossible to be contacted about them anyway! I guess I could put a holding page on them all. Hmmm

 

[Mr D]

Yes, I had one reply from them. Saying "what's this all about?". I think it's an older lady who had a rubbish business idea and doesn't really get domain names and how they work. She said something about trademark. I think she thinks she owns the trademark for it now she has the domain name and I am trying to scam her somehow. Frustrating. Bit like reassuring your Mum all her emails haven't disappeared. She's just minimized the screen.

That leaves you stuck then.

Use a different domain.