Bought domains for huge event - advertising?

2rkehij30qtza5

i bought a number of domains (.com, .org, .biz, .info) for a major event that is taking place in a couple of years time in the USA.

I'd rather not say exactly what for as yet until I am up and running with the whole thing. Basically, the event organisers have their official Twitter as @nameofevent2018. The main official website is just www.nameofevent.com but with no year.

So I mimicked the Twitter and registered the domains as nameofevent2018.com, .org, .biz, .info. Paid €80 in total and registered for 3 years so I will be the registered owner right up until and shortly after the event takes place.

I expect a lot of traffic on these domains (millions will attend this event in the States (only occurs once a decade on average and each time attracts approx 4-5 million visitors, myself included!)). I am sure people who are on the event's Twitter will possibly copy the Twitter name into Google and my sites will pop up. I haven't even created the sites as yet...another day's work.

I am hoping to blog and then later use the sites in order to make money from advertising...eg. Hotels, bars, retail etc. I am just not sure the best way to do this. Do I create my site (I have created sites before with no difficulty) and basically just put am 'advertise here' banner on it..or would it be better to approach Google or how would that work? I can see a really good business model here...I am just a little unsure of how to proceed. Are there any companies that anyone can recommend who deal with this kind of thing?

Many thanks

jimmii

I'm sure there are companies that specialise in that (theres a company that specialise in everything these days right) but if you're dealing with a company that deals in cybersquatting they probably aren't the most reputable so I would tread carefully if you do go down that route.

2rkehij30qtza5

jimmii wrote: »

I'm sure there are companies that specialise in that (theres a company that specialise in everything these days right) but if you're dealing with a company that deals in cybersquatting they probably aren't the most reputable so I would tread carefully if you do go down that route.

Oh no, absolutely no intention of cyber squatting whatsoever and would run a mile from any company purporting to offer such services.

jimmii

Joel Deafening Bin wrote: »

Oh no, absolutely no intention of cyber squatting whatsoever and would run a mile from any company purporting to offer such services.

Maybe i am reading it wrong but what you described in your op is cybersquatting. You have registered domains almost identical to the official domain (that is presumably a trademark) and plan on profiting from that is that right?

2rkehij30qtza5

jimmii wrote: »

Maybe i am reading it wrong but what you described in your op is cybersquatting. You have registered domains almost identical to the official domain (that is presumably a trademark) and plan on profiting from that is that right?

Nope..I wouldn't be cyber squatting. The official domain is not trademarked. I'd be setting up my website to basically advertise my own products which would be directly related to the event but I'd be hoping to get other advertisers on board...could all be linked to the original event. But yep, I'd hope to make money from it.

_Brian

Joel Deafening Bin wrote: »

Nope..I wouldn't be cyber squatting. The official domain is not trademarked. I'd be setting up my website to basically advertise my own products which would be directly related to the event but I'd be hoping to get other advertisers on board...could all be linked to the original event. But yep, I'd hope to make money from it.

cyber squatters aim to make money too, they're not just being big meanies..

I suppose you're doing a sort of cyber squatting, or similar..
You're coming close to cloning their url and hoping to make a buck out of that by attracting punters to your site rather than to the official site..

Personally when looking for stuff I avoid these "near clone" url sites as they are usually just some sort of cheap con..

2rkehij30qtza5

_Brian wrote: »

cyber squatters aim to make money too, they're not just being big meanies..

I suppose you're doing a sort of cyber squatting, or similar..
You're coming close to cloning their url and hoping to make a buck out of that by attracting punters to your site rather than to the official site..

Personally when looking for stuff I avoid these "near clone" url sites as they are usually just some sort of cheap con..

Well I really don't want people to think I am the real site. I would go so far as to say in my very first statement on the site that I am not affiliated with the official site. Basically the event is concentrated on one particular area.

The event name is actually copyrighted I have since discovered but eventname2018 is not copyrighted. They have only copyrighted the event name for pamphlets relating solely to the event, which to me is strange.

I am hoping to set up my site so that it will inform people of other things not directly related to the event but that they could do when not attending the event, if that makes sense? I know there is money to be made in this area as others will want to advertise too. I know that millions of people will converge in the one area for the event but during times when they are 'away' from the centre of the event, they could do other things non-event related like dine out, shop etc. I would be very clear that it's nothing to do with the event. Plus I have some of my own things I would advertise but while they have nothing to do with the event, they are my own arts and crafts things and would have a theme related to the event, if you know what I mean...but without logos or anything like that. For example, if the event is say a soccer tournament (it's not but just for argument's sake) then my merchandise would be paintings of soccer teams or stadiums etc...just as an example. No names, no affiliation.

This is hardly cybersquatting is it? I would even include a link back to the official site to make it even more clear that I am not affiliated with the official site. I just want to advertise off-event locations.

I presume I could blog about my own personal experiences of the event (previous experiences and lead-ups to the 2018 event) and then get paid to mention off-site venues like restaurants, hotels, etc.

It's not that I am trying to attract people away from the real site...I'm not. I would actually tell people to check out the real site. I just expect that a phenomenal amount of people are going to type www.realsite2018.com rather than www.realsite.com

jimmii

Joel Deafening Bin wrote: »

Nope..I wouldn't be cyber squatting. The official domain is not trademarked. I'd be setting up my website to basically advertise my own products which would be directly related to the event but I'd be hoping to get other advertisers on board...could all be linked to the original event. But yep, I'd hope to make money from it.

If you ran an event called Joel Deafening Bin that you had worked hard to create and it became a big enough success that millions went and enjoyed it and were using galwaygirlee.com to promote it and someone registered galwaygirlee2015.com and was selling related products off the back of your years of hard work how would you feel?

The definition of Cybersquatting is registering, selling or using a domain name with the intent of profiting from the goodwill of someone else's trademark so the only difference here is that this massive event for some reason has decided not to register their name as a trademark which seems strange given how big an event it appears to be.

Whatever way you look at it you have made a deliberate attempt to fool people into thinking your domain may be the official domain by registering URLs that mirror the official social media accounts.

2rkehij30qtza5

jimmii wrote: »

If you ran an event called Galwaygirlee that you had worked hard to create and it became a big enough success that millions went and enjoyed it and were using galwaygirlee.com to promote it and someone registered galwaygirlee2015.com and was selling related products off the back of your years of hard work how would you feel?

The definition of Cybersquatting is registering, selling or using a domain name with the intent of profiting from the goodwill of someone else's trademark so the only difference here is that this massive event for some reason has decided not to register their name as a trademark which seems strange given how big an event it appears to be.

Whatever way you look at it you have made a deliberate attempt to fool people into thinking your domain may be the official domain by registering URLs that mirror the official social media accounts.

Not true. See my last post.
The domain would get a huge amount of traffic anyway. I would not try to get people to think that it's the official site. It wouldn't even deal with the main event itself, rather the 'things to do outside of the main event' side of things. Aren't most websites set-up with an intention to make money?

Deub

Joel Deafening Bin wrote: »

Not true. See my last post.
The domain would get a huge amount of traffic anyway. I would not try to get people to think that it's the official site. It wouldn't even deal with the main event itself, rather the 'things to do outside of the main event' side of things. Aren't most websites set-up with an intention to make money?

But you will have people coming to your website thinking they are on the event website as the name is so close. They may see then they are not on the right website. You will divert some of their traffic to your website due to the name you have taken.

jimmii

Joel Deafening Bin wrote: »

Not true. See my last post.
The domain would get a huge amount of traffic anyway. I would not try to get people to think that it's the official site. It wouldn't even deal with the main event itself, rather the 'things to do outside of the main event' side of things. Aren't most websites set-up with an intention to make money?

Well you obviously see it differently and aren't going to change your mind so good luck with it! Would love to find out what event it was as I have no idea! In terms of advertising it's going to depend on how much time you are willing to put in you could approach hotels, airlines etc to sell banners too or you could just put all the info up there and then use Google for the advertising which would obviously be a lot easier.

smash

The way I see it, you're portraying the image that you're affiliated of some way or another. It's like someone registering http://websumm.it

?Cee?view

I think you need to be very careful. You seem to be under the impression that if the exact name that you are using is not copyrighted, you are in the clear. This is not the case.

Read up on "passing off" which essentially protects unregistered rights.

Then read this which shows that passing off has been codified as a federal statute.

http://www.tabberone.com/Trademarks/TrademarkLaw/UnfairCompetition/UnfairCompetition.shtml

"The requirements for a passing off claim for federal unfair competition are: (1) an association of origin by the consumer between the mark and the first user, and (2) a likelihood of consumer confusion when the mark is applied to the second user's good."

There's a distinct risk that if you come to their attention you'll at least get a relatively aggressive cease and desist letter. Whether they'll then pursue that ... who knows.

c2590

I'm guessing you did this for the Ryder Cup in 2018.

c2590

I think this is cyber squatting also.

smash

c2590 wrote: »

I'm guessing you did this for the Ryder Cup in 2018.

A quick Whois search says no.

2rkehij30qtza5

?Cee?view wrote: »

I think you need to be very careful. You seem to be under the impression that if the exact name that you are using is not copyrighted, you are in the clear. This is not the case.

Read up on "passing off" which essentially protects unregistered rights.

Then read this which shows that passing off has been codified as a federal statute.

http://www.tabberone.com/Trademarks/TrademarkLaw/UnfairCompetition/UnfairCompetition.shtml

"The requirements for a passing off claim for federal unfair competition are: (1) an association of origin by the consumer between the mark and the first user, and (2) a likelihood of consumer confusion when the mark is applied to the second user's good."

There's a distinct risk that if you come to their attention you'll at least get a relatively aggressive cease and desist letter. Whether they'll then pursue that ... who knows.

I am not trying to step on anyone's toes. If they wanted the domain then why didn't they register it? They are a massive organization.
As it's registered in Ireland then I wouldn't come under their Federal jurisdiction?

As I said before, I will ensure all visitors know it's not the official site from the get-go. The domain would get a lot of traffic anyway, due to their Twitter handle being the same as the domain name.

I plan to blog about the event anyway...I was going to do blog using weebly initially without my own domain name but then when I searched and saw it was available, I thought that I would use the .com name and then forward all other domains - .net, .info., .org etc. to the .com name...use that as my blog. I'm always reading websites such as pippa.com and she has links to advertisements and promotes products etc...so I thought my blog could be something similar.

The event is something that I am passionate about and know a lot about. I see a market for advertising pubs, clubs, restaurants and hotels which are not affiliated with the event but that event attendees will want to patron. So if I do a blog and then get paid to mention places (which are not to do with the event itself) then how is that infringing? Nobody else seems to want the domain name, so why not me?

jimmii

c2590 wrote: »

I'm guessing you did this for the Ryder Cup in 2018.

Says it happens once every ten years or so guessing its something a little more obscure than that.

?Cee?view

Joel Deafening Bin wrote: »

. So if I do a blog and then get paid to mention places (which are not to do with the event itself) then how is that infringing?

That's a blog which mentions places. You're paid by those places or people representing them. You're not attracting readers by respresenting to be those places.

Joel Deafening Bin wrote: »

Nobody else seems to want the domain name, so why not me?

It's one thing getting it. It's an entirely different thing using it.

"...(2) a likelihood of consumer confusion when the mark is applied to the second user's good."

For example, it's possible that c0cac0la.com isn't registered. Maybe it is, maybe it isn't. If it isn't and I use it, I'm still open to attack by Coca Cola.

You're right; it will be more difficult for this entity with the jurisdictional challenge, but, are you selling to the US, expecting payment from the US, hosting in the US, expecting to travel to the US etc. etc. etc?

Look, you've your mind made up clearly. But just at least take people's advice here and accept that there is a risk. You keep saying that you are not aiming to cause confusion and that you will make it clear that you're not affiliated etc. The objective view though would be that at that stage it'll be too late. You will have already attracted people to your site by confusing them as to it's ownership.

Good luck.

jimmii

Joel Deafening Bin wrote: »

I am not trying to step on anyone's toes. If they wanted the domain then why didn't they register it? They are a massive organization.
As it's registered in Ireland then I wouldn't come under their Federal jurisdiction?

As I said before, I will ensure all visitors know it's not the official site from the get-go. The domain would get a lot of traffic anyway, due to their Twitter handle being the same as the domain name.

I plan to blog about the event anyway...I was going to do blog using weebly initially without my own domain name but then when I searched and saw it was available, I thought that I would use the .com name and then forward all other domains - .net, .info., .org etc. to the .com name...use that as my blog. I'm always reading websites such as pippa.com and she has links to advertisements and promotes products etc...so I thought my blog could be something similar.

The event is something that I am passionate about and know a lot about. I see a market for advertising pubs, clubs, restaurants and hotels which are not affiliated with the event but that event attendees will want to patron. So if I do a blog and then get paid to mention places (which are not to do with the event itself) then how is that infringing? Nobody else seems to want the domain name, so why not me?

You think they should register every possible variant of the event as a domain? That is ridiculous it would literally be millions of domains no one is going to waste the time doing that.

If you create a blog type site with helpful information for people travelling to the area and then have a few adverts for local places to stay and eat that isn't so bad but selling "related" products is definitely a shady area to be getting into. The difference with pippa.com (I assume you mean .ie) is that she is trading off her own name and suggesting products she likes. If she is promoting a brand she is doing it from her site not from brand2015.ie which people might rightly think is an official brand owned website.

2rkehij30qtza5

?Cee?view wrote: »

That's a blog which mentions places. You're paid by those places or people representing them. You're not attracting readers by respresenting to be those places.




It's one thing getting it. It's an entirely different thing using it.

"...(2) a likelihood of consumer confusion when the mark is applied to the second user's good."

For example, it's possible that c0cac0la.com isn't registered. Maybe it is, maybe it isn't. If it isn't and I use it, I'm still open to attack by Coca Cola.

You're right; it will be more difficult for this entity with the jurisdictional challenge, but, are you selling to the US, expecting payment from the US, hosting in the US, expecting to travel to the US etc. etc. etc?

Look, you've your mind made up clearly. But just at least take people's advice here and accept that there is a risk. You keep saying that you are not aiming to cause confusion and that you will make it clear that you're not affiliated etc. The objective view though would be that at that stage it'll be too late. You will have already attracted people to your site by confusing them as to it's ownership.

Good luck.

Thanks for the advice and to everyone else too. I guess I will just do my blog, as planned...(which was planned anyway without any financial gain envisaged)...and then maybe contact some companies to do a type of 'product placement' advert....I mention their place or whatever it is and they pay me a fee. I guess they would be US based 'customers' who'd be paying me. I'd have to figure that element of it out yet. But I am going to blog anyway as that was always intended. I'll see what comes of it. If I don't make any money then it doesn't matter as making money from something I'd planned to do anyway was just a bonus (but it would be nice and I'm badly stuck for it!). Thanks for all the advice.

smash

Nobody will pay you until you have the traffic and followers first though.

?Cee?view

Joel Deafening Bin wrote: »

Thanks for the advice and to everyone else too. I guess I will just do my blog, as planned...(which was planned anyway without any financial gain envisaged)...and then maybe contact some companies to do a type of 'product placement' advert....I mention their place or whatever it is and they pay me a fee. I guess they would be US based 'customers' who'd be paying me. I'd have to figure that element of it out yet. But I am going to blog anyway as that was always intended. I'll see what comes of it. If I don't make any money then it doesn't matter as making money from something I'd planned to do anyway was just a bonus (but it would be nice and I'm badly stuck for it!). Thanks for all the advice.

Don't be discouraged. It's just important to be aware of the risks.

2rkehij30qtza5

Thanks all. I will just do my blog for the moment... I guess as long as my home page reads something along the lines of 'This site is not affiliated in any way with www.actualname.com, which is the official website of actual event. Please check it out for details on actual event. This website is a blog which will discuss events taking place which have no affiliation with actual event.'...hopefully that should cut it.

(By the way, when I talk of events in the latter part of my statement above, I mean free events and going to pubs, clubs etc. I used to live in the States so I know my way around the place there very well. I'll reword it to reflect that so there's no confusion. For the moment there'll be no financial gain associated)

jimmii

Joel Deafening Bin wrote: »

Thanks all. I will just do my blog for the moment... I guess as long as my home page reads something along the lines of 'This site is not affiliated in any way with www.actualname.com, which is the official website of actual event. Please check it out for details on actual event. This website is a blog which will discuss events taking place which have no affiliation with actual event.'...hopefully that should cut it.

(By the way, when I talk of events in the latter part of my statement above, I mean free events and going to pubs, clubs etc. I used to live in the States so I know my way around the place there very well. I'll reword it to reflect that so there's no confusion. For the moment there'll be no financial gain associated)

I think your intentions are clearly genuine and putting that disclaimer up should certainly help people realise its not the official site. I hope you come back and share what the event is in the future I think its fair to say we're all pretty curious about it! Given you've been there before using the blog as a tool for first timers to get the most out of it that would certainly be a useful resource. Good luck with the site.

2rkehij30qtza5

jimmii wrote: »

I think your intentions are clearly genuine and putting that disclaimer up should certainly help people realise its not the official site. I hope you come back and share what the event is in the future I think its fair to say we're all pretty curious about it! Given you've been there before using the blog as a tool for first timers to get the most out of it that would certainly be a useful resource. Good luck with the site.

Thanks. Yep, intentions are definitely genuine. I have literally been saving €50 every month for the last 6 years so that I can return to the event! I will update this thread...only fair given the great advice that I have got here. I hope my blog will be of use to people attending the event (I think it will) and I know I am going to really enjoy doing it...makes the build-up to the event even more exciting for me. If I can get some revenue from it too then all the better but I'll just focus on the job in hand (my blog) for the present as I really am not out to step on anyone's toes with my idea. Thanks again to everyone who posted.

smash

Curiosity is killing me here

Maybe register EVENTNAMEblog.com and redirect your url's to it? Or even pre-order EVENTNAME.blog and come at it from the angle of a personal blog based around your experience of the event.

2rkehij30qtza5

smash wrote: »

Curiosity is killing me here

Sorry, I'd love to spill but I'd like to get it up and running first. I'll come back and update at a later date. I'm sure you will be hearing about the event in the media closer to 2018 anyway!!!

2rkehij30qtza5

smash wrote: »

Curiosity is killing me here

Maybe register EVENTNAMEblog.com and redirect your url's to it?

Just did this. Thank you.

devildriver

Joel Deafening Bin wrote: »

Not true. See my last post.
The domain would get a huge amount of traffic anyway. I would not try to get people to think that it's the official site. It wouldn't even deal with the main event itself, rather the 'things to do outside of the main event' side of things. Aren't most websites set-up with an intention to make money?

It's not clear exactly what you are trying to do here. It sounds very much like cyber-squatting of one sort or another where you are cashing in on the popularity of the event and using a slightly misleading domain name which some people could think is an official site for the event. If this is the case legitimate advertisers won't have anything to do with it. You may be able to attract lower grade advertisers which will make the site look even more spammy.

On the other hand if you are going to create a site that adds value and is useful to visitors to the event such as providing information on accommodation and local amenities while making it ABSOLUTELY clear that your site is not affiliated with the real site - then maybe, just maybe you can make a few quid.

However that will require some serious investment of time to create quality content and you still run the risk of PASSING OFF.

Proceed with great caution.

Kimbot

I heard a story on the radio yesterday about Go Daddy getting sued for use of certain web domains etc by some academy awards or something and the judge ruled in the favour of go daddy. Have a read and see if its the type of scenario you are talking about here.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/09/11/us-godaddy-oscars-lawsuit-idUSKCN0RB1UJ20150911