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[michael]

hello

can i copyright a domain name www.******.com if i own it at this point in time.
what i fear is that as soon as my site takes off the big boys will come calling

if so what is the basic cost

thanx
mike

[JimIvey]

Keep in mind that copyright protects against copying.  If I type your domain in my browser's address bar, do I infringe?  That would certainly be a copying.

Domain ownership should be enough.  Domain registratars only register unique domains -- it's a necessary component of their funciton.

You may consider trademarks as well.  However, if the "big boys" have registered trademarks already for something closely related to your domain name, you may have already lost due to some anticybersquatting legislation here in the U.S.

Regards.

[M. Arthur Auslander]

Dear Michael,
Our Reality Check® would start with a trademark search, before the domain name is invested in so that you know that the essential part of the domain name can be registered as a trademark or service mark.

The a trademark use of the essential part of the domain name can be locked into a registration.

Considering that trademarks are forever, as long as they are used and watched over, they are cheap at any price. They are not expensive but the goverment filing fee starts at $335.

M. Arthur Auslander
Auslander & Thomas-Intellectual Property Law Since 1909
3008 Johnson Ave., New York, NY 10463
7185430266, aus@auslander.com
ELAINE's Workshop®
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