Q: Can I include an already trademarked name of a business in my url?
I am creating an online course about selling on Amazon and my sharing my personal experience and tips to students. I do not sell any physical products that Amazon.com sells. I am only selling a digital product that I created on my own. The digital product is to educate other people how to start selling on Amazon. Am I able to use a domain / url that is something similar to "amazononlineschool.com" or is that infringing on Amazon's IP? I already have disclaimers on site saying that the site is in no way affiliated or owned by Amazon.
Happy to add any additional details if needed. Thanks!
A:
That is the fastest way to get a complaint and maybe a proceeding that will take your domain name.
Try something else.
Consult an attorney.
A: The "AMAZON" mark is a strong mark and strongly protected. By using it in your URL you would be giving the impression that somehow Amazon is endorsing your product. It is one thing to develop a course to teach people how to sell on Amazon and quite another to appropriate the company's major mark in your URL. Disclaimers on your site will not solve the problem. Best to check with local trademark counsel so you can proceed with your project safely.
Justia Ask a Lawyer is a forum for consumers to get answers to basic legal questions. Any information sent through Justia Ask a Lawyer is not secure and is done so on a non-confidential basis only.
The use of this website to ask questions or receive answers does not create an attorney–client relationship between you and Justia, or between you and any attorney who receives your information or responds to your questions, nor is it intended to create such a relationship. Additionally, no responses on this forum constitute legal advice, which must be tailored to the specific circumstances of each case. You should not act upon information provided in Justia Ask a Lawyer without seeking professional counsel from an attorney admitted or authorized to practice in your jurisdiction. Justia assumes no responsibility to any person who relies on information contained on or received through this site and disclaims all liability in respect to such information.
Justia cannot guarantee that the information on this website (including any legal information provided by an attorney through this service) is accurate, complete, or up-to-date. While we intend to make every attempt to keep the information on this site current, the owners of and contributors to this site make no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of the information contained in or linked to from this site.