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mibut · 04-08-2010, 01:56:34 PM

I have a generic name, arearealestate.co.uk (area being an italian state/county name), bought and in use since 2007.
The com is owned and used since 2002 by an italian estate agent.
The italian estate agent has now (1st July) taken out an eu trademark on area real estate and wants the co.uk which I own closed down.
My first reaction is to say they haven't a leg to stand on but .......

Edwin · 04-08-2010, 02:01:50 PM

"real estate" is pretty much a worthless expression in the UK market, so not worth losing sleep over either way!

foz · 04-08-2010, 02:09:00 PM

Defendable as your registration pre-dates the complainants mark.

grantw · 04-08-2010, 02:09:20 PM

arearealestate.co.uk doesn't look to be in use to me??

Grant

foz · 04-08-2010, 02:11:36 PM

"a" part meaning the state/county. Me thinks.

grantw · 04-08-2010, 02:14:19 PM

lol, I thought 'area' was a strange name for an italian county !!!!!!

mibut · 04-08-2010, 02:29:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Edwin

"real estate" is pretty much a worthless expression in the UK market, so not worth losing sleep over either way!

Edwin, worthless to you maybe but seeing as I have made my living from so called worthless real estate names for over 9 years I think you should stick to selling names and I will stick to developing.

accelerator · 04-08-2010, 02:33:57 PM

Your domain pre-dates their trademark, so my opinion is you should be fine.

The term also seems entirely generic, so to my mind it's questionable that a trademark should ever have been granted.

Rgds

grantw · 04-08-2010, 03:13:11 PM

In theory you are on safe ground, also in theory it could be viewed that the .com owner has taken out the trademark as part of a reverse hijacking attempt on your domain.

Has the owner ever approached you before?

Grant

mibut · 04-08-2010, 03:29:55 PM

No, never been approached before re this name.

04-08-2010, 01:56:34 PM	#1 (permalink)
mibut Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 258 No Classified Ratings Domain Trader Rating: (100% / 9)	Advice required I have a generic name, arearealestate.co.uk (area being an italian state/county name), bought and in use since 2007. The com is owned and used since 2002 by an italian estate agent. The italian estate agent has now (1st July) taken out an eu trademark on area real estate and wants the co.uk which I own closed down. My first reaction is to say they haven't a leg to stand on but .......

04-08-2010, 02:01:50 PM	#2 (permalink)
Edwin Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Cambridge, UK Posts: 3,876 No Classified Ratings Domain Trader Rating: (100% / 46)	"real estate" is pretty much a worthless expression in the UK market, so not worth losing sleep over either way! __________________ Memorable Domains Ltd - Over 7,000 descriptive, generic .co.uk domains for sale Please note: All sale prices over a week old are automatically invalid. No exceptions. Thanks!

04-08-2010, 02:09:20 PM	#4 (permalink)
grantw Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 3,597 No Classified Ratings Domain Trader Rating: (100% / 56)	arearealestate.co.uk doesn't look to be in use to me?? Grant __________________ Domain Brokerage :: Bulk UK Whois :: Property Insurance

04-08-2010, 02:14:19 PM	#6 (permalink)
grantw Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 3,597 No Classified Ratings Domain Trader Rating: (100% / 56)	lol, I thought 'area' was a strange name for an italian county !!!!!! __________________ Domain Brokerage :: Bulk UK Whois :: Property Insurance

04-08-2010, 02:33:57 PM	#8 (permalink)
accelerator Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: England Posts: 4,764 No Classified Ratings Domain Trader Rating: (100% / 31)	Your domain pre-dates their trademark, so my opinion is you should be fine. The term also seems entirely generic, so to my mind it's questionable that a trademark should ever have been granted. Rgds __________________ LowPrices.co.uk \| My Twitter \| KeyphraseDomains.co.uk \| Mens Shirts \| Hotels in Bath \| Money Off Code

04-08-2010, 02:09:00 PM	#3 (permalink)
foz Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: NZ Posts: 1,450 No Classified Ratings Domain Trader Rating: (100% / 20)	Defendable as your registration pre-dates the complainants mark.

04-08-2010, 02:11:36 PM	#5 (permalink)
foz Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: NZ Posts: 1,450 No Classified Ratings Domain Trader Rating: (100% / 20)	"a" part meaning the state/county. Me thinks.

04-08-2010, 03:13:11 PM	#9 (permalink)
grantw Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 3,597 No Classified Ratings Domain Trader Rating: (100% / 56)	In theory you are on safe ground, also in theory it could be viewed that the .com owner has taken out the trademark as part of a reverse hijacking attempt on your domain. Has the owner ever approached you before? Grant __________________ Domain Brokerage :: Bulk UK Whois :: Property Insurance

04-08-2010, 03:29:55 PM	#10 (permalink)
mibut Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 258 No Classified Ratings Domain Trader Rating: (100% / 9)	No, never been approached before re this name.

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