Can you register domain names of famous people?

[accelerator]

I was wondering, what are the issues involved in registering the domain names of famous people?

For example, could I have registered say, angelinajolie.com, or would I end up getting a letter from her lawyers? I was just wondering if someone famous could have a claim to their name? I suspect not.

Then comes the issue of adding content to the site. If I had been cheeky enough to register angelinajolie.com, would I have been able to put stuff about the famous actress on it?

Any info on experiences running fan sites appreciated.

Cheers all

accelerator

 

[singlefile]

I was wondering, what are the issues involved in registering the domain names of famous people?

For example, could I have registered say, angelinajolie.com, or would I end up getting a letter from her lawyers? I was just wondering if someone famous could have a claim to their name? I suspect not.

Then comes the issue of adding content to the site. If I had been cheeky enough to register angelinajolie.com, would I have been able to put stuff about the famous actress on it?

Any info on experiences running fan sites appreciated.

Cheers all

accelerator

The key to retaining the name is demonstrating good faith, such as a legitimate interest in the name. For example, let's say you reg'd 'MichaelOwen.com' and it happens to be your own name, or you may be using it for a fan site for the diminutive Welshman. In such instances, you'd have a good chance of keeping it/ avoid being sued for damages. If you go down the bad faith route, i.e. fill it with porn etc, then you will, sooner or later, hear from a legal shytehawk. By acting in bad faith, you would have given them enough rope to 'hang you' [metaphorically I hope].

 

[rob]

a fan site for the diminutive Welshman.

Just have to pull you up on a minor point, he may be welsh however is not really a proper welshman rather a traitor. Micheal 'whoops I tripped over again' Owen decided to grab his passport and hop over the border and play for England... thus he may be diminutive and have a dodgy center of gravity but he is not 100% welsh

Carry on...

 

[binns]

Dont really think their would be much wrong in registering a domain of an famous bod but someone would of gotten it bfore you very unlikly that you would get it unless your were luckly!
Good luck mate