Question for Internet Experts

[ocean]

I have a question for all you internet experts. Is is possible to copyright or trademark the username "ocean" so that nobody else can use it on any site.

The reason that I am asking this is that I am considering starting an online buisness and it would probably be called ocean.com or something of the sort. I know I can't keep people from using the word "ocean" (that would be impossible!) but is it possible to trademark it so that nobody else can use it for a username or as the name of a website or e-business?



-ocean

 

[Unimatrix]

Edit

 

[JeffreyLloyd]

I have a question for all you internet experts. Is is possible to copyright or trademark the username "ocean" so that nobody else can use it on any site.

No. Not in ANY way.

The reason that I am asking this is that I am considering starting an online buisness and it would probably be called ocean.com or something of the sort. I know I can't keep people from using the word "ocean" (that would be impossible!) but is it possible to trademark it so that nobody else can use it for a username or as the name of a website or e-business?

-ocean

Go to yahoo.com and type in trademark information and look for it there/

 

[pinPoint]

you can register the ocean.com domain and have it reserved but as far as the word ocean... nope. you cant stop anyone from using it in the net.

pin

 

[jko]

No way you can stop someone from using your name on another ocean. I could setup a new user account on my forums as ocean if I wanted to.

Plus, ocean.com is taken...

 

[SirKenin]

When trademarking, you have to bear in mind "Is it unique, or is it generic?" Unfortunately, ocean is generic, broad and sweeping in scope. You couldn't even trademark your own personal name, although you might get away with "Ocean Ltd" or "Ocean Inc." or something like that if someone hasn't already.

It has to be unique to you, then go ahead and clearly mark a service mark on your website. Indicate you're claiming rights in a terms of service or legal page. Most importantly, you have to be able to defend it. For some reason I'm finding myself questioning whether you have the resources at your disposal to take on anyone who threatens to take your intellectual property. If you don't, you could theoretically claim a trademark or servicemark on anything you want, but it won't do you any good.

Then, last but not least, in your defense could you stop someone from using it? You would have to sue them. Could you sufficiently prove you had it first and could you prove trademark dilution or loss of income because customers were being deceived into going elsewhere?

There's a lot more to it than stamping a TM on something. Best thing you could do for yourself is what I did. Incorporate your entity so that it's registered. At least it will stop someone else from doing the same, as the process typically includes a business registration search.

Of course this isn't an exhaustive approach to the problem. There's more to it than that, and I'm not a lawyer, but that will give you a rough idea of just some of the problems you need to consider.

 

[johnnymapson]

I have a question for all you internet experts. Is is possible to copyright or trademark the username "ocean" so that nobody else can use it on any site.

The reason that I am asking this is that I am considering starting an online buisness and it would probably be called ocean.com or something of the sort. I know I can't keep people from using the word "ocean" (that would be impossible!) but is it possible to trademark it so that nobody else can use it for a username or as the name of a website or e-business?



-ocean

I think the whole point is moot unless you are going to buy the current ocean.com.

 

[A c E]

I have a question for all you internet experts. Is is possible to copyright or trademark the username "ocean" so that nobody else can use it on any site.

The reason that I am asking this is that I am considering starting an online buisness and it would probably be called ocean.com or something of the sort. I know I can't keep people from using the word "ocean" (that would be impossible!) but is it possible to trademark it so that nobody else can use it for a username or as the name of a website or e-business?



-ocean

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH