Domain Names & Trademarks

A domain name is not a trademark, and the interplay between Internet domain names and marks can be confusing.  This confusion routinely leads to disputes.  Registering a domain name, in itself, does not grant trademark rights.

Domain names are the part of a web address that links to the Internet protocol address of a particular website. If your website was your house, the domain name would be the address painted on the curb that enables others to find where you live.  Domain names are registered with an accredited domain name registrar, and domain names are not the same as trademarks.  A trademark identifies goods or services as being from a particular source. Using a domain name as part of a web address does not count as source-indicating trademark use.

Thus, if you register a certain domain name with a registrar, there is a possibility you will be forced to surrender the domain to another who holds trademark rights associated with the domain. To learn more, check out the USPTO's website linked here.