The speediest method to display a useful web site upon browsing, is the launch of a homepage every time your browser starts.
I’m a news junkie so my choice is usually CNN or MSNBC – other times I switch over to TechCrunch.
As a domainer though, there is one page that you need to bring up most often, particularly when you buy domains – or even when you sell.
The United States Patent and Trademark Office page at USPTO.gov
Very few domainers seem to query the USPTO database, prior to buying domains from various sources. While forums might offer a low acquisition cost that’d help minimize the potential risk, buying domains at “free for all” auction platforms such as NameJet might not be as forgiving.
It seems that dropping domains offer a variety of ways for bidders to become entrapped in the “heat of the moment” and bid increasingly higher amounts of money on domains that match – or are confusingly similar – to registered or pending trademarks.
Therefore, it is prudent to research these domains prior to bidding; all you have to do is hit “Home” on your web browser and spend a couple of minutes identifying any potential risks.
Thanks but I’ll stick with Techcrunch. There’s not one story about FourSquare on that patent site
Gosh, Shane…foursquare, Mafia wars and farmville. Domainers have a tough choice these days 😀
I find it disappointing at times the attitude of the drop services toward the auctioning of trademarked names. I saw a Jacuzzi name at Namejet recently and had no idea it was a trademark. Fortunately before the auction was set to end I checked just to be sure and was surprised to see it was a trademarked name. However, the winner may end up with a surprise some time down the road. And of course Namejet will not reimburse the winner.
Very important to check – but remember its a long bow to draw saying a domain name used for something completely different to the registered trademark is infringement.