M.J 35 Posted October 9, 2016 (edited) Hi, I'm thinking of registering and setting up another website and i've got the idea of going for a specific make/model in the name. For example www.FordFocusCarSales.co.uk As i have the Ford name in my domain would that cause any legal issues? If the site and company grew would i have a trademark issue? Edited October 9, 2016 by M.J Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Phil H 124 Posted October 10, 2016 I'd be careful and seek legal advice as I know of a dealer who was a BMW specialist who had bmw in the name and they took him to court and he lost, had to change his name and pay their legal bills. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
M.J 35 Posted October 10, 2016 Yes that's what i thought, think its better to keep it safe and avoid a manufacturers name Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mat C 77 Posted October 10, 2016 Guess I get away with it being the 'type' of car I sell SuperMiniUk Ltd www.superminiuk.com However i do sell a few mini's weirdly enough!! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Phil H 124 Posted October 10, 2016 (edited) 33 minutes ago, Mat C said: Guess I get away with it being the 'type' of car I sell SuperMiniUk Ltd www.superminiuk.com However i do sell a few mini's weirdly enough!! you probably get away with it as the word MINI has multiple meanings in the dictionary so very hard to IP protect a common word like this but BMW has no meaning in the dictionary only an abbreviation so therefor is a direct reference to a brand that they've created. I looked into something similar for one of my domain names that I own WWW.WEBUYANYCARORVAN.COM and was advised that I could use it to direct to a landing page but if I made any other reference on the site or called my business name that then they could have me for passing off so I settled for wbac.co.uk instead. Edited October 10, 2016 by Phil H Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Daylight 28 Posted October 13, 2016 I set up a vehicle servicing business which had the words service & smart in the name. Mercedes GMBH sent a letter to us to change our use as it was their copyright etc but our solicitors sent one back telling them they can't copyright a word pertaining to something clever and we never heard back. I see mini (without a capital letter) the same. Using the word Ford, for example, I think you'll get told off for unless you maintain watery road ways 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
