Sportslaw Jargon: Internet Domain Names

An Internet Domain Name identifies a person or company and their electronic location, it is similar to a home address or telephone number because it allows a visitor to identify the owner of the location.

An Internet Domain Name used on the World Wide Web or in an e-mail address is usually made up of words that identify or relate with the person or company. Therefore it is wise for a business to use its trademarks especially if the trademark is well known to the public. The reason for this it would be much easier to access a companys' Web Page if it uses its trademark name in its Internet Domain Name because potential customer use the trademark name to identify the company when conducting searches for the company on the Web.

There can only be one registered owner of a domain name and usually the first owner of the domain name will be the first person or company to register the domain name. In the world of sports this concept of first to register has created a certain amount of problems because people and companies have used trademarks from sports leagues and sports teams to popularize their own private Web Page. Therefore trademark infringement from people or companies using the trademark names of sports leagues or teams are a definite problem that has to be address. [click here]

In addition to traditional trademark laws, anti-dilution and anti-cybersquatting laws have been enacted in a number of countries, making it possible for sports leagues, teams and their licensees to rotect their own trademarks.