bad spelling domains..illegal?

[rox]

is registering domain names with typos illegal ...if its purely to generate traffic?...

[monaghan]

Probably not illegal, you should make sure the company involved hasn't already registered the typo as a trademark though. If it's a big company, then expect good lawyers

[TWD_Tony]

This is a very big grey area, to the best of my knowledge it is not illegal to register a mis-spelt domain as such BUT (and this is a big BUT)...

If the owner of the properly spelt domain can PROVE that you registered the domain simply to profit out of the mis-spelling then the chances are the domain name registry that is authoritive for that domain can (and will) strip the domain from you. This especially applies to .co.uk domains as Nominet is probably the worst of the bunch.

A good tip with these sort of things is to put content on the wesbsite and not just adsense adverts etc, at least you will have a good arguement should the worst come to the worst

[reviewer]

Right, this is a grey area. You expose yourself to legal liability. There's no conclusive decision one way or the other, but do you really want to subject yourself to trying to find out in court?

[MasterMind]

Far beyond from legal concerns, I find 100% unprofessional register such typo domains because your name (or that of your company) is associated with such domains, giving you certain aura of ignorance on writing properly rather than just trying to profit from them.

[reviewer]

I agree, it is unprofessional. I guess some people want to make a quick buck, rather than actually provide services or information that are valuable.

[aquariancore]

it's not illegal it is how spoofers trick people and make big bucks. You have to be careful and not outright mimic the site whose name you are spoofing.

[OpticEmpire]

Originally Posted by aquariancore

it's not illegal it is how spoofers trick people and make big bucks. You have to be careful and not outright mimic the site whose name you are spoofing.

Yeah i hate that all the spoofers.

you just wouldnt want to infringe trademark etc

[kelkat]

There is something in the back of my memory about a case that was on the news last year for something just like this. I would guess that it is illegal to profit off someone else's name - even a misspelling - if that is what you are doing.

[reviewer]

Spoofing in order to gather personal information and then using that information (i.e. identity theft) certainly IS illegal. For other purposes, it would probably be a civil matter.

[Christopher2k7]

I dont believe its illegal unless the properly spelt domain name owners can prove that you registered your domain name just to generate money. you wont see any jail time or fines but run the risk of having your domain name taken from you.

[bob]

I dont't think it's illegal to register a bad spelling domains unless you have intention to copy some domain name that has trademark.

[aquariancore]

Originally Posted by rox

is registering domain names with typos illegal ...if its purely to generate traffic?...

It's not illegal but you can be taken to court by a major corporation. Win or lose you can't afford the cost.

[Gigi]

That is a very good question and I had thought about that before, but never thought to ask it! Things like if you try to go to the weather channel site or cnn and misspell it, and end up in some awful place. LOL It is bad taste, but someone out there is definitly thinking!

[ACCER]

Like the whitehouse site.....you need to be a be careful. Afterall, you don't want to generate more in legal fees than your site takes in!