Trademark check
Before you acquire or use a domain, you must check trademark and name rights. This page is a general risk notice, not legal advice – if in doubt, the question belongs with a qualified lawyer.
What you need to look out for
- Identical trademark terms: If the domain literally contains a registered trademark, the risk is highest.
- Similar trademarks: Terms similar in sound or appearance can also create a risk of confusion.
- Business identifiers and company names: Protection can arise merely through use in business dealings – not only through registration.
- Personal names: The name rights of real people can conflict with domain use.
- Typo domains: Misspellings of well-known trademarks are a classic cease-and-desist risk (typosquatting).
- Well-known products: Product names are often protected as trademarks – even combined with generic additions.
- Regional names: Place and region names are often free to use; combinations with protected terms are not.
- Industry overlap: Trademark protection applies to specific classes of goods and services. The same industry significantly increases the conflict risk.
- Context of use: What matters is not just the name, but what you actually use the domain for.
Where to research
- USPTO – United States Patent and Trademark Office (US trademarks)
- EUIPO – European Union Intellectual Property Office (EU trademarks)
- WIPO – World Intellectual Property Organization (international registrations)
Also check a simple web search: this is the only way to find terms that are used but not registered.
No automated clearance
Neither a register hit nor an empty search result is legal clearance. Only qualified legal advice provides a reliable assessment – especially regarding similarity and industry proximity.
Back to the check process: Local domain check · ReCatch checklist