: Using "excel" word in the domain name I intend to offer some Microsoft Excel tools from a site whose name I'd like to be something like www.exceltools.com, I'm worried whether it will impinge

@Kaufman445

“We are not lawyers, we do not know the details of your situation and the law of the country you live in. Hire a lawyer.”


Not to so sound unfriendly but as stated above I recommend you to contact a lawyer for any legal advice you might need. Any answer right or wrong to your question can not be considered valid legal advice, and should not be used as a base for legal issues.

Vote Up Vote Down

@Nimeshi995

The BEST bet is to contact them first, before you have chosen a name and ASK to LICENSE the name. They may very well support your goals and grant permission for free, or contingent upon sales - what you decide together is up to you. They have people on staff whose job it is to talk to people like you.

Vote Up Vote Down

@Radia820

Excel is a Trademark but it is also a dictionary word what does this mean?

Excel is a registered trademark, now its worth noting that excel is a dictionary word which means that a domain with excel in it does not necessary mean it is infringing on the trademark.

Let me explain, If you use the excel trademark in a domain in the objective to cover Microsoft Products then you are infringing on the trademark, if you objective is to make a brand say for a clothing or a ice cream then again you are infringing on the trademark as its a branding.

Now you would not be infringing on the trademark if you used something to describe an action, since its a dictionary word therefor its impossible to legally own the rights for people not using dictionary words for purposes not describing products, branding or a company figure..

For example:

excel-if-life.com


Would not infringe on Microsoft's trademark unless the site was on topic of their products, if it was about life style changes and how to excel in life then your using a dictionary word to describe a non product, therefor no infringement is made.

But I see many sites using the trademark in their domain

This isn't a valid agruement in law, Microsoft own the right to claim against who they like... Just because you see others doing it, doesn't mean you should follow suit, they have infringement claims made against them, they may receive one in time, they may never but if you want to stay on the right side of the law, and retain your rankings then you should never use a infringed domain.

Make a sitename and use the URLS's for targeting products/trademarks

Rather than pointlessly stuffing a keyword in the domain you should opt to use the word excel in created URLS, this will have an better effect... Since Google no longer rewards for domains with keywords in the domain, in fact Google wants people to use branding rather than keyword stuffing.

Come up with a good branding name and build your website into a reputable site to visit, not one that will need require renaming at any time.

Vote Up Vote Down

@Lee4591628

Here's a list of Microsoft (R) Trademarks. Excel (R) is one of them. I wouldn't use it if I was you.

Moreover, do you really want to sell products which are tight to a single platform? What if companies wanted to buy your tools for Open Office?

I would look for other alternatives. Possibly a domain about productivity tools, or one that targets a specific industry.

Vote Up Vote Down

@Eichhorn148

You mean like excelhero.com?

There are hundreds and quite frankly MS will not take action against you. In fact if you do write some good material and offer quality tools, they might even make you an MVP!

Vote Up Vote Down