Legal Ramifications: Can Someone Use Your Name for Their Domain?

Contributed by Carpesomediem

Wait! Someone is using my first name for their domain!

Jesse Jacobs wanted to register jessejacobs.com for their domain name. Of course, she figured, her first and last name was hers alone - even if others shared it - and why shouldn't she be allowed to use it on the internet for her graduate school art portfolio? In today's day and age, she realized the importance of showcasing her work to a large audience, and what better place than the internet?

However, when Jesse went to register her domain name she ran into a snafu! Somebody already registered that domain name, along with all the other extensions, and now she was in a pickle. Whatever was she to do? She really wanted that name to showcase her work! Any other name just would not do.

Can they do that? Can someone use my name for their domain?

Jesse found out that it's pretty much a first come, first serve basis when it comes to domain names. You can pick and choose whatever you want so long as you aren't stealing, fishing or otherwise illegally using a name. Even your first and last name, heck if they want to use your entire full name, they can do that so long as they pay for it first.

Most common first and last names are already taken and will be taken for the existence of the internet. Domain names are hard to come by, because most have already been reserved even if not in use. Sometimes people will reserve their names and never use them just to make sure that nobody tarnishes their image. Many celebrities will buy out not only their name but many variations of their name to ensure it is properly maintained and used, some even buy the misspellings of their names in a domain to ensure that those aren't taken as well.

More »