I have a domain with "Playboy" in it that I will be developing...copyright issues? - GoFuckYourself.com

MetaformX · 06-05-2004, 10:23 PM

I am in discussion with someone to develop the domain to feature Former playboy models...The domain is something along the lines of FormerPlayboys.com (thats not the domain, but it'll give you a idea). The domain has the word "Playboy" in it

What are my liabilities here? I know Playboy is pretty strict with copyright issues, I don't want to step on their toes.

brizzad · 06-05-2004, 10:25 PM

TRY FORMERPLAYMATES.US

AMADude · 06-05-2004, 10:25 PM

Very good question. I had a buddy that used the word Playmate and he got a cease and decist (spelling?) letter.
I think you would have issues.

Jace · 06-05-2004, 10:25 PM

if it is about playboys, meaning men, your pretty safe

let's put it this way...if your making a sirte that is dedicated to pretty girls and playing off the playboy title and people could IN AANY WAY think that you were associated with playboy, inc...theyt will sue you

basically, no girls your fine...but if you have girls and use the word playboy, they will get ya

bawdy · 06-05-2004, 10:26 PM

ask lensman

Jace · 06-05-2004, 10:26 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by brizzad
TRY FORMERPLAYMATES.US

unless your talking about kids being playmates, your fucked

playmate is a trademarked term by playboy, inc.

MetaformX · 06-05-2004, 10:26 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by brizzad
TRY FORMERPLAYMATES.US

Wel, i already own the playboy domain, its much better than the one you listed...My concern is copyright issues.

MetaformX · 06-05-2004, 10:27 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by JaceXXX
if it is about playboys, meaning men, your pretty safe

let's put it this way...if your making a sirte that is dedicated to pretty girls and playing off the playboy title and people could IN AANY WAY think that you were associated with playboy, inc...theyt will sue you

basically, no girls your fine...but if you have girls and use the word playboy, they will get ya

Well, it will be a site dedicated to girls who were in Playboy. The domain has the word "Playboy" in it as well. Not a good idea?

C_U_Next_Tuesday · 06-05-2004, 10:28 PM

I would definitly check on that one. I wanted to do something as an offshoot with the betty crocker name and checked out the lawsuits General Mills won for people using parodies of the name for financial gain.

Downtime · 06-05-2004, 10:28 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by JaceXXX
if it is about playboys, meaning men, your pretty safe

let's put it this way...if your making a sirte that is dedicated to pretty girls and playing off the playboy title and people could IN AANY WAY think that you were associated with playboy, inc...theyt will sue you

basically, no girls your fine...but if you have girls and use the word playboy, they will get ya

Perfectly said. I had a site, "collegehotornot.com", and was sued by "hotornot.com"; because of "similar services", not just the name.

brizzad · 06-05-2004, 10:29 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by MetaformX
Wel, i already own the playboy domain, its much better than the one you listed...My concern is copyright issues.

wtf dude, .us domains are tight!

Jace · 06-05-2004, 10:30 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by MetaformX
Well, it will be a site dedicated to girls who were in Playboy. The domain has the word "Playboy" in it as well. Not a good idea?

will you be using it to promote playboy, inc? if so, your prolly cool.....but if your going to make money of playboy models and they aren't getting cash from it, your REALLY fucked

Mutt · 06-05-2004, 10:31 PM

the domain is worthless to you - Playboy is the most vigilant of any publishing company in protecting their trademark. you don't have a leg to stand on with a domain featuring ex-Playmates with the name Playboy in it.

escorpio · 06-05-2004, 10:36 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Mutt
the domain is worthless to you - Playboy is the most vigilant of any publishing company in protecting their trademark. you don't have a leg to stand on with a domain featuring ex-Playmates with the name Playboy in it.

Wisdom.

SlickRick · 06-05-2004, 10:39 PM

I read something about this a few months back. Playboy was going after many webmasters that had a site with "Playboy" in it.

AMADude · 06-05-2004, 10:40 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Mutt
the domain is worthless to you - Playboy is the most vigilant of any publishing company in protecting their trademark. you don't have a leg to stand on with a domain featuring ex-Playmates with the name Playboy in it.

Very well put and correct.
They don't fuck around.

MetaformX · 06-05-2004, 10:57 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Mutt
the domain is worthless to you - Playboy is the most vigilant of any publishing company in protecting their trademark. you don't have a leg to stand on with a domain featuring ex-Playmates with the name Playboy in it.

I trust your opinion Mutt when it comes to copyright and content issues, so I am gonna abandon the project. It was just in the brainstorming stages anyways, so I won't lose much except a domain.

HAPPYPEEKERS · 06-05-2004, 11:00 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by AMADude
Very good question. I had a buddy that used the word Playmate and he got a cease and decist (spelling?) letter.
I think you would have issues.

I AGREE

Mutt · 06-05-2004, 11:09 PM

i'm not the final word on anything but Playboy is always on the prowl. MikeFold who owns Centerfolds.com got into a long long legal battle with Playboy where they were suing a Playmate of the Year just for putting that on her website. She wasn't doing anything but publishing a fact and they went hard after her. They finally won in court but not many people want to have to go throught that and spend all that money.

MetaformX · 06-05-2004, 11:18 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Mutt
i'm not the final word on anything but Playboy is always on the prowl. MikeFold who owns Centerfolds.com got into a long long legal battle with Playboy where they were suing a Playmate of the Year just for putting that on her website. She wasn't doing anything but publishing a fact and they went hard after her. They finally won in court but not many people want to have to go throught that and spend all that money.

Yeah, I would rather avoid a legal battle. I had heard of a few situations where Playboy has gone hard after people, so I figured this might not be a good idea anyways.

Lensman · 06-05-2004, 11:18 PM

If you own a domain with the word playboy in it, you are infringing on a famous mark and it would be unwise to use it.

MetaformX · 06-05-2004, 11:32 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Lensman
If you own a domain with the word playboy in it, you are infringing on a famous mark and it would be unwise to use it.

With the final word being from the man himself, Only a fool would continue on with a project like that...So yeah, I will be abandoning the planned venture into Playboy land Lens.

FlyingIguana · 06-05-2004, 11:33 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by MetaformX
I am in discussion with someone to develop the domain to feature Former playboy models...The domain is something along the lines of FormerPlayboys.com (thats not the domain, but it'll give you a idea). The domain has the word "Playboy" in it

What are my liabilities here? I know Playboy is pretty strict with copyright issues, I don't want to step on their toes.

have your people call their people and work something out over lunch

dunefield · 06-05-2004, 11:35 PM

hugh is gonna tear you a new arsehole...

BlingDaddy · 06-05-2004, 11:38 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Mutt
the domain is worthless to you - Playboy is the most vigilant of any publishing company in protecting their trademark. you don't have a leg to stand on with a domain featuring ex-Playmates with the name Playboy in it.

This is exactly where I was going. Playboy or HEF Ent, holds the exclusive trademark to the WORD "playboy". You could name a grape jam Playboys Jam and they couldn't do shit. When it comes to the adult entertainment industry that's not a name I would even evaluate. You'd be battling a multimillion dollar corporation.

Think of it this way, if invented another computer operating system that rocked. Would I promote it at www.microsoftnewplatform.com?

You get the idea. I'm just a newbie with a small site but I'd run from that word like Hustler or any other.

BLING!

EviLGuY · 06-06-2004, 12:50 AM

You are going to get bent over by them if you use a name with playboy in it.

kowntafit · 06-06-2004, 01:04 AM

I would steer clear. The last thing you want is to set everything up and then discover that you have to shut everything down.

pushpills · 06-06-2004, 01:22 AM

epiccash sued me for my site pimpdogsformerboyfriends.com

judge tossed it out though, said pimpdog was a homo

best of luck

KRL · 06-06-2004, 01:33 AM

The minute it gets any attention Hefner's lawyers will be all over you.

They defend the Playboy trademark and brand extremely vigorously.

Hope you have deep pockets, cause you'll be needing them to defend yourself against a Playboy lawsuit.

06-05-2004, 10:23 PM	#1
MetaformX Confirmed User Join Date: Mar 2002 Posts: 6,704	I have a domain with "Playboy" in it that I will be developing...copyright issues? I am in discussion with someone to develop the domain to feature Former playboy models...The domain is something along the lines of FormerPlayboys.com (thats not the domain, but it'll give you a idea). The domain has the word "Playboy" in it What are my liabilities here? I know Playboy is pretty strict with copyright issues, I don't want to step on their toes. __________________

06-05-2004, 10:25 PM	#3
AMADude Confirmed User Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 3,875	Very good question. I had a buddy that used the word Playmate and he got a cease and decist (spelling?) letter. I think you would have issues. __________________ No sig, just here to fuck around.

06-05-2004, 10:31 PM	#13
Mutt Too lazy to set a custom title Industry Role: Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 34,431	the domain is worthless to you - Playboy is the most vigilant of any publishing company in protecting their trademark. you don't have a leg to stand on with a domain featuring ex-Playmates with the name Playboy in it. __________________ I moved my sites to Vacares Hosting. I've saved money, my hair is thicker, lost some weight too! Thanks Sly!

06-05-2004, 11:09 PM	#19
Mutt Too lazy to set a custom title Industry Role: Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 34,431	i'm not the final word on anything but Playboy is always on the prowl. MikeFold who owns Centerfolds.com got into a long long legal battle with Playboy where they were suing a Playmate of the Year just for putting that on her website. She wasn't doing anything but publishing a fact and they went hard after her. They finally won in court but not many people want to have to go throught that and spend all that money. __________________ I moved my sites to Vacares Hosting. I've saved money, my hair is thicker, lost some weight too! Thanks Sly!

06-05-2004, 11:35 PM	#24
dunefield www.barely18movies.com Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 10,920	hugh is gonna tear you a new arsehole... __________________

06-05-2004, 10:25 PM	#2
brizzad holla Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: KFC Posts: 11,769	TRY FORMERPLAYMATES.US

06-05-2004, 10:25 PM	#4
Jace FBOP Class Of 2013 Industry Role: Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: bumfuck, ky Posts: 35,562	if it is about playboys, meaning men, your pretty safe let's put it this way...if your making a sirte that is dedicated to pretty girls and playing off the playboy title and people could IN AANY WAY think that you were associated with playboy, inc...theyt will sue you basically, no girls your fine...but if you have girls and use the word playboy, they will get ya

06-05-2004, 10:26 PM	#5
bawdy Confirmed User Join Date: Feb 2002 Posts: 1,424	ask lensman

06-05-2004, 10:28 PM	#9
C_U_Next_Tuesday WW4L Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: over the river and through the woods Posts: 10,581	I would definitly check on that one. I wanted to do something as an offshoot with the betty crocker name and checked out the lawsuits General Mills won for people using parodies of the name for financial gain.

06-05-2004, 10:39 PM	#15
SlickRick Confirmed User Industry Role: Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Kingman AZ Posts: 2,849	I read something about this a few months back. Playboy was going after many webmasters that had a site with "Playboy" in it.

06-05-2004, 11:18 PM	#21
Lensman GFY Chaperone Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Adult.com Posts: 9,846	If you own a domain with the word playboy in it, you are infringing on a famous mark and it would be unwise to use it.

06-06-2004, 12:50 AM	#26
EviLGuY So Fucking Banned Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: malta Posts: 12,745	You are going to get bent over by them if you use a name with playboy in it.

06-06-2004, 01:04 AM	#27
kowntafit Confirmed User Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Australia Posts: 4,667	I would steer clear. The last thing you want is to set everything up and then discover that you have to shut everything down. __________________ This is where my next million is coming from!

06-06-2004, 01:22 AM	#28
pushpills Confirmed User Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: CHICAGO Posts: 3,700	epiccash sued me for my site pimpdogsformerboyfriends.com judge tossed it out though, said pimpdog was a homo best of luck

06-06-2004, 01:33 AM	#29
KRL Entrepreneur Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: USA Posts: 31,429	The minute it gets any attention Hefner's lawyers will be all over you. They defend the Playboy trademark and brand extremely vigorously. Hope you have deep pockets, cause you'll be needing them to defend yourself against a Playboy lawsuit. __________________ If you would like to develop your domains, you can lease inexpensive foreign labor from the leaders in the field at iWebmasters.com TO LOWER YOUR COSTS AND INCREASE YOUR PRODUCTION! * * * * * * * * * * * * Domains Adult News KRL's Newsletter Biz Tips Just Listed Domains