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.

TRY FORMERPLAYMATES.US

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.

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

ask lensman

unless your talking about kids being playmates, your fucked

playmate is a trademarked term by playboy, inc.

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

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?

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.

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

wtf dude, .us domains are tight!

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

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.

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

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

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.

I AGREE

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. :)

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. :)

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

hugh is gonna tear you a new arsehole...

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.

:2 cents:

BLING!

You are going to get bent over by them if you use a name with playboy in it. :2 cents:

I would steer clear. The last thing you want is to set everything up and then discover that you have to shut everything down. :2 cents:

epiccash sued me for my site pimpdogsformerboyfriends.com

judge tossed it out though, said pimpdog was a homo


best of luck

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.