Logos, nicknames and copyright question
 

This might be a bit long. I apologize for that but I want to explain the situation and hopefully, someone at GFY can give me some advice/pointers about this.

There's a free mainstream site that has been taken down about a year ago. I felt that the site was entertaining and resourceful. The owner basically just disappeared.

Now, to my knowledge, this guy never owned an actual domain. His site was done on some subdomain.

I recently purchased a domain name. That name of that domain is the same as the online nickname that guy was using. He was also using a logo on his site.

My idea, to a degree, is to "resurrect" that site with similar information and content. Obviously with updated features.

Now, what I would like to know is in that situation, could I somehow appropriate the logo for that new domain? To the best of my knowledge, he held no copyright and/or trademark to either name or logo. In fact, even looking at archive.org, there's no indication of a "©", "?" or whatever. It was after all, an amateur mainstream site.

What could/should be done? :helpme

talk to a copywrite attorney. But, they're going to tell you to not do it.

Your asking for trouble with that

copying other people's idea has always been a recipee for success ;)

only in America

Assuming that I'm right and that he held no copyright, how would that get me in trouble to run a site dedicated to the same topic?

And assuming that I'm wrong and that he did held a copyright on his logo, doesn't he forfeit that by shutting his site down?

The fact that the logo and the idea was published on the web does give him trademark and copyright protection. So, even if he is doing nothing with and you make money with his logo/idea you might as well just forward all proffits to him as you will lose them in a civil suit.

The best idea is to contact him and ask him if he will sell/lease you the rights. Don't get him too hyped up or he will ask for more than you want to spend. Good luck with it.

I agree asking for rights to the logo and idea is the best course of action

Why not make a "tribute" site instead of a "resurrection" site? :thumbsup

Read this site --> http://www.senniger.com/TrademarkQues.html. It should answer a lot of your questions.

"resurrection" traffic or "tribute" traffic, it's all the same in the end :winkwink:

BEHOLD! Your one and only, Webhost, reseller, content provider, programmer/designer, publisist, and now liscensed in the state of AL- Lawyer of Teh Copyright For it is I, of whom shall advise you in your acquisition of said materials. (or whatever)

• Run the logo through Photoshop.
• Write your name on it and call it yours!

THAT'S IT!1

And if he gives you any lip, file a law suit against him for stealing your shit! :mad:

you sound dumber and dumber with every post of yours i read. as someone already said, just the fact that the site and logo was on the web and the date can be proven to be before your soon to be 'tribute' site then you lose.

Well... you could register a domain similar to what he ran and then trademark it. That should cover your ass. I've heard of resteraunts doing this successfully and legally.

Using the exact same name and your asking for trouble, especially if you don't even talk to the guy first.

shut up, metro.