OK, i am wanting to do something, but it may, or may not be legal, and i can't afford it if i get sued.


NOTE: EVERYTHING CONTAINED BELOW IS NOT MY IDEA! merely a example, i am not silly enough to leave my ideas lying around.

So, lets say someone owned the site HomeWorldSaves, but they didnt own a domain, they used a subdomain of another site, like http://thedomain/homeworldsaves. But that site was abandoned over 2 years ago, and has recieved no updates. Would i get sued, or is there a chance for it, if i or someone else registered HomeWorldSaves.com, and created a site, with its own domain, which the original did not.

Many folk i have talked to say this could become a legal court matter, whilst others say, its there own fault they didnt get the domain, and its abandoned, so i would be safe. Any ideas?

And please BE SERIOUS!

EDIT: Just been told i probably won't get sued, but the other party would be miffed...

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It all depends if the domain word is generic or copyrighted / trademarked.

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I went to Vegas, and all I got was this Blister. - true story!

As RM says - there is a possibility someone may take possible action if the original idea etc was TM'd or Copyrighted.

It is possible someone could (in theory) attempt to get you to hand over the domain name via a dispute lodged. Check out Patent.gov.uk for TM's and other info etc first. Also check the Archive.org for what their site used to look like, which may show you some past info ref any TM's, Copyright, etc.

Is this a commercial enterprise or just a 'hobby'?

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Well, i have gone ahead and done it after consulting my host, who said i probably wont be sued, they would just be a little peeved.

The site was here http://vp.rct2.com/RCTStation/ as you can see its last update was July 4th 04, and the navigation buttons disabled, therer is also talk of it been abandoned, and now it looks like a memorial to it. i have purchased www.RCTStation.com. Only time will tell what happens...

EDIT: archive .org archives display the same for it, as the archives began recording it on Nov 04

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First of all.
You wont get sued if the name RCTStation is not a trademark.
Seond of all you wont get sued if the domain you reg www.RCTStation.com the files doesn't have the same files as http://vp.rct2.com/RCTStation/.

Yeah, I think you can only be sued if they trademarked it. If not, their loss. And it doesn't look like the most active site on the planet

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No, it hasnt been updated in over 2 years, and the navigation has been disabeld, so i couldnt contact the owners anyway..

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you try to look at the whois?

I'd get the contact details for http://rct2.com
Wouldn't I? As its adon folder, not a sub-domain or domain?

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I believe the site you're thinking of (http://vp.rct2.com/RCTStation/) is a tribute site to a site that once was - RCT Station.

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Justin S. / MyBB Wiki Lead / RCTgo.net