If I bought a domain name in another form other than .com can I sell the domain rights to that company?

Question

Say for instance... I purchased the domain name "Sony.net" before they did. If Sony wants to use this name do they have to go through me first and could I sell them the rights to that name??? I don't own Sony.net by the way, just an example :)

Answer 1

In the example given, the domain would almost certainly be taken away from you without compensation. In the early days of the internet, domain squatting and name infringement (often called name-squatting or cyber-squatting) became such a serious problem that the ICANN acted to prevent profiteering from exactly the situation you have described.

In short, whoever "owned" the name first would come out the winner. If you registered a made-up domain name and a business subsequently was formed using that same name, you would be in the driver's seat since you were first.

ICANN's system is far from perfect and there is still work to be done, but in a case similar to the example you gave you most certainly would lose and not be entitled to compensation of any type.

Answer 2

Yes, if they want it.

You may be struggling to use it yourself because if your products are anywhere close to theirs - im pretty sure they'd take action. somthing to do wit trading and using their brand equity to make profit.

I forget the legal term but there it is!!