I would like your inputs about an article I have readen that a domain name can qualify as a trademark when it is used in connection with a website that offer services to the public.
I am actually in conflict with a really big company owning a big portfolio of sub companies in the same business area as mine.
Let say, I own the domain name superservice.com and use it for years for my small business.
This big competitor owns Super.com and Service.com. As a payment descriptor they use "Super*Service.com".
For months now, I am receiving complaints from their customers believing I am the one charging their credit cards. Some of them, really stubborn, also threated me with legal actions.
I decided to contact this company and kindly ask them to change their payment descriptor. They simply answered it was impossible.
I then proposed them to acquire my domain name, as long as it could also complete theirs, and they came back with a very indecent offer. Like a peanut.
I tried again to make them understand it was still impacting negatively my small business but the only answer I received was, as long as I don't have any registered Trademark, I can either accept their offer or go f##k myself.
What are specialists here think about this?
I am actually in conflict with a really big company owning a big portfolio of sub companies in the same business area as mine.
Let say, I own the domain name superservice.com and use it for years for my small business.
This big competitor owns Super.com and Service.com. As a payment descriptor they use "Super*Service.com".
For months now, I am receiving complaints from their customers believing I am the one charging their credit cards. Some of them, really stubborn, also threated me with legal actions.
I decided to contact this company and kindly ask them to change their payment descriptor. They simply answered it was impossible.
I then proposed them to acquire my domain name, as long as it could also complete theirs, and they came back with a very indecent offer. Like a peanut.
I tried again to make them understand it was still impacting negatively my small business but the only answer I received was, as long as I don't have any registered Trademark, I can either accept their offer or go f##k myself.
What are specialists here think about this?