Is the term Realtor a trademark name?

[krest]

I have a city+realtor.com domain name and i got an email from realtors.org that i am infringing on their trademark. That the trademark is meant for their members only... Is the term Realtor a trademark? because i have seen other domain investor selling them in the marketplace.

 

[Biggie]

yes it is and they do protect their marks

 

[rockitman]

I got a letter a few years ago for realtorboxes.com I think it was. I took everything off it and let it expire.

 

[DigiNames]

Realtor is a trademark. "Realty" or "real estate agent" are good generic alternatives to consider.

 

[WeBuyThe.Com]

Yes it is a TM refer to http://www.realtor.org/publications/membership-marks-manual

 

[RTM.net]

As others have mentioned, Realtor is certainly a TM. That said, the whole real estate business is somewhat like the music / movie entertainment business was a while ago - and still is today - : a dinosaur living in a 1.0 oligopoly world. That latter business reality is a broken model, yet the breakthrough of real estate into a crowdsourced environment (like music & movies have, to an extent, finally become) is still in the making.

Focus on non-TM real-estate property names.

Rob

 

[Vincent]

Realtor is such a generic term used by many people. I wonder why other real estate companies don't dispute that term.

 

[Biggie]

Realtor is such a generic term used by many people. I wonder why other real estate companies don't dispute that term.

huh?

not understanding, why would other RE companies dispute the term?

 

[grcorp]

Realtor is such a generic term used by many people. I wonder why other real estate companies don't dispute that term.

They shouldn't. Because the rights which come along with being a "REALTOR" are what command virtually all of your value to your prospective customers.

By allowing it to be tossed around like any other word, it cheapens the profession.

It's the "mark of distinction" for a licensed professional in the real estate industry. Just like MD for doctors, CA/CGA/CMA for accountants, etc.

 

[Vincent]

huh?

not understanding, why would other RE companies dispute the term?

If the public doesn't like that term to be trade marked, can't it just oppose it? If you can't buy or sell a generic house without using the word realtor, then realtor should be made a generic word, not a trademarked word.

 

[George Verdugo]

Thats why I Go Generic !!