TM fan sites and default registrar parking

[seeker]

Does anyone know if there are any legal precedence of having a fan site of a TM's name (in this case a famous person), and the default parked pages of a registrar?

For example (I cant wait to hear DNQ's advice!), I have a regged name of a celebrity that I really like for some time now.
I have never parked the page, nor tried to sell it.
I really want to make it at some point into a fan site without revenue (no ads etc...).
However, the default parking page of my registrar (actually all registrars do this now) looks like an ad page. In this case it is eNom.

Is that a problem while I wait to develop the fan site?
I mean I havent parked it or anything.
Is there something I should do?
Is it even legal for registrars not to give you the option to show 'nothing' or 'under construction'? (The good old days)...

Thanks for any feedback.

 

[petrosc]

the fact that now it is a parked page should not count against you since you are not profiting from te page, hence not using it in bad faith - JMO

 

[Dave Zan]

However, the default parking page of my registrar (actually all registrars do this now) looks like an ad page. In this case it is eNom.

The sooner you change that, the sooner you can possibly avoid trouble. Well,
possibly anyway.

The last question you asked is rather irrelevant. Practically all registrars allow
DNS changes, but that's if you're really dealing with one to begin with.

 

[DNQuest.com]

The first thing I would do is create my own landing page ASAP. I would put up "The John Doe unofficial fansite coming.. stay tuned." I would put up some pictures, some up to date news and a forum so fans can talk about the celeb. I always say you need to protect yourself, this can be viewed as creating interest in the domain. Even though we should be innocent until proven guilty, with domains, I believe we start at a disadvantage. Like it or not, that is the reality.

With your own landing page, it shows you actually are doing something. With the forum, you are showing you want other fans to use the site to discuss the celeb. No ads, no "for sale" no links=good. With a registrar landing page, though it may not have ads, it shows you haven't done anything. You don't do anything could be seen as not creating interest in the domain. I believe true fansites should be protected 100%, unfortunately, I believe many fansites are intended to get a payoff at some point.

I have made no secret I operate several fansites, I have been offered some nice deals, I have been challenged (with one site, challenged 3 times. I still own it). I have generate zero revenue for over 6 years and I do it for the love. That is why I help others who are true about fansites. Then again, I would say 95%+ of questions here, the domain owner is looking for the payoff at some point. (Those are the ones I give a hard time).

Bottom line, don't say.... do.

Good luck

 

[jberryhill]

Is it even legal for registrars not to give you the option to show 'nothing' or 'under construction'? (The good old days)...

You control the nameserver data. If you point the domain at their nameservers, they can put up whatever they please.

A UDRP panel isn't going to care whether it is your parking page or someone else's parking page. Arguing that it isn't your parking page is simply an admission that you have done nothing with the domain name, and thus have no legitimate rights or interests in it.

 

[seeker]

Thanks all for thre feedback.
It was very helpfull.
I will proceed to change the DNS to point to a landing page until I get the forum going.

Thanks again.