Five Common Domain Name Myths

With domain name articles and tips floating around everywhere on the Net, most people probably feel that they apprehend a sensible deal regarding choosing and protecting a domain name. However, some common domain name myths persist. Let's debunk a few.
Myth: Once I register a domain, I can use it forever.
Reality: While it's possible that you may keep your registered domain name forever, it's not guaranteed. Many things can happen that will make you lose your domain name. 1st, you have to register your domain name every year (or register it for multiple years upfront) so as to keep your access to it. If you forget to renew your registration, you may lose your domain name, or someone else can register it and charge you a huge fee to have it transferred back to your name. Second, you could lose your domain name during a trademark dispute.
Myth: My domain name is automatically trademarked, therefore nobody else can ever use it or anything too just like it (like with alternative extensions).

Truth: A domain name cannot be trademarked within the US! It also is not protected by a copyright. However, if your business' name is trademarked before anyone else is using it, then you'll see if somebody registered a website name using your business name (or a common misspelling) to sell product or services that are extremely kind of like your own. As an example, if someone else ever tried to register something like Microsoft.internet, or even microsort.internet, for the purpose of selling computers and software, Microsoft may sue them to stop them from using the domain name. This can be to prevent scammers and competitors from attempting to profit off of a trademarked name. In some countries, you cannot even register a site with their country-specific extension unless you own the trademark there for that business name.

Myth: If I own the trademark for my company's name, I automatically have the proper to register my company's name as a site name.
Fact: You do not, in fact, have the right to register any domain name, whether or not you've got a trademark on the corresponding company name. The reason for this can be that a trademark on a business name doesn't provide you exclusive access to use that name. It only provides you exclusive access to use that name for the actual products and / or services that you simply offer. Going back to our above example, let's say Microsoft forgot to renew its registration on Microsoft.net. While they could sue another pc manufacturer or software company for registering the domain name while not query, let's assume it's registered by a tiny company creating microfiber-covered sofas and other furniture. The name makes sense - 'micro' is an abbreviation for microfiber, and 'soft' is a result of it's very soft fabric. Each company has each get entry to the corporate name Microsoft, and they would own the trademark for that company name because it applies to the product they sell. As a result of that, Microsoft couldn't do something to urge their .net domain name back except offering to buy it outright.

Myth: A website is only value registering if you'll get the .com version.
Truth: Many net sites are successful using .internet, .org, and country-specific domain extensions. Do not reject an otherwise sensible domain name simply as a result of the .com extension is not available. If you are putting in place a domain name primarily based on keywords, a .web or .org should not make too much of a difference. If you are selling merchandise or services to solely residents of your country, a country-specific domain extension may persuade be quite profitable for you, because it tells your target market that you're specifically selling to them.

Myth: You must never use dashes in a domain name.
Reality: Whereas together with dashes in an exceeding domain name are not ideal, conjointly shouldn't be forbidden. Dashes create it tougher to market your domain name via word of mouth, but they will be terribly effective if you are determined to use a keyword-rich domain name for a general content site if the version without the dashes isn't available.