Entrepreneur Magazine Trademark Question

[Enke]

I am in the process of launching a website/ resource for entrepreneurs and while doing the due diligence I came across the big debate regarding Entrepreneur Magazine (EMI) and how they own the trademark for the actual word "entrepreneur".

Personally I think this is ridiculous. I mean if you can trademark a dictionary word like entrepreneur, then what keeps anyone from trademarking a word like "affiliate" or "venture capitalist"

There is a case where a PR agency called EntrpreneurPR actually lost a court case and it cost them $700K+.

I am curious to get some insight from the rest of the group here on your thoughts about this. Likewise it doesn't seem like they have ever messed with YE.

My fear is building out a successful and trafficked site only to get a C&D letter.

Anyhow, thanks in advance for your thoughts.

[chrispalko]

This has been becoming a worse and worse problem. Even people who buy typo'd domains are being sent these letters.

I don't have too much of a say in the matter because I haven't experienced it personally, but I know it's causing several small companies problems because of big companies getting upset over things like that.

Oh, and take Nissan for example. They have been fighting with Nissan Motors forever now.

[SerialEntrepreneurs.]

I run SerialEntrepreneurs.com and haven't had any issues.... and my blog is Serial Entrepreneurs.....so far so good....

[Enke]

Thanks for the replies guys. I have received C&D's before and unless you're willing to drop some big money on legal expenses, it's easier to just comply.

In all honesty I don't need to use the word entrepreneur in the URL, however unfortunately there are really no good synonyms for the word.

I understand why certain brands need trademarks, I just thought it was ridiculous that one could even trademark a dictionary word like entrepreneur.