In setting up a website, it is essential to include standard terms which address such issues as liability disclaimers, user access terms and privacy policy. However, it is also important to ensure that your own intellectual property is fully protected and that you do not infringe the IP rights of others.
Your own IP
Domain names
Domain name registration constitutes a licence to use that name for a particular domain level for a set period. Nonetheless, like business names and company names, domain names provide no proprietary rights in those names. The only way to obtain proprietary rights in a name is to register it as a trade mark. Unless your domain name is quite descriptive, it is vital that you register it as a trade mark for all the goods and services which you will promote on your website. For example, if you are promoting education and legal services you should register your domain name as a trade mark in classes 41 and 45 respectively. It is also important to remember that if you are selling goods via your website, you should also register your domain name in class 35 for retailing services.
