Web domain refers to the string of characters associated with an IP address, related to a server permanently connected to the Internet. The main purpose of a domain is to establish the identity of a website, and that is why its name is unique. With its help, all users connect to the website’s interface, having access to everything it offers (and implicitly, the business).

The availability of the name can be checked on www.roltd.ro – Romanian Top Level Domain – the company that offers domain registration services with the “.ro” extension. We consider that the verification process must be carried out thoroughly in order to avoid the danger of confiscation, due to the fact that there is already a registered trademark named similarly or identically.

In this case, unlike the trademark, registration is much faster and easier, which is why companies limit themselves to this type of registration. But we must specify that the rights to a web domain are limited only to use, not ownership.

The existence of an exclusive business in the online environment depends entirely on the web domain. In this particular situation, the communication related to the branding process depends directly and entirely on the website.

The aspects that you need to keep in mind when deciding to register a domain are related to avoiding any confusion that the name could create. You must also avoid choosing any type of abusive name or the intention to make a profit by selling it, which is legally resolved.

Brand

In the meaning of OSIM (State Office for Inventions and Trademarks), according to Law No. 84/1998, “any sign capable of graphic representation” is considered to be a trademark. It serves to differentiate a company’s products or services in the market and can be represented by letters, numbers, colors, the shape of a product or the design of a packaging, for example.

When choosing a brand name, you must take into account its uniqueness, in order to avoid a possible infringement of the rights of another owner. This aspect can be verified on the website of the www.wipo.int – World Intellectual Property Organization, and the process becomes smooth, given the fact that the registration of the trademark is longer and more complex. The most relevant advantage that emerges from the relationship between the two elements is the fact that the registered trademark offers protection over the domain, but not the other way around.

The trademark grants the owner exclusive rights, and the domain confers those of use over the name. From the point of view of the rights deriving from it, a clear distinction is made between the advantages of registering the two, even though they are in a relationship of mutual influence. Although it is a much more complex process, the registration of a trademark offers several rights that cannot be challenged. On the other hand, web domain holders must bear in mind that a reservation does not ensure the safety of not infringing certain legal rights of other parties.

The two play an important role in strengthening the brand, providing coherence to its identity. The ideal situation is the one in which the name of the company and that of the domain are similar or even identical. If you opt for an extension customized to the type of business/content, such as “.blog”, for example, a hosting provider can offer you this. But the safest choice is represented by the “.ro” domains, respectively “.com”, in case of expansion outside Romania’s borders. And the most important aspect of all is that the domain registration process must be carried out simultaneously with the trademark registration.