Excerpts from an email I received yesterday from the National Association of Realtors®:
" The Internet domain name, cyberR—ltor.org (I really can’t use the name so I took out some letters and put in dashes) which forwards to the tboardman.com website, has been identified by the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS as one in which the membership marks of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS (National Association) are used as a part of the domain name. The domain name came to our attention as a result of our monitoring of the Internet for use of the REALTOR membership marks.
The National Association requests that you end the use of the cyberR—ltor.org domain name including, but not limited to, use of the domain name on the Internet or on promotional and advertising materials for your business; or to redirect traffic to another website. You may of course, register and use a new domain name that utilizes the REALTOR mark in a manner which complies with the rules of the National Association or select one which does not use the REALTOR marks.
As a member of the National Association, and therefore one who understands the importance of protecting and promoting the valuable REALTOR marks, after reviewing this information, we are confident that you will make the right decision and end your use of the cyberR—ltor.org domain name. We request that you promptly provide us with your assurance that you will comply with this request.
Trademark Administrator
Legal Affairs Department"
After I canceled the domain name I did a quick search myself and immediately found 24 domain names that are also in violation as each contained cyberR—ltor . I found thousands with the word Realtor® in them, many appear to be in violation. Members of the association are allowed to use the word Realtor after their name or company name in print and on the Internet in domain names.
The problem is that my name is Teresa, If I had my name legally changed to Cyber–Realtor® is already taken– I could continue to use my domain name. For someone as connected to the Internet as I am it might have been easier and more cost effective to change my name rather than my domain name. I used the domain name for 3 years without any problems. I have had numerous problems with Teresa. It seems that everyone wants to put an "h" in it and it doesn’t work in a domain name because people do not know how to spell it hence the TBoardman.com. Either way I guess I have 1000 business cards that I can not use, not to mention flyers, name riders etc.
To other Realtors® please check your domain name: follow this link to learn how to use the word Realtor® in domain names.
Thanks to Bonnie Erickson for helping me with this post, read her comments about REALTORS and the use of the word as an occupation, which it is not. Read
By the way my web site is still out there. It is hosted by Z57 under the domain name TBoardman.com
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I read the rules and regulations myself because my old e-mail address was “RealtorBE@…..”. I had been called on the carpet by a colleague saying I should check it out for misuse of the REALTOR mark! )=o I just barely squeaked by because I was using my initials. If we REALTORS are confused, I can’t imagine how confused the public gets. The term REALTOR is used daily in the media, by agents, etc., to mean real estate agent. The National Association of REALTORS commercials confuse the public even more regarding the term. I’ve never heard them call NAR a “trade organization” or a “union” which would be a more accurate description. Their commercials are pushing use of NAR members but not telling the public that not all real estate agents are REALTORS!
why not try cyberspace – spaces — location
cyberhomes.com etc
A E F
Hi Teresa,
Sorry to hear that our trade association is cracking down on members rather than non members. I doubt they would be able to do much if you were not a realtor. My suggestion is to keep your CyberR***tor.com in case someone else trys to scoop it up and put it to use. I’m not sure of your traffic levels of your site, but I would gess that it would be pretty attractive to some other company. Maybe you could make lemonaide out of it and sell the domain on the resellers network.
I also agree with you about the confusion about the term realtor. Since we are card carrying members, one would think we could use it as we feel fit.
Grrr
-Bud
Okay…I’m back!(sorry) I’ve tried to reason through alternatives to NAR, i.e. (IAREA – International Association of Real Estate Agents…ugh!)and all their related concerns, protections, etc. From the lesser to the greater here’s how it seems to go…
1.an individual is licensed by state agencies, i.e. commerce department.
2.an individual licensed sales agent, petitions broker to “hold” license, or becomes a broker and is registered as such.
3. an individual “voluntarily” joins NAR, STCAR, SPAAR, etc. In so doing is willing to be bound by the various rules and regs governing the various associations and boards.etc.
4. an individual catches on to their craft through continuing education, study, and experience, and realizes that their preferred business practices need revision, uniqueness, etc., so they develop or have developed new, fresh, or unique material…however…
4. Trademarks, copyrights, brands, logos some times show similarity either by coincidence, design, or accident and there is, therefore, a need for regulation. With the laws governing the same being what they are, there seems to be at least two avenues left to those who run into the violation of the “Brand” or trade names, copyrights etc., held by the various corporations, associations or individuals like ourselves, NAR, STCAR, SPAAR, etc…. a.) forfeit rights of membership in these professional and/or industrial corporate associations, and go it on your own (Or form an alternative) b. try to come up with an alternative name that will pass the “touch and feel” criteria of the copyright laws and registered names, brands, logos, etc….again, however,
One of the problems I see is that there is a blurr of distinction between association membership allowances in terms of useage, and how those rules and regs are binding on members may or may not be seen to be the same as the legally reguired limitations of the the international copyright laws. You may quit NAR, but you must still abide by the laws of the land.
If you can legally do something, it may, however, result in having to forfeit your association membership. I share your pain…as do others who are creative and genuinely interested in doing what is right and just and honest. It seems to me that I had a similar crisis when I had to decide to continue to go by the name my father gave me…HIS! Or maybe there is a parallel in a more common practice, that of having a woman give up her name to become known as her husband’s MRS! Whatever! Hang on to your identity and name as best you can Teressa, it is the distinguishing symbol set by which I have come to know and work with you. fak
While browsing through cyber-space one day, I encountered $1,000,000.00 bills that could be ordered with ones own picture, and other information, such as e-mail address, phone number, etc. to be used as a kind of business card. Do you make them? Or do you know who does? Thank you.