APMEX, Inc., operators of the domain name Bullion.com, have filed for the registration of the matching mark, BULLION.COM, with the USPTO.
The application was filed with an intent to use clause, for the following products/services:
- Precious metals, namely, bullion and coins
- Commodities exchange services
APMEX is a company specializing in tangible investments, such as precious metals. Bullion is exactly that. Source: Wikipedia.
Bullion is non-ferrous metal that has been refined to a high standard of elemental purity. The term is ordinarily applied to bulk metal used in the production of coins and especially to precious metals such as gold and silver.
The domain name Bullion.com has been in the possession of the Castello Brothers, between 1997 and at least 2015. While the domain resolved in the past to a landing page by APMEX, it’s currently parked at GoDaddy.
Bullion.com capture – Source: DomainTools
There are no records that we could find regarding the domain’s sale but it could be safe to assume that the Castello Brothers sold Bullion.com to APMEX, Inc. at some point, for an undisclosed amount.
Update: The sale was confirmed but the price is under the terms of an NDA so it was not disclosed.
Applying for the registration of matching marks is an ongoing trend among owners of generic domain names, following the decision by SCOTUS on the Booking.com trademark application.
Since then, dozens of generic domain names have been applied to be registered as trademarks, inclusive of the TLD.
As of January 5th, 2021, BOOKING.COM is a registered trademark with the USPTO.
Will these applications become the new norm? Watch this video from NamesCon Online 2020.
