A Place For Mom, Inc., operators of the domain name NursingHomes.com, have filed an application to register the mark NURSINGHOMES.COM with the USPTO.
The applicant cites 2002 as the year that the mark was first used in interstate commerce; the application was filed for the following products/services:
Computer services, namely, providing a website with information relating to elder care facilities.
It is noted that the applicant claims that the mark has become distinctive of the goods/services “through the applicant’s substantially exclusive and continuous use of the mark in commerce.”
An interesting point is that the applicant also filed a trademark registration application for the singular variant, NURSINGHOME.COM.
The application was filed with an intent to use clause, indicating that the matching domain name, NursingHome.com, has been acquired. That domain has been in the possession of DigiMedia, owners of a substantial portfolio of domain names; while the WHOIS info does not appear to have changed, we are almost certain that the domain has been sold.
Nursinghomes.com
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.
