I think the Big 12 already had the rights to the Big 14.
Given the conference applied for the trademark in February 2009 (when Colorado, Mizzou, kNU and Aggie were all members), this means absolutely nothing. Except for if the prior mentioned four schools had stuck around, CSU and Florida State would have been added to make the Big 14.
Wait... what?!?
Actually, before the whole realignment shuffle started, I read an article from an old SI about the Big 8 -> Big 12 evolution, and the first things that tipped people off was that Big 8 applied for the Big 12 TM and website.
Due to the whispers of the Pac 10 expanding, I immediately went tot he computer and looked up the Pac 10 website (www.pac-10.com) and saw that www.pac-12.com, www.pac-14.com, and www.pac-16.com were not registered.
It is one of the great tragedies of my life that I didn't register them right then and there; some NBA basketball player who is ALSO a domain-name speculator (you can't make this **** up) bought www.pac-12.com and got a cool $25Gs from the Pac 12 to hand it over.
Yep, and you can also get sued in federal court for doing something like that (ACPA). I don't recommend it.
I'm trying to remember the facts and they don't add up, so I'm trying to remember whether or not this happened as I remember it, but out of interest please explain.
My understanding is that domain names are bought and sold all the time.
I'm trying to remember the facts and they don't add up, so I'm trying to remember whether or not this happened as I remember it, but out of interest please explain.
My understanding is that domain names are bought and sold all the time.
Sure. You can't intentionally buy a domain name that infringes a trademark owner's rights. PAC-14 is similar to PAC-10 in commercial impression and - unless you have a legitimate reason for buying the domain other than reselling it to the PAC-10 for megabucks - you're ****ed. See this: http://www.lrlaw.com/ipblog/blog.aspx?entry=261
but it can be cheaper for the PAC:12 or other entity to just buy the domain than spend a ton of money fighting it in court.
This is true, but there is an expedited arbitration proceeding (DURP) where a domain can be transferred at a relatively low cost very quickly.