In the months running up to the 2020 US presidential election, voters googling President Trump’s current campaign slogan – Keep America Great – may have been surprised by what they found. The site KeepAmericaGreat.com comes in high on the Google search results, but it isn’t owned by Mr. Trump. And far from promoting his policies and his bid for a second term, KeepAmericaGreat.com instead focuses on the President’s perceived failures. The site lists a number of categories such as immigration, jobs, national security and the coronavirus pandemic. It compares what it says Trump had promised about these things to what it says actually happened. The site also displays the Biden-Harris logo, and it makes clear that Biden for President paid for it.
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The Importance of Having the Right Domain Name
Use of domain names associated with opponents or competitors such as this widely reported example is nothing new, especially in politics. In 2015, when Ted Cruz was campaigning as a Republican presidential candidate, visitors to TedCruz.com would have seen “Support Obama” on its home page. But there are also people who purchase domain names that are the same as or similar to the names of politicians, celebrities or businesses for their own profit, filling them with ads for revenue or undesirable content. In some cases, this has resulted in successful lawsuits, where the domain name ownership was ultimately transferred to the complainant. Madonna won her case back in 2000.
Protecting Your Brand
Domain names have become a crucial business asset the internet age, and websites are now a major part of brand identity. For businesses that have spent time and money building up their brand and reputation, it’s more important than ever to protect it. If you’re looking to buy domain names specific to your name or brand, you can search on sites like https://www.names.co.uk/domain-names to find out if it’s available. In the event that it’s taken, you’ll be presented with alternatives, and some domain name providers will negotiate with current domain owners to acquire a domain name their customers particularly need.
There are services that will monitor your brand across the internet and can report any potential misuse through the registration of similar domain names. Whether you’re a start-up business, a pop star or the President of the United States, protecting your brand online is crucial.
