I recently acquired an OG handle on Instagram (thanks swapd) but now I got some guy claiming his client is wanting the name so their brand can be found easier. The brand has bout 7k followers. Not verified. It’s just an iPhone app. Nothing too big.
My question is could they try and pull any funny business and try to claim my username with a trademark or something like that?
If your handle is protected by trademark it’s protected, but there is a policy also for claiming username using trademark, example inactivity
Well I have no trademark on it. It’s just a common word. If the brand trademarked their name. Could it be stolen that way? I’m active on the account so it isn’t considered “inactive”
i do believe cannot be claimed
"The touchstone of trademark infringement is often “likelihood of confusion,” and there are many factors that are considered to determine if a use of a trademark is likely to cause confusion. For example, when a person’s trademark is also used by someone else, but on unrelated goods or services, that use may not be infringement because it may not cause confusion. "
simply meaning if your name is not causing confusion for their brand and you are not letting your followers thing you are that brand you are not in trademark infringement… IMO
Unless they’re offering a generous sum over what you initially paid, they’re probably trying to hustle you and I would not entertain such tomfoolery.
