TransPerfect Technologies LLC, the company behind Translations.com, has filed a trademark registration application for TRANSLATIONS.COM.
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The USPTO application is for standard characters without a claim to any font style or size and covers various services, including consulting services in internet marketing, language translation and interpretation services, computer software updating and testing, and regulatory compliance consulting for language translation and interpretation. The domain name has been owned by the current registrant since 1999, but the sale of the domain name cannot be traced. However, Archive.org shows that the domain name was available for purchase in 1999 from its registrant, WordTel. The application is part of an ongoing trend among generic domain name owners to apply for matching marks after the Booking.com trademark application was approved by SCOTUS. As of January 2021, BOOKING.COM is a registered trademark with the USPTO.
Interestingly, the domain name was sold along with 32 additional domains by the same seller back in 1999, some of which were marked as "sold." It is unclear whether any of these other domains have been used commercially or are still in use today.
One could argue that this move is a blatant attempt by TransPerfect Technologies LLC to strong-arm its competitors out of the market. By trademarking a generic term, they are essentially trying to own the entire concept of translations.com, which is absurd. This is a clear example of trademark law being used as a tool for corporate bullying, and it sets a dangerous precedent for the future of domain name ownership and usage.