--- title: "Supreme Court Rules Generic Word + .COM Can Be Trademarked" description: "The Supreme Court ruled 8-1 that Booking.com can be a federal trademark. Here is what the decision means for owners of generic one word .com domains." url: https://gritbrokerage.preview.multisites.ai/post/supreme-court-rules-generic-word-com-can-be-trademarked publisher: Grit Brokerage contact: https://gritbrokerage.preview.multisites.ai/contact offer: https://gritbrokerage.preview.multisites.ai/inquiry --- [Market insights](https://gritbrokerage.preview.multisites.ai/blog?topic=market-insights) # Supreme Court Rules Generic Word + .COM Can Be Trademarked In an 8-1 decision in USPTO v. Booking.com B.V., the Supreme Court held that Booking.com may register a federal trademark even though the term booking is generic. Grit Brokerage sees this as a big win for owners of one word .com domains and expects higher prices and demand. By Grit BrokerageJul 9, 2020Updated Oct 8, 20201 min read ![Supreme Court ruling on trademarking generic word .com domains such as Booking.com](https://gritbrokerage.preview.multisites.ai/_astro/a53ed9_13f93229dace40a5bf1812d3bae53b5a.DxOjZsmd_XJNxH.webp) Last week a [landmark case was decided](https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/19pdf/19-46_8n59.pdf) in the Supreme Court of the United States regarding the ability to trademark a generic word + .com. In an 8-1 decision, the SCOTUS ruled that Booking.com could register a federal trademark for “Booking.com” even though generic terms such as “booking” cannot be registered as trademarks. In the case of U.S. Patent and Trademark Office vs Booking.com B.V. the ruling states that a generic term paired with .com “_is a generic name for a class of goods or services only if the term has that meaning to consumers._” This is considered a big win for owners of one word domain names and companies currently utilizing such assets. If there was any confusion that owners of generic one word .com weren’t already in a great position, the SCOTUS judges outlined many of the benefits of these domains in the ruling: _“The owners of short, generic domain names enjoy all the advantages of doing business under a generic name. These advantages exist irrespective of the trademark laws. Generic names are easy to remember. Because they immediately convey the nature of the business, the owner needs to expend less effort and expense educating consumers… Granting trademark protection to “generic.com” marks confers additional competitive benefits on their owners by allowing them to exclude others from using similar domain names”._ It is quite interesting to see domain names focused on by the Supreme Court. One word .coms have continued to rise in value and scarcity over the last several years and this ruling is likely to accelerate higher pricing and demand for these sought after digital assets. ! ## Questions this post answers ### What did the Supreme Court decide about Booking.com? In an 8-1 decision, the court ruled that Booking.com could register a federal trademark for Booking.com even though generic terms like booking cannot be registered. The ruling says a generic term paired with .com is generic only if consumers see it that way. ### Why is the ruling good for one word .com owners? The post calls it a big win for owners of one word domains and companies using them. The court noted these owners already enjoy easy to remember names and lower education costs, and trademark protection lets them exclude others from using similar domain names. ### How might the ruling affect domain prices? Grit Brokerage says one word .coms have kept rising in value and scarcity over several years. It expects this ruling to likely accelerate higher pricing and demand for these sought after digital assets. ## Terms in this post - [Generic domain](https://gritbrokerage.preview.multisites.ai/glossary/generic-domain) - [Trademark](https://gritbrokerage.preview.multisites.ai/glossary/trademark) - [.com](https://gritbrokerage.preview.multisites.ai/glossary/dot-com) ## Keep reading - [Domain Assets - Shifting End User PerspectiveDomain broker Michael Law explains how Grit Brokerage responds when buyers say a premium domain does not fit their budget. The post argues a premium domain is an appreciating asset with lifetime utility, SEO, security and brand alignment, not a recurring expense like a web hosting bill.](https://gritbrokerage.preview.multisites.ai/post/domain-assets-shifting-end-user-perspective) - [.com vs .ai vs .io vs .co: How to Choose a Domain Extension.com is still the safest default because buyers, investors and email systems expect it. Choose .ai if your product is AI and you accept higher renewals. Choose .io for developer tools with some registry risk. Choose .co mainly as a cheaper fallback. Whatever you pick, try to own the .com too.](https://gritbrokerage.preview.multisites.ai/guides/com-vs-ai-vs-io-vs-co) - [How Much Is My Domain Worth? Domain Valuation ExplainedA domain is worth what a specific buyer will pay for it. Start with comparable sales of similar names, then adjust for length, extension, keywords, and brand fit. Treat automated appraisals as rough guides. The same name can be worth far more to an end user than to an investor.](https://gritbrokerage.preview.multisites.ai/guides/domain-name-valuation) - [Domain Names and Trademarks: UDRP, Cybersquatting, and How to Buy SafelyThe UDRP is a fast, low-cost ICANN process that lets a trademark owner ask a panel to transfer a domain name. The owner must prove three things: the name is confusingly similar to its mark, you have no legitimate interest, and you registered and used it in bad faith. Owning a brand word alone is not enough.](https://gritbrokerage.preview.multisites.ai/guides/domain-trademark-udrp-risk) - [LLL, NNN, and 4-Letter Domains: How Short Domains Are ValuedA three-letter .com is usually worth what a corporate acronym buyer will pay, not a fixed multiple. Public sales run from under $20,000 for weak letter sets to well over $100,000 for strong ones. Value depends on the letters, whether they form an acronym or word, and how many companies could use them.](https://gritbrokerage.preview.multisites.ai/guides/short-domain-value) - [When Should a Startup Upgrade to a Better Domain Name?Upgrade when the weak domain costs you more than the better one would: customers mistype it, investors or partners question it, or you are about to spend on brand and marketing. Most startups do it right after a funding round or before a major launch, using a broker so the owner does not see a funded buyer.](https://gritbrokerage.preview.multisites.ai/guides/startup-domain-upgrade) ## Buying or selling a domain? Call, text or email. Responsiveness is our trademark, and a broker answers, not a form robot. [Talk to a broker](https://gritbrokerage.preview.multisites.ai/contact) [Call (442) 500-GRIT](tel:+1-442-500-4748)