[kingzl3y]

Hi, little unsure where to post this. Web Dev seemed like the best choice, either here or General.

Is there any legal issues with using a name In a subdomain? Or maybe even a folder on a website?

Would it be a on a company-company basis? Www.Googlepleasehire.me is a perfect example. I want to do something similar for my final year project at Uni and I'm writing my proposal.

Any insights or suggestions would be awesome!

[FrankPetrov]

I doubt it would be bad. but just in case, at the bottom of all the pages, add the copyrights. or if you're really paranoid, contact the company and tell them what you're doing and ask for permission. since it's just a project for Uni, they prolly wouldn't care at all. Only reason i say this is cause i did it with google once for high school. Though they had me give them the domain when i was finished.

[kingzl3y]

I never thought of that, I mean if a website has 'google' directly in the domain, be as high profile as it is, and lasting for as long as it has, I don't see a problem. Good point of adding copyrights though, covers your back in most cases.

My university is the exact same, they're the owner of anything I create for university, apparently it's in their T&C's when you enroll. I'm going to appeal it, though. I don't want my FYP being anyones but mine. I don't know I'd you can appeal, if there's grounds.. I guess it's worth a try! Cheers

[FrankPetrov]

which university is it? could you provide me with their site? I'm intrigued.

[kingzl3y]

http://www.staffs.ac.uk don't laugh at how terrible it is. It might not be in their website T&C's, maybe another T&C's when you enroll.

[FrankPetrov]

18. Intellectual Property, Patents, Registered Designs and Copyright
(Non-Research Awards)
18.1 All intellectual property rights in and to any work created by a student
during the course of his/her study will belong to and be the absolute
property of the University and the student will do all such acts and sign all
necessary deeds and documents to vest legal title in and to the
intellectual property in the University. The student will, if required to do so
and at the University’s reasonable expense, assist the University in the
defence/commencement of any infringement proceedings in connection
with the intellectual property.
18.2 Students will assign patent rights to the University where the work capable
of being patented under the Patents Act 1977 was made, discovered or
developed during the course of their study. The University will, if required
by law to do so, ensure that the student is acknowledged and has the
chance to a share in any profits derived from the exploitation of any patent
that is granted.
18.3 If the intellectual property rights that are assigned relate to a registered
design, the University will ensure that the student is suitably
acknowledged and receives a reasonable share of any rewards gained as
a result of the exploitation of the registered design.
18.4 If any copyright is assigned to the University, the University will ensure
that the student is suitably acknowledged and receives a reasonable
share of any rewards gained as a result of the exploitation of such
copyright.
18.5 In the event that the University, in its sole opinion, decides not to apply for
patent or any other registered protection where, such registered protection
is appropriate, the student shall be notified of that decision as soon as is
reasonably practicable.
18.6 Following such a decision by the University if the student wishes to apply
for patent or other registered protection in relation to the intellectual
property rights either by himself/herself or with another he/she must first
inform the University in writing (Faculty Dean) of their intention. Within a
reasonable period of time following such notification the University must
tell the student whether it would object to the proposed application(s). The
sole ground for such objection would be that the patenting of the invention
or the registration of the intellectual property rights would involve or result
in the disclosure to third parties of trade secrets or other confidential
information belonging to the University and that such disclosure may
damage the interests of the University.

My gathering from this is that if you want to own anything you create yourself, you have to wite a formal letter to the Dean about patenting the "project" yourself without the university and they have some board meeting and decide whether to allow it or not.

[kingzl3y]

wow, thanks for finding that mate! will definitely come in useful. suprised you actually found it, i guess reading T&C's is important for a reason!

[FrankPetrov]

Oh, very much so. I was going to rent a dedicated server from some European company. some small one dont remember what it was called, but in their T&C's, they made the statement that by using their services, if you failed to pay your statement within 3 days after the invoice was made, they had the right to take anything you own based on their value of the item compared to their value of the server. it was screwed up. now i take the 3 hours just to read them xD

[kingzl3y]

Now you've made me paranoid. I probably have agreed to something equal as sinister at some point. Do I check everything now?! I can't remember who it was, but I read on Twitter that some big fortune 500 company (goddamn, it's on the tip of my tongue..) simplified their T&C's. I check it out... just cus. They were in simple list items (rather than paragraphs) I was amazed at how easier they were to read, I ended up reading pretty much all of them I think. Crazy what people/corporations try and do.

Also, now we've established what I need to do with my project and the university. What about using a company name in the subdomain? I've tried researching it but have found absolutely ziltch.

[LordCrypto]

So you are in fact doing something like

google/yahoo/bing.plshire.me?

If you aren't implying any connection between you and the site, I don't think there would be any issues.

[FrankPetrov]

just do as the guy who made the googlepleasehireme site did. add the copyrights at the bottom

© 2012 Google, please hire me. Matthew Epstein..
Neither Matthew Epstein nor www.googlepleasehire.me. are associated with Google, Inc. in any way. YET

and you really should be fine. Persoanlly, i think companies make their T&C so complicated to read so that either !. you have to pay a lawyer to explain it to you or B. you just see how confusing it is and skip over it.