Your idea, content (of your website) and domain name can be protected in a variety of ways. It is wise to look into this timely and proactively. For example, registration is not always possible (anymore). It is good to be able to fall back on other protection mechanisms. It is also good to be aware of third parties who may be able to object to your idea, content (of your website) and domain name.
In some cases, your idea is protected by invoking intellectual property rights. Several intellectual property rights require registration for this purpose. For example, copyright, database rights or trade name rights do not. Those rights arise automatically if certain conditions are met.
In addition, it is important to ensure good contracts such as non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) or cooperation agreements with partners in a timely manner so that you can responsibly market your idea. An
i-Depot can also be useful.
The content of a website is easily copyrighted. The thresholds for protection are very low: it is sufficient that the content is sufficiently original, i.e. bears the creator's personal stamp.
Copyright on a Web site can exist on a wide variety of elements, ranging from written text to software, interfaces, images, databases and the graphic layout. Learn more about copyright
here.
Also, in some cases, the content of a website may be protected by database law if a substantial investment has been made qualitatively or quantitatively in obtaining, verifying or presenting the content that constitutes the database. More information on database law can be found
here.
In principle, registration of a domain name does not provide any protection. But a domain name can, of course, be similar to your protected trademark and/or trade name.
A domain name may infringe on intellectual property rights of third parties, particularly trademark and/or trade name rights.
But use of a particular domain name may also be unlawful against third parties for other reasons, e.g., if it constitutes misleading advertising.
So it is advisable to be alert when making choices about and registering domain names.
