Domainnamewire.com reports "National Association of Realtors filed a complaint with World Intellectual Property Organization over the domain name GayRealtor.com" First of all, I get this is about the improper use of the realtor, er, I mean REALTOR® trademark. But, honestly folks, a cursory search on Twitter or Google brings up plenty of people incorrectly using realtor in their email, URL or username. To be fair, NAR does issue cease and desist letters left and right. But it is rare for the association to escalate things to this level. In the past 12 years, this is merely the 6th domain arbitration case they've filed. Why are they zeroing in on gayrealtor.com? The site has been active for many many years.
What is especially striking is the timing of this enforcement. It has always been a raging bone of contention amongst my LGBTQ and LGBTQ-friendly REALTORS® that NAR did not include sexual orientation in its discrimination clause. NAR’s REALTORS® Code of Ethics only prohibited the “denial of its professional services to any person for reasons of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin.” The "Realtor Party" was apparently a party we weren't invited to! In a sign that NAR finally joined the 21st century, they decided to add sexual orientation to the aforementioned list last year. Clutch my pearls! At long last, some good will!
Is gayrealtor.com a trademark misuse? Yeah, rules are rules.
Is this the best time to take them down? Not sure. What do you think?
What is especially striking is the timing of this enforcement. It has always been a raging bone of contention amongst my LGBTQ and LGBTQ-friendly REALTORS® that NAR did not include sexual orientation in its discrimination clause. NAR’s REALTORS® Code of Ethics only prohibited the “denial of its professional services to any person for reasons of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin.” The "Realtor Party" was apparently a party we weren't invited to! In a sign that NAR finally joined the 21st century, they decided to add sexual orientation to the aforementioned list last year. Clutch my pearls! At long last, some good will!
Is gayrealtor.com a trademark misuse? Yeah, rules are rules.
Is this the best time to take them down? Not sure. What do you think?
