I would ask my friend what the rules are for using Realtor in my websites, e-mails and URLs. Your friend may not realize his error and this may tip him off if he researches it for you.

So they are using the word Realtor in thier url with text other than thier name right?

Gail has a good idea. You may want to make sure you do this before he/she starts sinking money into marketing materials/ads with thier url printed on there.

If the url is already up and running NAR will be all over it anyways and your friend will get a notice to take it down or there will be further action taken. Actually when I first got licensed I made the same mistake by purchasing southshorerealtor.com and got a notice after just a couple days to remove it. Which I did obviously. Lesson learned!

I actually had an operating website for nearly two years with improper use of the Realtor trademark (myoklahomarealtor.com).  I even had it approved with my broker, who obviously didn't realize it was "illegal".  I spent a lot of money and time branding that website.  For me, the timing of my notification from the legal department of NAR was impeccible.  I used to have a partner and we decided to split up.  Due to the split, we had already decided to shut the website down as there was no fair way to split it.  So, when we received notice, we had already brought it down to just a cover page directing clients to our prospective new websites.  Imagine how upset I would have been otherwise if I had spent those two years branding that web address and then being told that I HAD to shut it down at no option of my own.  So, yes, I would rather be told early by someone rather than find out later from NAR after spending precious money and time branding it.  I think you can find a tactful way to let him know.  And he should appreciate your caring enough to let him know.  I would have appreciated someone letting me know early on.  (Plus, I HATED the embarrassment of dealing with the legal department of NAR.  I am a little anal about things...OK a LOT anal about things...and being corrected at such a high level really SUCKED!!)

Marcia

I'd tell him!  It may be a little uncomfortable, but it needs to be done. Why not just say, "Hey, I'm a part of this on-line community where some have discussed using REALTOR in a domain name. When I read some of the stories, I thought of you and don't wnt to see you go through this."

If you don't want to "confront" them, maybe you could print out the guidelines from teh NAR site and leave it on thier desk or in their mail slot at the office.

Yup I would do the same and inform him that he May be using the word  Realtor the wrong way.

But do not expect much from NAR !

Why ---> http://www.badrealtor.com/

Vance The Realtor

NAR got on me about that a few years ago and I got rid of the site with the name realtor in it but I know there is some version of realtor which you can use.  I think if you use your first and last name you can do it but I really do not know.

http://www.realtor.org/letterlw.nsf/pages/trademarkmanual

link to the manual regarding usage.  

When I see a violation, I send them an email with links to Realtor.org and the rules page, If the site is still functioning after 30 days, I report it to Mike Theil ( MTheil@realtors.org ) in NAR's legal department.

Once NAR sends you a notice, they require that the URL be COMPLETELY shut down! There's no such thing as leaving it up with a cover page directing clients to your new URL like a pointer site.

You need to tell him.  Realtor.com has a web compliance department that will find his web site and make him shut down the domain eventually.  He'll save a ton of $$ by building on another domain name.

Spoken with experience :))

I've also had the experience with NAR and the improper use. Approved by broker and everything, was my first week in the business. 6 months later got that letter!

Just tell him, before he spends thousands advertising it on post cards, letters, business cards. HE MAY JUST THANK YOU!

Hi Gene.

That's a great idea!  But, that email bounced back to me "undeliverable".  I tried to report Todd (kidding! :).

There is a site that I dislike that gives a derogatory view of Realtors,  it's owned by a Realtor, and though I reported it to NAR, and I got an email from NAR saying they'd have the site taken down, months later it still is up and running.  (I'm not going to give the site any more publicity by naming it here....)

Phil - I made the same mistake in the message threads and copied the mistake above (transposed the e and the i ). Here is the correct spelling and email address:

The person at NAR who handles trademark violations is Mike Thiel in their legal department. He can be reached at MThiel@realtors.org

Hi Gene.

You are forgiven!   I sent my notice to the general mailbox for NAR and did get a response regarding their upcoming review of the URL.

Thanks for the correction!