It is important for businesses to understand that the registration of a domain name does not afford trademark protection. Some businesses will use its trademark to identify its products or services but utilize a slightly different domain name.  If the domain name is not registered with the United States Trademark and Patent office, its is merely a web address and not a trademark.

A business may trademark a domain name if it is being used as more than a web address. The domain name owner must be using that domain name in commerce to identify the source of its goods or services.  By filing an application for trademark status, the domain name owner will receive optimum protection from infringing users.