Can I use my domain name as a trademark?

Domain names can be used, protected and registered as a trademark. However, you have to do more than simply own or register a domain name to be entitled to trademark protection. You must use the domain name to identify goods and services (since the underlying purpose of trademark law is to protect source- identifying marks). For example, if you use the domain name on advertisements for the services offered by the website, the domain name would then be entitled to trademark protection.

It should be noted that the “http://” and “.com” portions of a domain name do not have source-identifying roles and are therefore not entitled to trademark protection and, therefore, they must not be included in any trademark application (or they must be explicitly disclaimed).