A name, whether compound or not, is a designation used to identify a specific domain on the internet. Originally, this term was used to describe trademarks created specifically for use in online activities, whether commercial or not. These trademarks were often called “clicks,” in contrast to traditional trademarks known as “bricks and mortar.”

According to Nathalie Hadjadj-Cazier and Franck Caso, a domain name can be considered a distinctive form of expression if it is actually used to direct traffic to a working website. In this case, its owner can benefit from protection similar to that granted to company names and trade names. This means that the domain name holder could oppose the subsequent registration of an identical or similar trademark and challenge other distinctive signs by invoking civil liability, provided that this new trademark presents a risk of confusion with the activity presented on the website identified by the domain name.