Can I register a URL that's a twist on a famous corporate name?

Dot-com confusion

I want to register a unique dot-com Web address, but I am at least a couple of months from forming the business itself, let alone deciding on its legal name. If I register this in my own name as an individual, can I later sell the name to my business corporation? Will that protect me from liability because the name is a twist on a well-known corporate property that I am almost sure the almost-sound-alike will want to own?

You have two questions. One is easy to answer; the other is trickier.

You can register your domain name (also known as a URL) in your own name and later transfer it to your corporation. You should notify the domain name registrar that performed the registration and update the ownership records.

Regardless of who owns the domain name, if the name is the same (or substantially similar) to that of a well known company, you most likely will have to give it up. You will either be infringing (confusing consumers as to the source), diluting (diminishing the power of a famous trademark), or cybersquatting (acquiring a domain name in bad faith), all of which will get you in legal hot water. In addition to facing a federal court injunction, your corporation may be held liable for costs and possibly attorneys' fees.