Archive for September, 2011
eBay Software Foundation? Auction site buys eBay Software Foundation domains
It appears eBay is making plans to launch their own software foundation. On September 28, 2011, eBay Inc. registered over half a dozen domain names related to: eBay Software Foundation.
The list of names includes: ebay-softwarefoundation.com, ebay-softwarefoundation.net, ebay-softwarefoundation.org, ebaysf.com, ebaysf.net, ebaysf.org, ebaysoftwarefoundation.com, ebaysoftwarefoundation.net, and ebaysoftwarefoundation.org.
Although nothing has been announced yet so it’s not official, one would imagine that the “eBay Software Foundation” might be a non-profit organization that provides support for the eBay community of open-source software projects, similar to the Apache Software Foundation.
Less than two weeks ago, eBay Inc. registered six different ‘eBay Insights’ domain names such as eBayInsights.com and eBay-Insights.com, following the company’s announcement it was building a new division to woo developers and attract merchants called X.commerce.
Here’s a look at the Whois record for eBaySoftwareFoundation.com.
Registrant:
Domain Administrator
eBay Inc.
2145 Hamilton Avenue
San Jose CA 95125
US
Domain Name: ebaysoftwarefoundation.com
Registrar Name: Markmonitor.com
Registrar Whois: whois.markmonitor.com
Administrative Contact:
Domain Administrator
eBay Inc.
2145 Hamilton Avenue
San Jose CA 95125
US
Technical Contact, Zone Contact:
Domain Administrator
eBay Inc.
2145 Hamilton Avenue
San Jose CA 95125
US
Created on…………..: 2011-09-28.
Expires on…………..: 2013-09-28.
Record last updated on..: 2011-09-28.
At the time of this story going online, none of the domains resolve to a web site.
AOL teases mqVibe launch: Something cool is coming to your neighborhood
I have written about AOL’s rumored plans to launch a neighborhood social networking service using MapQuest called ”nVibe” and “mqVibe” in the last two weeks, after I found that AOL had filed a number of related trademarks and registered domains around the terms ‘NVibe’ and ‘Neighborhood Vibe’, as well as mqVibe.
Today, AOL put up a teaser page on MapQuest.com at the following web address: http://mqvibe.mapquest.com/comingsoon
A message on the homepage reads: Something cool is coming to your neighborhood.
The one page website features nothing more than links to the official MapQuest accounts on Facebook and Twitter.
Once again, here’s a quick look at each of the trademarks, which are similar to the NVibe filings.
Serial Number: 85424935
Providing information and news in the field of local business
Serial Number: 85424931
Providing geographic information, destination information, interactive maps, and driving directions via computer and communications networks; Providing information, news, and commentary in the field of travel via computer and communications networks
Serial Number: 85424926
Providing a website that enables users to connect with people in a particular neighborhood or city; Providing user-defined content and content of others selected and customized based on the known or estimated geographical location of users
Serial Number: 85424918
Online social networking services; online local and community social networking services
At the time of this story, AOL has not officially announced anything about mqVibe.
Discussion: ReadWriteWeb
Amazon goes on a massive buying spree, buys over 500 Kindle Fire & Silk domains
The announcement of the all-new Kindle Fire and Silk browser set to be released on November 15, 2011, has ignited a massive domain name buying spree by Amazon.
On the very same day Amazon unveiled the Kindle Fire, the company registered well over 500 domain names related to the Kindle Fire and Silk browser products, through the brand protection company MarkMonitor.
The names range from 3gKindleFire.com to KindleFireClouddrive.com, and SilkSmartphones.com to SilkHTML5.com.
While many of the registrations are certainly defensive in nature, some of the registrations may hint at future plans for Amazon’s newest products.
Because the list of registrations is so long, you can view the registrations here.
Discussion: The Next Web, @RobinWauters, Business Insider, Geeky Gadgets, TechFlash, Media Bistro, CNET News, CNET Australia, SlashGear, TechRadar and Digital Trends
HTC trademarks hint at incentive, reward programs for software developers
It appears that HTC is launching an honors program intended to recognize excellence in the field of technology software development and provide incentive awards in order to promote the development of computer software and applications.
The program names are “HTC Honors” and “HTC Top Honors” according to four trademark applications filed with the United States Patent and Trademark Office on September 23, 2011.
Here’s a look at the filings.
HTC Top Honors
Serial Number: 85431028
Providing recognition and incentives by way of awards and contests to demonstrate excellence in the field of technology and software development; providing a website featuring information on an award program for excellence in the field of technology software development
HTC Top Honors
Serial Number: 85431021
Providing incentive award programs to promote the development of computer software and computer software applications
HTC Honors
Serial Number: 85431016
Providing recognition and incentives by way of awards and contests to demonstrate excellence in the field of technology and software development; providing a website featuring information on an award program for excellence in the field of technology software development
HTC Honors
Serial Number: 85431003
Providing incentive award programs to promote the development of computer software and computer software applications
Discussion: Gadgetsteria
Image: HTC
Google registers several new domain names like GoogleParadox.com
Google has purchased several new domain names through the brand protection company MarkMonitor for possible future projects.
The purchases include names like GoogleParadox.com and GooglePassenger.com, all registered on September 26, 2011.
Here’s the list of new domains purchased in the past few days.
http://whois.domaintools.com/googlearrive.com
http://whois.domaintools.com/googleconsent.com
http://whois.domaintools.com/googledepart.com
http://whois.domaintools.com/googleparadox.com
http://whois.domaintools.com/googlepassenger.com
http://whois.domaintools.com/googlerange.com
http://whois.domaintools.com/googlevolume.com
Google wants to ‘Get your folks online’ too, not just businesses
Google recently unveiled its program to help get Virginia businesses online, in an easy, free, and fast way with no catch and no cost. It did something similar in Texas back in July after registering a number of ‘Get Online’ domains in June that covered all fifty states.
If all goes according to Google’s plans based on domain registrations, your parents will be able to get online for free, too.
Google purchased GetYourFolksonline.com, GetYourFolksonline.net, and GetYourFolksOnline.org on September 26, 2011.
While Google hasn’t announced anything official yet, it’s possible the program could be for helping your parents who have businesses. Or, maybe Google wants you to help get your parents online to start using their social network Google+.
At the time of this story, the web addresses do not resolve to a page.
Following is the Whois record for Getyourfolksonline.com.
Registrant:
DNS Admin
Google Inc.
1600 Amphitheatre Parkway
Mountain View CA 94043
US
Domain Name: getyourfolksonline.com
Registrar Name: Markmonitor.com
Registrar Whois: whois.markmonitor.com
Administrative Contact:
DNS Admin
Google Inc.
1600 Amphitheatre Parkway
Mountain View CA 94043
US
Technical Contact, Zone Contact:
DNS Admin
Google Inc.
1600 Amphitheatre Parkway
Mountain View CA 94043
US
Created on…………..: 2011-09-26.
Expires on…………..: 2013-09-26.
Record last updated on..: 2011-09-26.
Google reveals it got Chromebox.com via secret intermediary, launch imminent?
Google officially launched its Chrome OS laptops called Chromebooks on June 15, but there is still no official release date for its desktop version of the Chrome OS called Chromebox announced back in May. Though Google did acquire several related domain names around Chromebook and Chromebox around the same time as Google I/O 2011, one name it didn’t own was Chromebox.com.
According to Whois records, Google acquired the domain Chromebox.com through MarkMonitor’s secret shell company Brand Certified Inc in August (price unknown). Then on September 23, 2011, the registrant information was updated on Chromebox.com, revealing Google as the owner.
Is the update to the Whois record and transfer to Google’s domain servers a sign of an imminent launch?
Here’s a look at the Whois record.
Registrant:
DNS Admin
Google Inc.
1600 Amphitheatre Parkway
Mountain View CA 94043
US
Domain Name: chromebox.com
Registrar Name: Markmonitor.com
Registrar Whois: whois.markmonitor.com
Administrative Contact:
DNS Admin
Google Inc.
1600 Amphitheatre Parkway
Mountain View CA 94043
US
Technical Contact, Zone Contact:
DNS Admin
Google Inc.
1600 Amphitheatre Parkway
Mountain View CA 94043
US
Created on…………..: 2003-05-17.
Expires on…………..: 2013-06-01.
Record last updated on..: 2011-09-23.
Domain servers in listed order:
ns2.google.com
ns3.google.com
ns4.google.com
ns1.google.com
Image Credit: Engadget
Nintendo gains rights to SuperMario.com, more than 25 years after game’s release
It’s hard to believe it’s been over 25 years since Nintendo released Mario Bros. and Super Mario Bros. In 2010, Super Mario Bros. celebrated its 25th anniversary. But in all these years, Nintendo hasn’t owned the matching domain to one of the most beloved games of all time.
That’s changed for 2011, as Nintendo has finally gained control of the domain name: SuperMario.com.
Back in early August, Nintendo filed a complaint with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO Case Number D2011-1348), however even though the case is still listed as active, it appears the case is closed as SuperMario.com is now registered to Nintendo of America Inc. as of September 25, 2011.
It’s possible WIPO’s online database has not been updated at the time of this story. It’s also possible that Nintendo reached an agreement with the name’s previous owner before WIPO could review the case. Of course, it’s even possible the owner fearing legal problems for hosting Super Mario games on the web address, simply turned over the name.
The company still doesn’t own SuperMarioBros.com, SuperMarioBrothers.com, MarioBros.com or MarioBrothers.com, but it does have a win with SuperMario.com.
Here’s a look at the updated Whois record.
Domain Name………. supermario.com
Creation Date…….. 1996-02-24
Registration Date…. 2011-09-25
Expiry Date………. 2013-02-26
Organisation Name…. Nintendo of America Inc.
Organisation Address. 4600 150th Ave. N.E.
Organisation Address.
Organisation Address. Redmond
Organisation Address. 98052
Organisation Address. WA
Organisation Address. UNITED STATES
Admin Name……….. Web Master
Admin Address…….. 4600 150th Ave. N.E.
Admin Address……..
Admin Address…….. Redmond
Admin Address…….. 98052
Admin Address…….. WA
Admin Address…….. UNITED STATES
Admin Email……….
Admin Phone………. +425.8822040
Admin Fax………… +425.8823585
Discussion: Game Informer, Destructoid and Nintendo Life
PopCap planning to launch casino-style social games on Lucky Gem Casino
A little over over a week ago, I wrote about PopCap Games registering over two dozen new domain names of many of its existing games. The names included the words: casino, slots, and poker, such as bookwormcasino.com and bookwormslots.com.
Included in the bunch was luckygemcasino.com, which now appears to be the name of PopCap’s Online Casino game destination, based not only on the fact that PopCap has filed a trademark application with the USPTO as of September 20th, but on the name change that took place in the past week to its Facebook PopCap Casino Page.
Originally, the page was called PopCap Casino (pictured below from early Sept.), now it’s be renamed to Lucky Gem Casino (as shown above).
Earlier this week PopCap filed a trademark with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (serial no. 85427495).
Here’s a look at the filing.
PopCap Games, Inc.
Address:
PopCap Games, Inc.
2401 4th Avenue, Suite 300
Seattle, WA 98121
United States
Legal Entity Type: Corporation
State or Country of Incorporation: Washington
GOODS AND/OR SERVICES
International Class: 041
Class Status: Active
Entertainment services, namely, providing online interactive, computer, video or electronic games; providing interactive, computer, video or electronic games through computer networks or television or other telecommunications networks; providing websites featuring content and information in the field of games, interactive game content, computer game content, video game content or electronic game content; providing temporary use of non-downloadable interactive games, computer games, video games or electronic games; providing temporary use of non-downloadable social networking games and social networking-related software applications
Basis: 1(b)
First Use Date: (DATE NOT AVAILABLE)
First Use in Commerce Date: (DATE NOT AVAILABLE)
International Class: 042
Class Status: Active
Creating an online community for registered users to participate in electronic discussions, chat, give and receive feedback, form virtual communities, engage in social networking, and post, retrieve, share and display data, information, messages, images and other digital media; creating an online community for game players for the purpose of connecting players and enabling game-related activities and competitions
Basis: 1(b)
First Use Date: (DATE NOT AVAILABLE)
First Use in Commerce Date: (DATE NOT AVAILABLE)
[Update 1 on February 21, 2012: PopCap Games unveiled the slot-based social game experience Lucky Gem Casino. You can read the full press release here.]
Discussion: GeekWire
ModernWarfare3.com to re-direct to official MW3 web site, any day now
It’s good news for all the fans of the Call of Duty franchise.
The domain name ModernWarfare3.com has transferred over to Activision’s domain server that hosts other names like CallofDuty.com, which likely means only one thing: ModernWarfare3.com will finally resolve to the official MW3 website any day now.
Earlier in the week, Activision’s trademark attorneys at Millen, White, Zelano & Branigan, P.C, took official control of ModernWarfare3.com from Anthony Abraham following a dispute over the web address.
The transfer of the domain to Activision’s domain server occurred on Saturday, September 24, 2011.
