Archive for October, 2011
Apple files domain name dispute over AppleStores.com, UsedMacs.com
Apple’s legal department has been keeping busy in 2011, filing a new domain name dispute with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) over five names which belong to the same owner: Wachter Consulting Inc.
A total of ten cases have been filed by Apple Inc in 2011 going back to January, when Apple filed a complaint over aplle.com and won.
The domains involved in the latest dispute (WIPO case number: D2011-1866) include: applestores.com, imacstore.com, macdaily.com, mactimes.com, and usedmacs.com.
Wachter Consulting Inc. owns over 6,000 domains including web addresses like LAClippers.com and VintCerf.com. The company has been a respondent in disputes in the past, which involved mercede.com and matériel.net. In both disputes, Wachter Consulting Inc. won.
This time however, it may prove difficult for Wachter Consulting to hold on to their ‘Apple’ names.
Apple has been having success all year long and in recent disputes, winning AppleiPods.com and iPods.com, among many notable web addresses it has filed complaints over.
Apple currently has three cases open with WIPO, which involve names like appleproductsonline.com, applebigdiscount.com, applesdiscount.com, applessales.com, and applestorewell.com.
One case it surprisingly hasn’t filed in 2011, is that of iPhone4S.com.
Apple fans expecting to learn more about the iPhone 4S, are currently greeted by a not-so-safe-for-work surprise when typing in the web address iPhone4S.com into their browser.
I wrote about the NSFW site back in mid July after a leaked photo of a rumored iPhone 4GS turned up on Weibo.
One would expect a domain dispute to follow soon.
(Photo of Apple Computer — Apple Store, Michigan Avenue (Chicago) via TonyTheTiger)
Google quietly reveals GOMO, a service that mobilizes your site [UPDATED]
Early in September, I wrote about Google registering the domain names Howtogomo.com, Howtogomo.net, and Howtogomo.org, and I wondered why the search engine giant went out and bought the web addresses.
Well, it looks like we finally know why.
Although currently ‘Access Restricted’, Howtogomo.com has been launched on the web this week and it appears to be a service that allows visitors to get mobile-friendly versions of websites.
Unless you know the correct password, when you click the Preview button, you’ll receive an ‘Incorrect Password’ message.
While a service like this is nothing new, demand and competition is growing.
Google already has a similar service called ‘Google Mobile Optimizer’ found at google.com/gwt/n, however it’s very limited in features.
[Updated, Nov. 1, 10:05am EST: Google has now made the website public, as shown in the picture below. However, you may encounter an "Over Quota" error and have to try again later.
According to the Agency Guide that can be downloaded from the website, the initiative is designed to educate businesses about the mobile opportunity and empower them to build mobile-friendly sites. A web tool called the GoMoMeter shows you how your current site looks on a smartphone, and provides a free report with personalized recommendations.]
Discussion: ReadWriteWeb, Techmeme, PC Magazine, Betabeat, Search Engine Land, Softpedia, Press-Register, 9to5Google and CNET
Is Tumblr working on a secret yet-to-be-revealed project called Seltzer?
Tumblr is continuing its rise in the social media ranks, with milestones such as President Obama’s campaign for 2012 experimenting with the platform.
Now, it appears Tumblr is getting ready to roll out something new called Seltzer.
Several private domain name registrations were made this week through the brand protection and domain management company MarkMonitor, that hint at something new like TumblrSeltzer.com.
The domain registrations include seltzertumblr.com, tumblrseltzer.com, getseltzer.com, and even tumblrsupply.com.
While Tumblr Inc has a record of using Register.com to purchase domain names, it may be using MarkMonitor in hopes of keeping future projects a secret until they are officially released. MarkMonitor is used by several of the social media heavyweights including Google and Facebook.
Discussion: SocialTimes.com
Looks like Paramount’s Paranormal Activity 4, 5, and 6, headed for big screen
With the massive success of the Paranormal Activity franchise, it’s no surprise that Paramount is eyeing at least three more films in the supernatural horror film series.
While it could be nothing more than defensive domain registrations, this week, Paramount has gone out and registered several names like Paranormalmovie4.com, Paranormalmovie5.com, and Paranormalmovie6.com.
The list of newly registered domain names includes:
paranormalactivity5movie.com
paranormalactivity6movie.com
paranormalmovie4.com
paranormalmovie5.com
paranormalmovie6.com
Although the owner of the names remains hidden behind WHOIS privacy, all of the web addresses were registered through MarkMonitor, well-reputed for its internet brand protection services provided to companies like Google.
Paramount Pictures already registered paranormalactivity4movie.com through MarkMonitor in early December 2010.
Though Paramount Pictures hasn’t officially confirmed a Paranormal Activity 4, 5, or 6, considering the films have been one of the best investments in movie studio history, you can guarantee Paramount is already thinking forward to October 2012.
Google registers ‘Maps Matter’ domain names
With changes being released for Google Maps like business interiors in Street View, it appears an online marketing campaign might be in store for the search engine giant.
On October 28, 2011, Google registered a handful of domains like MapsMatter.com and WhyMapsMatter.com.
While neither MapsMatter.com nor WhyMapsMatter.com resolve to a web page as of yet, given the timing of the registrations coinciding with enhancements to Street View and the plug being pulled on unlimited access to its API, it’s safe to say Google is planning to unveil something soon on the new web addresses.
Here’s a look at the WHOIS record for MapsMatter.com, registered through the brand protection company MarkMonitor.
Registrant:
DNS Admin
Google Inc.
1600 Amphitheatre Parkway
Mountain View CA 94043
US
Domain Name: mapsmatter.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…………..: 2011-10-28.
Expires on…………..: 2013-10-28.
Record last updated on..: 2011-10-28.
Google also registered mapsmatter.org and whymapsmatter.org.
Domain names point to sequel being called Rainbow Six: Patriots [UPDATED]
There has been a lot of buzz about the upcoming Rainbow Six game by Ubisoft said to take place in New York.
While not much is known about the game, the title of the game might have been revealed in Ubisoft’s recent domain registrations.
On the same day Ubisoft registered names for other games like AssassinsCreedRecollection.com, Ubisoft also registered Rainbow6Patriots.com and RainbowsixPatriots.com.
Here’s a look at the WHOIS record for RainbowSixPatriots.com.
domain: rainbowsixpatriots.com
reg_created: 2011-10-27 18:10:44
expires: 2012-10-27 18:10:44
created: 2011-10-27 20:10:45
changed: 2011-10-27 20:10:46
transfer-prohibited: yes
ns0: nic1.ubisoft.com
ns1: nic2.ubisoft.com
ns2: nic3.ubisoft.com
ns3: nic4.ubisoft.com
owner-c:
nic-hdl: USE1-GANDI
owner-name: UbiSoft Entertainment
organisation: UbiSoft Entertainment
person: Cécile RUSSEIL
address: 28 RUE ARMAND CARREL
zipcode: 93100
city: MONTREUIL
country: France
In total, Ubisoft registered eight names on October 27.
The full list of names included: assassinscreedrecollection.com, horsehaventhegame.com, leslapinscretinslatresgrosseappli.com, leslapinscretinslatresgrosseapplihd.com, princeofpersiaclassic.com, rabbidsgophoneagain.com, rainbow6patriots.com, and rainbowsixpatriots.com.
[Update 1, Oct. 29, 5:56 a.m.: A member of NeoGAF has now confirmed my rumor that the next Rainbow Six game will indeed be called 'Rainbox Six: Patriots'.]
-BLITZ- writes:
“As the title says and the game being already rumoured by Fusible.com I can confirm it now that the next Rainbow Six will be announce on Xbox World Magazine in the upcoming month (if I understood correctly from my contact). Last night I got home with the assets; logos, arts, the covers and rendered game screens from a buddy that I know in marketing. I will not going to show anything for the moment as I will let the mag do his work, but what I can tell is that the logo is 6 with the pistol that replace the bottom circle. The arts backgrounds are with the New York in fire and the renders characters are very similiar to Homefront, yet the clothes are still based with police rainbow six gears. What I understood the plot will go between a large group of revolutionary terrorists and of course the police. “
[Update 2, Nov. 3: Ubisoft officially confirmed the next title is Rainbow Six: Patriots.]
Discussion: NeoGAF, Kotaku, Game Informer, Joystiq, Gamespy.com, Eurogamer.net, VG247, Game Rant, Gematsu, Eurogamer España, Kotaku Australia. Videogameszone, Gaming Union, Lazygamer, Cinema Blend, WhatCulture!, Digital Spy, VGChartz, PlayStation LifeStyle, tweakers.net, Digital Trends, Shacknews, BLAST, Complex.com and Co-Optimus
A&E Television Networks acquires hundreds of pro- and anti-domain names
A&E Television Networks has gone on a buying spree and made hundreds of defensive domain purchases ranging from WeHateAandE.com to iLoveLifetime.com.
Days ago A&E posted a job listing that is still online for an IP Attorney to be part of the company’s legal team.
Among the responsibilities, the person would be working with and supporting the company’s IT and Digital departments to acquire domain names and fonts; and for issuing DMCA take-down notices and other related enforcement actions against IP infringers and others.
Here’s a look at the partial of domain names registered this week through the brand protection company Corporation Service Company.
h2dispute.com
h2sucks.com
history-channelcablevisiondispute.com
history-channeldispute.com
history-channelsucks.com
historycablevisiondispute.com
historychannelcablevisiondispute.com
historychanneldispute.com
historychannelsucks.com
historydispute.com
ihateaande.com
ihateaandenetworks.com
ihateaandetv.com
ihateae.com
ihateaenetworks.com
ihateaetv.com
ihateanenetworks.com
ihatebio-channel.com
ihatebio.com
ihatebiochannel.com
ihatebiography-channel.com
ihatebiography.com
ihatebiographychannel.com
ihateci.com
ihatecinetwork.com
ihatecrimeandinvestigation.com
ihatecrimeandinvestigationnetwork.com
ihateh2.com
ihatehistory-channel.com
ihatehistorychannel.com
ihatelifetime.com
ihatelifetimemovienetwork.com
ihatelmn.com
iloveaande.com
iloveaandenetworks.com
iloveaandetv.com
iloveae.com
iloveaenetworks.com
iloveaetv.com
iloveanenetworks.com
ilovebio-channel.com
ilovebiochannel.com
ilovebiography-channel.com
ilovebiography.com
ilovebiographychannel.com
iloveci.com
ilovecinetwork.com
ilovecrimeandinvestigation.com
ilovecrimeandinvestigationnetwork.com
iloveh2.com
ilovehistory-channel.com
ilovehistorychannel.com
ilovelifetime.com
You can see many more of the domain names here, well over 200.
WorldWondersProject.com: Google buys domain for secret new site [UPDATED]
In September I wrote about Google acquiring the domain name OneWorldManyStories.com after the domain name had expired.
Then, in early October, Google unveiled the ‘One World Many Stories’ website that showcases stories of how people use Google Earth to discover more about the world. The site was launched in celebration of Google Earth being downloaded 1 billion times.
Now it appears Google has another secretive project underway called the “World Wonders Project”, that if I had to guess, I’d say has something to do with Google Earth and the Wonders of the World.
Google registered the domain names WorldWondersProject.com and WorldWondersProject.net on October 12 through MarkMonitor.
Here’s a look at the Whois record.
Registrant:
DNS Admin
Google Inc.
1600 Amphitheatre Parkway
Mountain View CA 94043
US
Domain Name: worldwondersproject.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…………..: 2011-10-12.
Expires on…………..: 2013-10-12.
Record last updated on..: 2011-10-12.
Domain servers in listed order:
ns1.google.com
ns3.google.com
ns4.google.com
ns2.google.com
[Updated, Oct. 28, 4:33 a.m.: It now appears Google has acquired the domain WorldWonders.org [WHOIS] from BuyDomains using the same well-known internet brand protection company MarkMonitor as the intermediary. The name transferred from BuyDomains to MarkMonitor this week. According to web cache, the purchase price was only $2,088.]
(Photo of The Sphinx and the Khafre’s Pyramid in Giza by Ian Sewell)
Amazon has plans to launch “Flow”
Domain name registrations are often a good indication of future plans by companies.
So based on recent domain names purchased by Amazon I would say that the company has plans to unveil something new called Flow.
On October 26, Amazon registered several names through the internet brand protection company MarkMonitor that centered around the word ‘flow’ like amazonflowapp.com, flowappbyamazon.com, flowbyamazon.com, and flowpoweredbyamazon.com.
After a little domain sleuthing, I also discovered that Amazon registered the domain name Amazonflow.com back in early June.
Although the domain amazonflow.com is registered at Go Daddy and hidden behind its privacy service Domains by Proxy, as I’ve pointed out in the past when I predicted the next Kindle would be named after an element, it’s simple to reveal Amazon as the owner by using Go Daddy’s public Account Retrieval System.
Flow is obviously a reference to a river flowing like the Amazon, but in this case ‘Amazon Flow’ will end up being a service or product. In recent months, Amazon’s legal department has registered a number of names related to nature that go well with its name.
Amazonflow.com and the other newly registered domain names, are either parked at Go Daddy or do not resolve to a web page at the time of this story.
This week, Amazon also acquired amazon-z.com, amazonchina-z.com and amazonchinaz.com.
Del Toro’s monster movie will be called ‘Still Seas’, according to domain names
Director Guillermo del Toro will begin shooting his monsters versus mechas movie for Warner Bros at the end of this month at the Pinewood Toronto Studios.
Excepted to be titled either “Pacific Rim” or “Still Seas”, it looks like an official name may have finally been decided: Still Seas.
On October 25, it appears Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. has registered three domain names for the movie including Still-Seas-movie.com, StillSeasmovie.com, and StillSeasthemovie.com.
Although the owner’s name is hidden, the names are registered to DNstination Inc., the Whois privacy service provided by well-known internet brand protection company MarkMonitor, where the domain WarnerBros.com itself is registered.
Warner Bros. did register Pacific Rim domain names earlier in March like PacificRimmovie.com and PacificRimthemovie.com, also with MarkMonitor, however neither domain resolves to a web page.
It’s possible the StillSeas domains are nothing more than defensive registrations, but considering the purchases coincide with the shooting of the film, an official announcement may be released any day now.
Here’s a look at the WHOIS record for StillSeasMovie.com.
Discussion: WhatCulture! and Movieline
Image: Gage Skidmore /Flickr
