Tag: microsoft

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News Video Games

Microsoft registers HaloExchange.com, UNSCExchange.com domain names

Halo Exchange

If domain names are any indication of Microsoft’s plans for its biggest Xbox franchise, the company may be opening some type of new store with the launch of Halo 4.

On October 17, Microsoft registered the names HaloExchange.com (Whois), HaloExchange.net (Whois), HaloWaypointStore.com (Whois), HaloWaypointstore.net (Whois), UNSCExchange.com (Whois), and UNSCExchange.net (Whois) through the brand protection company MarkMonitor.

While it could be nothing more than Microsoft protecting its Halo brand, the registration of both the dotcom and dotnet may signal bigger plans.

In the U.S. military, the term “Base Exchange” is a common name for a type of retail store, originally akin to trading posts.

At the time of this story being published, the domain names redirect visitors to Bing.

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News Video Games

Microsoft acquires Halo 7, Halo 8 & Halo 9 domains via brand protection company

Halo 4

  • Microsoft hints at future of Halo franchise with Halo 7-9 domain names

  • Halo5.com, Halo9.com domains acquired by Microsoft in Feb/March 2012

  • Halo4.com acquired in 2011 for undisclosed amount after E3 unveiling

  • Halo.com does not belong to Microsoft, belongs to product distributor

With all the Microsoft video game talk about Halo 4 that is scheduled to be released on November 6, 2012, Microsoft is looking to the future and working to protect its Halo brand online.

This week, the company acquired several more domain names centering around its cash cow Halo, hinting that the franchise will be around for years to come.

Through the internet brand protection company MarkMonitor, Microsoft has apparently acquired the domains halo7.net (Whois), halo7.org (Whois), halo8.org (Whois), halo9.net (Whois) and halo9.org (Whois).

It’s unknown whether Microsoft opened its checkbook to get the names and it’ll likely remain that way.  History has shown that the terms of agreement between Microsoft and private domain sellers is not disclosed publicly.

Each of the newly acquired names is registered to DNStination Inc, a Whois privacy service administered by MarkMonitor.  The change in ownership took place within the last 48 hours.

Halo9.net

Microsoft has had a busy twelve months acquiring Halo-related domain names.

In March of this year, it secretly acquired Halo5.com and Halo9.com from their previous owners using Corporation Service Company’s Name Rally.

In 2011, Microsoft acquired Halo4.com for an undisclosed amount from its previous owner.

So, what does Microsoft’s Halo dotcom scorecard look like?

Here’s a look.

Halo.com – active website owned by HALO Brand Solutions, not Microsoft.

Halo1.com – active website owned by HALO ONE, not Microsoft.

Halo2.com – owned by Microsoft Corporation.

Halo3.com – owned by Microsoft Corporation.

Halo4.com – owned by Microsoft Corporation.

Halo5.com – owned by Microsoft Corporation.  Privately registered.

Halo6.com – parked by Colby Thiesen, not owned by Microsoft.

Halo7.com – active website, not owned by Microsoft.

Halo8.com – active website owned by Halo 8 Productions, not Microsoft.

Halo9.com – owned by Microsoft Corporation.  Privately registered.

Halo10.com – owned by Microsoft Corporation.

Talking about this story: Computerandvideogames.com, Capsule Computers, EGMNOW, elotrolado.net, Eurogamer.pt, FOK!, Game Informer, Game Rant, Game Revolution, Gameranx, GameZone, IGN, MCV, MeriStation, NowGamer, playm.de, Shack News, Strategy Informer, Tecmundo, VG247 and Xbox 360: The Official Xbox Magazine

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Movies News Video Games

Sony Pictures registers a slew of ‘Console War’ movie domain names

Playstation 4 PS4 concept

The next generation of console wars between Nintendo, Sony, and Microsoft is set to begin as all three manufacturers are due to release a new console in the near future.  Nintendo plans to release the Wii U in 2012, while the PlayStation 4 and Xbox 720 are expected in 2013.  Adding to the “war of consoles”, Sony Pictures has registered several domain names this week like ConsoleWarmovie.com (Whois) and TheConsoleWarmovie.com (Whois).

Could ‘Console War’ actually be a movie or just a creative marketing video promoting the Playstation 4?

What hints that this is more than just a video, is the names were all registered by Sony Pictures Entertainment, the television and film production/distribution unit of Sony.  The names weren’t registered by Sony Computer Entertainment, the video game company.

Either way, there doesn’t appear to be any news coming out of Sony on the subject, but Sony Pictures Entertainment has picked up well over a dozen names.

Each domain was registered on August 23, 2012, through the brand protection company MarkMonitor.

The full list includes:

console-war.net
console-warmovie.com
console-wars.net
console-warsmovie.com
consolewar-movie.com
consolewar-movie.net
consolewar.net
consolewarmovie.com
consolewars-movie.com
consolewars-movie.net
consolewarsmovie.com
theconsolewar-movie.com
theconsolewar-movie.net
theconsolewar.net
theconsolewarmovie.com
theconsolewars-movie.com
theconsolewars-movie.net
theconsolewarsmovie.com

At the time of this story, none of the domains resolve to a web page.

Talking about this story: Kotaku, Screen Rant, Collider.com, /Film, G4tv, Digital Spy, IGN, Tapscape, Game Informer, GameZone, Push Square, gamona.de, games.on.net, NU.nl, I Am Rogue.com, 411mania.com, WorstPreviews.com, The Escapist, OnlineWelten.com, Side Mission (blog), Techzine, Spong, Joystiq, Le Journal du Geek and VG247

(Image of Playstation 4 concept by Tai Chiem)

Categories
News Video Games

Microsoft trademarks ‘Leap Experience Pioneers’ for game software

"Microsoft Xbox Kinect"

Microsoft Corporation submitted an application this week with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) for ‘Leap Experience Pioneers’.

The filing (Serial Number: 85699906), which covers “game software”, comes a little over a week after the company filed to trademark ‘Galactic Reign’ for another yet to be announced game project.

Being that the goods and services only cover “game software”, it’s unknown what Microsoft has planned.

A quick check of the term ‘Leap Experience Pioneers’ across major social networks and popular domain names, shows that Microsoft isn’t that interested yet in owning the brand.   Microsoft hasn’t grabbed leapexperiencepioneers.com at the time of this story, but that doesn’t mean the company won’t have success in the future, should it want the name.

The company has made no official announcement, so for now, we’ll have to wait and see what Microsoft is working on.

Talking about this story: This is Xbox

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Disputes National Arbitration Forum News Technology Video Games

Microsoft files complaint against owner of XboxSmartGlass.com, wants domain [UPDATED]

Xbox SmartGlass

Xbox SmartGlass

Xbox SmartGlass was officially unveiled earlier this week at the E3 convention in Los Angeles.  Days before the big event, rumors had swirled that Microsoft would reveal SmartGlass, prompting the company to register a slew of domains with “SmartGlass” in the name like XboxSmartGlass.net.

One name noticeably missing from the list was XboxSmartGlass.com (Whois).  That’s because Microsoft wasn’t quick enough to register the name.  It was registered by a resident of China who goes by “Haiyue Tang” on the very same day Microsoft moved to secure its “SmartGlass” domains.

Microsoft may have been slow to secure the domain, but it still intends to get it.

Microsoft has now filed a complaint (Case Number 1446970) with the National Arbitration Forum over the domain name XboxSmartGlass.com.

The domain name dispute proceedings commenced this week and also involve windowsphonebar.com.

At the time of this story, XboxSmartGlass.com is a blog written in Chinese that claims to be a non-profit with the purpose of introducing people to the smart glass industry.  Yeah, it’s a stretch.  In one of the first posts on the site, the owner tries to explain the origin of “Xbox SmartGlass” with no mention of Microsoft.

Based on the track record of Microsoft in domain disputes and the fact the company filed a SmartGlass trademark back in January, it should be an open and shut case in Microsoft’s favor.

Talking about this story: Kotaku

UPDATE:. Microsoft has won the dispute for XboxSmartGlass.com and WindowsPhoneBar.com.  Both domains have been ordered transferred.

(Image of Xbox SmartGlass presentation at E3 via Engadget)