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Motorola gets MotorolaRAZR.com 7 years after launch, in time for Droid RAZR

Motorola RAZR V3i

Seven years after Motorola launched the Motorola RAZR, called by some the “iPod of Mobile Phones”, it has secured the rights to the domain name MotorolaRAZR.com, through Corporation Service Company (CSC), a company that specializes in corporate identity protection.

While the RAZR is one of Motorola’s brands, the timing of the acquisition could continue to strengthen rumors that Motorola is planning to combine two of its most recognizable brands into a new device called the “Droid RAZR“.

It doesn’t appear Motorola used legal means to acquire the domain, as no cases are found in the online databases of the National Arbitration Forum or WIPO.  However, it’s possible lawyers for Motorola sent the owner a cease-and-desist letter.

It’s also very possible that Motorola opened up its wallet and paid the previous owner a large sum of money to get the name quickly.  I’ve reached out to the previous owner of MotorolaRAZR.com for more details, and will update this post if I hear back.

DroidRAZR.com was only recently registered in mid September, the same day rumors began to surface of a “Droid RAZR” smartphone.  However, Motorola doesn’t appear to be the owner.

Here’s a look at the updated Whois record for MotorolaRAZR.com.

Registrant:
Corporation Service Company
Domain Registrar
2711 Centerville Road Suite 400
Wilmington, DE 19808
US

Registrar Name….: CORPORATE DOMAINS, INC.
Registrar Whois…: whois.corporatedomains.com

Domain Name: motorolarazr.com

Created on…………..: Sun, Oct 31, 2004
Expires on…………..: Wed, Oct 31, 2012
Record last updated on..: Sat, Oct 01, 2011

Administrative,Technical Contact:
Corporation Service Company
Domain Registrar
2711 Centerville Road Suite 400
Wilmington, DE 19808
US

Although the registrant is CSC, Motorola uses the brand protection service to purchase domain names for its released and yet-to-be released devices like the Accusense, the Energia, and the Kore.

Discussion: Electronista

Categories
News Video Games

Zynga buys up ‘Mafia Wars Shakedown’ domain names, drops hints on Android

Mafia Wars Shakedown

Earlier this week, Zynga bought up nearly 50 new domain names for its newly revealed ‘Mafia Wars Shakedown‘ game for iOS devices.

While the game will first release on iOS devices such as the iPhone and iPad, it appears Zynga has plans to make it available for Android users as well, as the registrations include names such as MafiaWarsShakedownAndroid.com and ShakedownAndroid.com.

As Games.com reported on Thursday: “News of the game appeared when it replaced the Facebook page for Mafia Wars: Atlantic City, which was shuttered earlier this month in preparation for a “a much more exciting destination”.

The list of names registered through the brand protection company MarkMonitor, includes many defensive registrations, but what’s missing from the list is: MafiaWarsShakedown.com.  The domain name was registered in August 2011 at Moniker and is currently marked private.  The web page for mafiawarsshakedown.com points to a Sedo parked page that displays third-party ads. 

While it’s unknown whether Zynga officially owns mafiawarsshakedown.com, it’s entirely possible the company is waiting to re-direct the name to its Facebook page once it officially launches.  Also, purchasing the name at Moniker instead of MarkMonitor, may have been its approach to throwing sleuths off its trail.

Here’s the full list of domain names registered at MarkMonitor.  WARNING: A couple of the registrations include profanity.

ilovemafiawarsshakedown.com
iloveshakedown.com
mafiawarsshakedown2.com
mafiawarsshakedownandroid.com
mafiawarsshakedownapp.com
mafiawarsshakedownblog.com
mafiawarsshakedownbot.com
mafiawarsshakedowncash.com
mafiawarsshakedownecards.com
mafiawarsshakedownfacebook.com
mafiawarsshakedownfans.com
mafiawarsshakedownforums.com
mafiawarsshakedowngame.com
mafiawarsshakedowngamecards.com
mafiawarsshakedowngiftcards.com
mafiawarsshakedowngifts.com
mafiawarsshakedownhacks.com
mafiawarsshakedownipad.com
mafiawarsshakedowniphone.com
mafiawarsshakedownmobile.com
mafiawarsshakedownnews.com
mafiawarsshakedownrewards.com
mafiawarsshakedownstore.com
mafiawarsshakedownzynga.com
playmafiawarsshakedown.com
playshakedown.com
shakedown2.com
shakedownandroid.com
shakedownbot.com
shakedowncash.com
shakedownecards.com
shakedownfacebook.com
shakedownfans.com
shakedownforums.com
shakedowngame.com
shakedowngamecards.com
shakedowngiftcards.com
shakedowngifts.com
shakedownhacks.com
shakedownipad.com
shakedowniphone.com
shakedownmobile.com
shakedownrewards.com
shakedownstore.com
shakedownzynga.com
wwwmafiawarsshakedown.com
wwwshakedown.com
fuckmafiawarsshakedown.com
fuckshakedown.com

Discussion: Inside Social Games

Categories
News Video Games

EA files Style Empire trademark, fashion or interior design game on the way?

Style Empire

This week Electronic Arts has filed yet another trademark application for an unreleased game called “Style Empire”.

With The Sims Social now on Facebook as the No. 2 most popular game behind Cityville, and over 60 million monthly active users according to AppData, it wouldn’t be surprising to see EA expand its library of games that allow users to design interiors or create their own fashion.

It’s possible Style Empire could be for a different type of game as well, but as of today, nothing is official, because there has been no news announced by EA.

EA does not own the web address StyleEmpire.com.  StyleEmpire.com is currently an online retail site that sells designer merchandise.

Here’s a look at the two trademarks filed on September 26, 2011.

Serial Number 85431706: Computer game software; Downloadable computer game software via a global computer network and wireless devices

Serial Number 85431709: Entertainment services, namely, providing an on-line computer game; Provision of information relating to electronic computer games provided via the Internet

Discussion: Game Informer and Joystiq