Month: March 2012

Categories
News Technology

Research in Motion (RIM) acquires BlackBerrySpin.com domain name

BlackBerry Spin

BlackBerry Spin

It looks like Research in Motion Ltd. (RIM) has privately registered the domain name BlackBerrySpin.com after it recently expired.

On March 25, 2012, the domain name BlackBerrySpin.com (Whois) was registered through the brand protection company MarkMonitor, where other web properties that RIM owns like BlackBerryTablet.com (Whois) are managed.

As with any domain registration, it may be nothing more than a defensive measure to protect RIM’s intellectual property.  In fact, it may just be a reference to the BlackBerry PIN — the personal identification number assigned to each device.

RIM is also close to launching a new BlackBerry. 

According to Bloomberg, “Research In Motion Ltd. (RIM) plans to give software developers prototypes for its new BlackBerry smartphone platform in early May, signaling RIM is a step closer to debuting a handset it’s betting on to lift sales.”

At the time of this story, the domain does not resolve to a web page nor has RIM announced anything about a “BlackBerry Spin” product.

[Updated 4:40pm Est:. It appears RIM acquired other domain names that had expired and were previously owned by the same registrant — LawleyCorp out of Canada.  RIM also got its hands on BlackBerryBytes.com (Whois) and  BlackBerryWhine.com (Whois).]

Discussion: Geeky Gadgets and N4BB

(Image of BlackBerry World Keynote via BlackBerry.com) 

Categories
News

Tebow Takes New York reality show? Brand Protection Co. registers domains

Tebow Takes New York

Tebow Takes New York

While Tim Tebow won’t be starring in the ABC reality series “The Bachelor”, the NFL quarterback who is headed to the New York Jets could have another reality show lined up, according to several private domain name registrations through the brand protection company MarkMonitor.

On March 21, names like TebowTakesNewYork.com (Whois) and TebowTakesNYC.com (Whois) were registered by MarkMonitor, who counts among its clients E Entertainment Television which broadcasts Kourtney and Kim Take New York. 

E!’s own EOnline.com is registered through MarkMonitor.

While this is all speculation, Tim Tebow is going Hollywood and has signed with talent agency William Morris Endeavor, the agency confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter.

Other domain names also on the list of registrations include: tebowtakesnewyork.net, tebowtakesny.com, tebowtakesny.net, and tebowtakesnyc.net.

(Image of Tim Tebow hanging out with Bono at U2 Concert via TimTebow.com)

Categories
News Video Games

Is Activision launching a blog? Game publisher registers ActivisionNews.com

Activision Blizzard logo

Activision Blizzard logo

Could Activision be launching its own blog sometime in the near future? 

It very well could be according to a recent domain registration by Mary Tuck, Activision’s legal counsel.  On March 19, the company registered the domain name ActivisionNews.com (Whois) through the internet brand protection company MarkMonitor.

While Activision already has a Press Releases section on its website and its social media manager Dan Amrich runs a blog called One of Swords that covers Activision happenings, unlike some of its competitors such as Electronic Arts, Activision has no company branded blog that covers anything and everything Activision.

Of course, ActivisionNews.com may be nothing more than a defensive registration, so I guess we’ll have to wait and see if anything turns up online.

As of today, ActivisionNews.com does not resolve to a web page.

Discussion: Joystiq

Categories
News Technology Trademarks

Google trademarks Showy for software that turns a device into a remote control

Showy Trademark

Late last month, Google registered the domain name GoogleShowy.com.   With such generic words in the name there was not much to go on.

But now, Google has filed a trademark application with the United States Patent and Trademark Office revealing more details as to what “Showy” will be when it’s finally released.

The goods and services in the trademark application (Serial Number:  85570895), which was submitted on March 15, covers: “Downloadable software which allows users to use their computer, tablet device, or mobile phone as a remote control to operate video display devices and televisions; and downloadable software which allows users to remotely control the content on internet-connected digital signage.”

The information in the trademark filing sounds related to a Google patent which was recently talked about in news sites and blogs.

In February, Patently Apple reported that Google was developing a new remote for Google TV.

“The new remote will use voice controls associated with Google’s own cloud services. The user will be able to use their Android Phone as the remote to make inquiries about TV shows and the TV will list what’s available as illustrated in our cover graphic,” wrote Jack Purcher.

But of course, nothing is certain until Google actually releases Showy.

As of today, Google has made no official announcement on releasing Showy and the domain name GoogleShowy.com does not resolve to a web page.

Discussion: Techmeme, Business Insider, MobileSyrup.com, Android Police, San Francisco Chronicle, Electronista, Phandroid.com, Softpedia, Marketing Land, Android Authority, androidandme.com, Yahoo! News and 9to5Google

Categories
Movies News

DreamWorks registers domains for something called Shrek’s Thrilling Tales

Shrek's Thrilling Tales

While DreamWorks Animation may have no plans for a fifth Shrek film, it does appear to have something in store for the fairy tale ogre, according to several new domain registrations that center around: Shrek’s Thrilling Tales.

On March 19, DreamWorks Animation L.L.C. registered ShreksThrillingTales.com, ShreksThrillingTales.net, ShreksThrillingTales.org, ShreksThrillingTales.co.uk, as well as the dot-info and dot-biz.

I won’t bother speculating on the company’s plans for the names, because the possibilities are endless — a film, a theme park ride, a spin-off, a video game, a musical?

No official announcement has been made by DreamWorks nor do any of the domain names resolve to a web page at the time of this story.

[Update 1 on March 23, 2012, 5:10am Est:. DreamWorks has registered more Shrek-related domain names.  On March 21, it registered the following names: ShrekFairyTaleKingdom.com (Whois) and ShreksFairyTaleKingdom.com (Whois).  Other domain buys on the same day included: ChunkytheDeathcat.com (Whois), ChunkytheDeathcat.net and ChunkytheDeathcat.info.]