Month: April 2012

Categories
News Video Games

Electronic Arts appears to have acquired DeadSpace.com domain [UPDATED]

Dead Space 3

Right now, the gaming world is abuzz with news that video game Dead Space 3 was leaked by retailer BT Games.

While it’s not officially confirmed, it appears Electronic Arts is getting to ramp up its online marketing efforts with the private acquisition of the domain name DeadSpace.com.

According to Whois records, the name transferred from its previous owner, domain investor Gregg Ostrick of GNO, Inc., to Corporation Service Company.  For those not familiar with CSC, they’re one of the large companies that helps protect many of the world’s best global brands in part by registering and managing thousands of domain names.

While the registrant is listed as Corporation Service Company, there’s little doubt that any other company but EA is behind the acquisition.

EA has used a handful of web addresses over the years like deadspace.ea.com and deadspacegame.com for the game’s official website.

The game publisher owns the trademark (Serial Number: 77462331) for “Dead Space” to make video games and other “goods and services” like printed publications and action figures.

I’ve reached out to Gregg Ostrick via e-mail to see if any details about the transaction can be shared like the price and buyer.  I will update this post if I hear back.

[Update 2 on April 20, 2012:. It is now confirmed that Electronic Arts was the buyer of DeadSpace.com.  The Whois record was updated again and Electronic Arts Inc. is listed as the registrant.]

[Update 1 on April 19, 2012:. Gregg wrote by email: “Sorry, I can’t provide any details.”]

Discussion: Xbox 360: The Official Xbox Magazine

Categories
News Technology Trademarks

Samsung files trademarks for Galaxy Metrix, Velvet, and Legend smartphones

Samsung Galaxy Metrix, Legend, and Velvet

Samsung continues to file new smartphone trademark applications with the United States Patent and Trademark Office.

On April 13, 2012, Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. submitted three more applications for the Galaxy Metrix (Serial Number: 85597928), the Galaxy Velvet (Serial Number:85597925), and the Galaxy Legend (Serial Number: 85597919).

Each filing covers the exact same “goods and services”:  Mobile telephones; Smartphones.

The new trademark applications come on the heels of the filings for the Galaxy Sire, Galaxy Lift and Galaxy Perx smartphones, filed in late March.

According to BGR, Samsung plans to unveil the Galaxy S III, which will be the official device of the 2012 Summer Olympics, in London.

At the time of this post, Samsung has made no announcement regarding the Galaxy Metrix, Velvet and Legend.

Discussion: MobileSyrup.com and Geeky Gadgets

(Image of the Samsung GALAXY S II via Samsung.com)

Categories
News Video Games

Ubisoft actually registers domain name for Rabbids’ yell Bwaaaaaaaaaah.com

Raving Rabbids bwaaaaaaaaaah

Ubisoft has made somewhat of an interesting domain purchase this week.  On April 17, 2012, the video game publisher registered the thirteen-letter name bwaaaaaaaaaah.com (Whois), which refers to the crazy rabbits known as the Rabbids and their trademark yell, “BWAAAAAAAH!”.

Oddly enough, Ubisoft opted not to go with shorter versions of the name like bwaaaaaaaaah.com (which is only twelve letters long and is available at the time of this story).  In fact, Ubisoft could’ve registered the nine-letter, ten-letter or even the eleven-letter names.

The registration appears related to the first volume of a comic book that will be released in June by the same name.

At the time of this story, the domain does not resolve to a web page.

Discussion: GoNintendo

(Image of Rayman Raving Rabbids TV Party via Ubi.com)

Categories
News Technology Trademarks

Motorola files trademark for Electrify Icon mobile phones and smart phones

Motorola Electrify Icon

Last week, I reported that Motorola registered a handful of “Electrify Icon” domain names like ElectrifyIcon.com and MotorolaElectrifyIcon.com, and now we have more details on what we can expect to see with the Electrify Icon.

On April 11, 2012, Motorola Trademark Holdings submitted a trademark application for the “Electrify Icon” with the United States Patent and Trademark Office.

The “goods and services” in the filing (Serial Number: 85594941) cover, “mobile phones and smart phones”.

Motorola released its “Motorola Electrify” Android-powered smartphone last year, also known as the Motorola Photon 4G.

At the time of this story, Motorola has made no official announcement regarding the “Electrify Icon”.

Categories
Disputes National Arbitration Forum News Video Games

Microsoft wins another case against a fake Halo 4 beta website [UPDATED]

Halo 4 Beta

As buzz picks up about Halo 4, Microsoft has won another domain dispute (Claim Number: FA1203001432610) this past week against a fake Halo 4 beta website, this time Halo4Beta.biz.

On April 11, 2012, a single member panel with the National Arbitration Forum ordered that the Halo4Beta.biz domain name be transferred to Microsoft Corporation after having established all three elements required under the ICANN policy.

The three elements included:

(1) the domain name is identical or confusingly similar to a trademark in which the complainant has rights
(2) the owner has no rights or legitimate interests in respect of the domain name and;
(3) the domain name has been registered and is being used in bad faith.

Some of the highlights noted in the decision included that the respondent in the case, “Gerardo Torres / JerryG”, generated revenue from affiliate fees collected when each internet user signed up to receive one of the offers and that the domain was registered less than 10 days after Microsoft officially introduced Halo 4 through a global press release.

In early March, Microsoft Corporation won the rights to Halo4Beta.net, the first Halo 4 beta website to gain notoriety for tricking users into getting a bogus beta code.

343 Industries announced in March that it had no plans for a Halo 4 beta, but scam artists have still been able to cash in.

The full details of the ruling have been released and can be read online here.

Updated May 8, 2012:. Microsoft has taken official control of the domain name Halo4beta.biz (Whois) and now redirects visitors to Bing.

Talking about this story: VG247 and Gameranx