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Warner secretly registers domains for several possible Batman vs. Superman film titles

Warner secretly registers possible Batman vs. Superman film titles

There’s been a lot of debate over the official title of the upcoming Batman vs. Superman film scheduled to be released in 2015.

This week, Warner Bros. secretly registered a host of possible titles through the internet brand protection company MarkMonitor.

Now, it’s likely the debate is going to get more opinions.

According to the latest domain registrations, possible titles include “Man of Steel Battle the Knight”, “Man of Steel Beyond Darkness”, “Man of Steel Black of Knight”, “Man of Steel Darkness Falls”, “Man of Steel Knight Falls”, “Man of Steel Shadow of the Night”, “Man of Steel The Blackest Hour”, and “Man of Steel The Darkness Within”.

Shorter variations of the names were also registered like, “Battle the Knight”, “Black of Knight”, “Knight Falls”, and “The Blackest Hour”.

With regards to MarkMonitor, it’s the same company Warner Bros uses for its very own warnerbros.com (WHOIS) and the registrar for the SupermanvsBatman.com domain (WHOIS).

Here’s a look at several of the names that were privately registered:

http://whois.domaintools.com/battletheknight.com
http://whois.domaintools.com/battletheknight.net
http://whois.domaintools.com/battletheknightmovie.com
http://whois.domaintools.com/battletheknightmovie.net
http://whois.domaintools.com/beyonddarknessmovie.com
http://whois.domaintools.com/beyonddarknessmovie.net
http://whois.domaintools.com/blackofknight.com
http://whois.domaintools.com/blackofknight.net
http://whois.domaintools.com/darknessfallsmovie.com
http://whois.domaintools.com/darknessfallsmovie.net
http://whois.domaintools.com/knightfalls.com
http://whois.domaintools.com/knightfalls.net
http://whois.domaintools.com/knightfallsmovie.com
http://whois.domaintools.com/knightfallsmovie.net
http://whois.domaintools.com/manofsteelbattletheknight.com
http://whois.domaintools.com/manofsteelbattletheknight.net
http://whois.domaintools.com/manofsteelblackofknight.com
http://whois.domaintools.com/manofsteelblackofknight.net
http://whois.domaintools.com/manofsteeldarknessfalls.com
http://whois.domaintools.com/manofsteeldarknessfalls.net
http://whois.domaintools.com/manofsteelknightfalls.com
http://whois.domaintools.com/manofsteelshadowofthenight.com
http://whois.domaintools.com/manofsteelshadowofthenight.net
http://whois.domaintools.com/manofsteeltheblackesthour.com
http://whois.domaintools.com/manofsteeltheblackesthour.net
http://whois.domaintools.com/manofsteelthedarknesswithin.com
http://whois.domaintools.com/manofsteelthedarknesswithin.net
http://whois.domaintools.com/shadowofthenightmovie.com
http://whois.domaintools.com/shadowofthenightmovie.net
http://whois.domaintools.com/theblackesthour.com
http://whois.domaintools.com/theblackesthour.net
http://whois.domaintools.com/theblackesthourmovie.com
http://whois.domaintools.com/theblackesthourmovie.net
http://whois.domaintools.com/thedarknesswithinmovie.com
http://whois.domaintools.com/thedarknesswithinmovie.net

For now, it’s all just speculation.

Any of the above names could end up being the title.  At the time of this story, Warner Bros. has made no announcement and none of the domains resolve to a web page.

So what do you think will be the title?

Talking about this story: ComicBook.com, MTV.com, Batman-News, BuzzFeed, Digital Spy, Latinos Post, Zimbio, WorstPreviews.com, Cosmic Book News, Moviehole, Screen Rant, Superherohype.com, Moviefone, Business Insider, Geeks of doom, /FILM, Cinema Blend, I Am Rogue.com, gamona.de, Uproxx, Collider.com, Film Drunk, 411mania.com, The Mary Sue, ScreenCrave.com, Contactmusic.com, IGNMstarz, Grantland, A.V. Club, Digital Trends, Enstarz, Headlines & Global News, Movies.com, ComicsAlliance, Comic Book Movie, Unleash the Fanboy, Newsarama, CANOE, Guyism, Fansided, Hollywood Reporter, MTV UK, Shockya, Total Film, Screen Junkies, Flicks and bits, ScreenCrush, Comic Book Resources, AceShowBiz, Movie Fanatic, Superman Super Site, The Inquisitr, Geekosystem, Toronto Star and Yahoo Movies UK

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Featured Movies News

Transformers 4 film to be titled Apocalypse or Last Stand? Domains privately registered [UPDATED]

Transformers 4

The same brand protection agency that registered TransformersDarkoftheMoon.com back in 2010, has registered a few new domain names that could be possible titles for Michael Bay’s untitled Transformers sequel.

MarkMonitor, which is also the registrar for the Transformers 4 official website, registered names for Transformers: Last Stand, Transformers: Apocalypse, and Transformers: Future Cast.

On August 28, 2013, TransformersApocalyspe.com (WHOIS), TransformersLastStand.com (WHOIS), and TransformersFutureCast.com (WHOIS) were registered.

The official registrant of each domain is hidden behind MarkMonitor’s WHOIS privacy service called DNStinations, however, Paramount Pictures is likely behind the names.

Transformers Apocalypse WHOIS record

Movie title rumors for Transformers 4 have been shot down before.

Two months ago, Michael Bay publicly responded on his website to rumors that the movie would be called Transformers: Rise of Galvatron, saying, “There are rumors flying around from various media sites about the title of the next Transformers.  I wanted you to hear from me directly that we have not yet chosen a title and anything being reported is absolutely not true. When we have a title to announce, I promise you will hear it from me first.”

For now, names like Transformers: Last Stand and Transformers: Apocalypse are just speculation.

The title of the film, which is set to be released in June 2014, is still referred to as the Untitled Transformers Sequel, according to IMDB.

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

UPDATE 1: So it turns out, Transformers 4 will be called Transformers: Age of Extinction.

Talking about this story: ComingSoon.net, Seibertron.com, Comicbook.com, Superherohype.com, 411mania.com, ScreenCrush, Flickering Myth, Cosmic Book News, Moviehole, WorstPreviews.com, First Showing, AlloCiné, melty.fr, Sopitas.com, RopeofSilicon.com, moviepilot.com, TFW2005, IGN, /FILM, Screen Rant, FizX and Dark Horizons

(Image via TransformersMovie.com)

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Featured Movies News

Disney’s LucasFilm registers ‘Star Wars Attack Squadrons’ domain names [UPDATED]

Star Wars Attack Squadrons

Disney has gone out and registered domain names for a yet to be announced project called Star Wars Attack Squadrons.

The registrations include names like StarWarsAttackSquadrons.com, SWAttackSquadrons.com, AttackSquadrons.com, and AttackSquadron.us, to name just a few.

Most of the names were registered under LucasFilm through the brand protection agency Corporation Service Company (CSC).

Though it’s unknown whether “Star Wars Attack Squadrons” will be a movie, a theme park ride, or some other product, it’s possible a video game is in the works with the same title.

Earlier this year, Electronic Arts and Disney signed a multi-year agreement for EA to develop Star Wars games.  And it may be nothing more than a coincidence, but EA is the registrant of AttackSquadron.com (WHOIS) and AttackSquadron.net (WHOIS), which do not resolve to a web page.  EA has owned the names for years according to WHOIS historical records.

For now, it will have to remain speculation, though considering the number of domains that were registered, Disney seems very interested in protecting this intellectual property.

Here are just some of the domain registrations made under LucasFilm:

attacksquadron.org (WHOIS)
attacksquadron.us (WHOIS)
attacksquadrons.org (WHOIS)
attacksquadrons.net (WHOIS)
attacksquadrons.us (WHOIS)
attacksquads.org (WHOIS)
attacksquads.net (WHOIS)
attacksquads.us (WHOIS)
starwarsattacksquadrons.org (WHOIS)
starwarsattacksquadrons.net (WHOIS)
starwarsattacksquadrons.us (WHOIS)
starwarssquad.org (WHOIS)
starwarssquad.net (WHOIS)
starwarssquad.us (WHOIS)
starwarssquadrons.org (WHOIS)
starwarssquadrons.net (WHOIS)
starwarssquadrons.us (WHOIS)
starwarssquads.org (WHOIS)
starwarssquads.us (WHOIS)
swattacksquadron.org (WHOIS)
swattacksquadron.us (WHOIS)
swattacksquadrons.org (WHOIS)
swattacksquadrons.net (WHOIS)
swattacksquadrons.us (WHOIS)

The above list is not an exhaustive list.  The same names also appear to have been registered in the .biz and .co.uk extensions.

The names were all registered on July 26, 2013, but none resolve to a web page at the time of this story.

In the past 24 hours, they were moved over from CSC’s domain servers to Disney’s.

Disney has yet to announce anything official.

UPDATE 1 August 16, 2013: So far, nothing has surfaced at this point to explain Disney’s plans behind “Star Wars Attack Squadrons”, but there has been a new development. The domain names, AttackSquadron.com and AttackSquadron.net, which EA has owned for years, changed registrants to CSC Corporate Domains, Inc. in the past 24 hours and were moved to Disney’s DNS servers on dig.com.  You can look at the WHOIS records here and here to learn more.

Talking about this story: Game Informer, Joystiq, IGN, The Escapist, Computerandvideogames.com, 411mania.com, Digital Spy, ZoKnowsGaming, games.on.net, ScreenCrush, Game Rant, Metro, PCGamesN, PC Gamer, Gameranx, tweakers.net, GameZone, gamona.de, GameSpot, JeuxVideo.com, Comicsblog.fr, NeoGAF, VG247, ComingSoon.net, NZGamer.com, Comic Book Movie, Superherohype.com, SPONG, iDigitalTimes, Xbox 360: The Official Xbox Magazine, Eurogamer.net, Game Revolution, Playstation Lifestyle, GameStar, Multiplayer.it, PlayFrance, Play3-Live, play3.de, Softpedia, Screw Attack, playm.de, FOK!, Gamereactor Sverige, PC Games, All Games Beta, Hardcore Gamer, EGMNOW and Vandal

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Lucasfilm gets DarthVader.com domain, decades after first Star Wars movie

Darth Vader

Darth Vader was introduced in 1977 when the first of the Star Wars films was released.  Now, more than 35 years later, Lucasfilm has secured the rights to the DarthVader.com domain name.

As of this week, according to Whois records, the domain name is registered to “Lucasfilm Ltd”.

DarthVader.com Whois

For more than 10 years, the name was owned by the same individual named Ron Koskinen, before going into Whois privacy in early July 2012.

Of course, while it would have been impossible for Lucasfilm to register the name in the 70s, and very few companies registered names in the 80s, the studio could have picked up the name somehow in the 90s or 2000s.

Lucasfilm has owned and operated StarWars.com since the nineties, according to Whios History and the website Archive.org.

No surprise, Lucasfilm has had trademarks to the “Darth Vader” name dating back to the late seventies, but the studio has brought very few public complaints against owners of Star Wars domain names, disputing only a handful of cases since the early 2000s at the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).

Many of the disputes you don’t hear about are likely handled by Lucasfilm lawyers sending cease and desist letters or demanding the names be turned over.

One of the more notable Lucasfilm complaints was over Tatooine.com back in 2000.

Lucasfilm lawyers sent a letter to the owner Steve Mount asking that the name be relinquished.

Lucasfilm letter

Steve Mount had registered the domain Tatooine.com in 1997, and told a CNET reporter he used the website to post photographs and advertisements for his programming and web design services.  The dispute made headlines, but the name was ultimately turned over to Lucasfilm.

It’s unknown whether Lucasfilm acquired the name DarthVader.com from Koskinen or another private party.

It’s also unknown if the studio opened up its checkbook and bought the name for a large amount of cash or if it had its lawyers send a letter demanding the name.

The movie studio hasn’t been so lucky with the web addresses of other popular characters belonging to Star Wars films.

HanSolo.com (Whois) is registered to HANSOLO Building Services.

ObiWanKenobi.com (Whois) is a parked web page monetized with ads.

Lucasfilm doesn’t even own LukeSkywalker.com (Whois) or Chewbacca.com (Whois).

I’ve reached out to Koskinen by email to see if any more details about the exchange can be provided and will update this post if I hear back.

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

UPDATE 1 – OCT. 8, 2012: It turns out, Tucows donated the DarthVader.com domain name to Lucasfilm after it had expired.  “In exchange, Lucasfilm agreed to make a donation to the Tucows Elves Project. This annual charitable effort is organized by Tucows staff and provides toys to the children of lower-income families in the Parkdale neighborhood adjacent to the Tucows Toronto office.”  Via Canada News Wire.

Talking about this story: Domain Name Wire and Bill Hartzer

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Movies News

300 prequel renamed – “300: Rise of An Empire” domains registered [UPDATED]

300: Rise of an Empire

UPDATE – SEP. 13, 2012:  Box Office Mojo has also backed up speculation that the 300 prequel will now be called “300: Rise of An Empire”.  Several hours after this story was originally published, Box Office Mojo posted the movie title change to its website from “Untitled ‘300’ Sequel” to “300: Rise of An Empire”.

ORIGINAL STORY – SEP. 12, 2012 @ 4:21 AM EST: Is the upcoming prequel to 300 called ‘300: Battle of Artemisia’ getting a new title?

There appears to be a possibility that the film may be renamed.

Sparking speculation are some interesting domain registrations made this week by the brand protection company MarkMonitor, the same firm responsible for registering the Battle of Artemisa names back in January of this year.

The list of new domains registered privately by MarkMonitor on September 10, 2012, include 300-riseofanempire.com (Whois), 300riseofanempire.com (Whois), 300theriseofanempire.com (Whois) and RiseofanEmpire.com (Whois).

Each name was registered anonymously using MarkMonitor’s Whois privacy service DNStination, but you can bet the company behind the names is Warner Bros.  Warner Bros.’ very own warnerbros.com (Whois) is managed through MarkMonitor.

Whois: 300RiseofAnEmpire.com

If the film is retitled, it wouldn’t be the first time.

In June 2011, Deadline reported that the 300 prequel, first known as “Xerxes”, would be retitled to 300: Battle of Artemisia.

Xerxes

One thing is for sure, “Rise of An Empire” is much easier to spell than “Battle of Artemisia”, but if the name is changing, that’s probably not the only driver.

Recent 300 buzz focused on news that Gerard Butler would not be appearing in the Warner Bros. film.  Butler told an MTV reporter, “They’re filming [the ‘300’ sequel] right now. I wish them the best, but it didn’t [work out]. It wasn’t really my thing.”

At the time of this story, none of the new domains resolve to a web page.  A quick check of other top level domains, shows that MarkMonitor only pursued the .coms, leaving other domains available.

The 300 prequel, whatever it is called, is scheduled to be in theaters on August 2, 2013.

TALKING ABOUT THIS STORY: Moviehole