Category: Trademarks

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Movies News Trademarks

A flurry of Navy SEAL domain names registered after the killing of bin Laden

US Navy SEAL

As one might expect, with the Navy SEALs being in the news after killing Osama bin Laden, the number of Navy SEAL domain names being registered has soared.

The latest stories of Disney abandoning its trademark application on SEAL Team 6 and news of Columbia Pictures set to debut the first film in 2012 about the raid, has sparked even more registrations — which can average anywhere from 30 to 50 a day depending on the news.

Here’s a look at recent SEAL registrations, courtesy of DomainTools. 

The domains range from merchandise domains like SEALTeam6shirts.com to fan names like ThanksNavySeals.com and  SEALTeam6forPresident.com.  NavySEAL.info was registered only yesterday.

Because there have literally been hundreds and hundreds of SEAL domains created, I’ve only listed a limited number that I’ve seen registered in recent days. 

By the way, if you haven’t seen this Funny or Die video on the Navy SEAL who killed Osama bin Laden, it’s a must see. WARNING: The video contains profanity.

The Navy Seal Who Killed Osama Bin Laden from Rob Riggle
Categories
Disputes News Trademarks WIPO

UberMedia has change of heart on twitteripad.com

Twitter for iPad

Last week I wrote about how UberMedia registered the domain name twitteripad.com, despite the company’s sometimes rocky relationship with Twitter.

In February, UberTwitter, Twidroyd, and UberCurrent were temporarily suspended by Twitter.  The UberMedia apps were shut off for terms of service violations, one of which included trademark infringement over the name UberTwitter.  UberMedia quickly changed the name of UberTwitter to UberSocial in response to Twitter’s requests.

This week, it’s a different story.  To avoid possible Twitter troubles, it appears UberMedia has had a change of heart on the domain twitteripad.com.  The same day the story ran on May 21, the domain name was deleted at GoDaddy and became available again.  GoDaddy didn’t hold the name or send it to auction, instead it released it.

Chances are, it won’t be long before it gets registered again.  But maybe not.  Twitteripad.com has trouble written all over it since it could be considered a trademark infringing domain name on not one but two widely used products, Twitter and Apple’s iPad.

In mid February Twitter got the domain twittersearch.com after filing a dispute at WIPO in December 2010.  The dispute wasn’t decided by WIPO, instead the name was apparently turned over to Twitter without having to wait for a panel decision.

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News Trademarks

Despite shaky relationship with Twitter, UberMedia buys the domain name Twitteripad.com

ubermedia

Despite having its apps suspended earlier this year by Twitter for violating the company’s policies, one of which included trademark infringement, that hasn’t stopped UberMedia from purchasing the domain name Twitteripad.com. 

The company which is owned by IdeaLab and was previously called UberTwitter, registered the domain name earlier this week on May 18 according to registrant records.

Registrant:
   UberMedia
   130 W. Union Street
   Pasadena, California 91103
   United States

   Domain Name: TWITTERIPAD.COM
      Created on: 18-May-11
      Expires on: 18-May-12
      Last Updated on: 18-May-11

Twitteripad.com could be considered a trademark infringing domain name on not one but two widely used products, Twitter and Apple’s iPad. 

Given IdeaLab’s affinity for domain names and its shaky trackrecord with Twitter, the registration is surprising, but then UberMedia has had its share of scandal and news in 2011.

After the shutdown of its popular apps in February, the company recently lost to Twitter in its bid for TweetDeck. 

Rumors have surfaced that UberMedia may have plans to launch a competitor site to Twitter that addresses many of the problems users complain about.

As of right now, the domain name twitteripad.com doesn’t resolve.

Categories
News Trademarks

Dept. of the Navy files trademark for “SEAL Team” following news of Disney’s “SEAL Team 6” filing

Navy SEAL

A recent trademark filing from Disney for SEAL Team 6 was reported by MediaBistro on May 13.  The story sparked interest and news stories internationally.  

There was speculation among journalists and bloggers about Disney’s plans for the trademark.  The applications range from clothing and toys to entertainment and education products.

However, Disney’s trademark applications may not be as solid as many first thought. 

The same day the story broke that Disney filed three separate trademarks for the phrase SEAL Team 6, The Department of the Navy followed suit by filing for a trademark on SEAL Team.  

The filings are different, but the Navy is definitely taking notice. 

Quick Recap of Events

Osama bin Laden is killed on May 1 by SEAL Team 6.

Disney files trademark applications for SEAL Team 6 on May 3.

On May 13, Media Bistro breaks the news of the Disney filings.

Later that day (on May 13), The Dept. of the Navy files for a trademark on SEAL Team.

SEAL Team Trademark application

Here’s a look at the filing provided by the United States Patent and Trademark Office:

Word Mark SEAL TEAM
Goods and Services IC 200. US 200. G & S: Indicating membership in a(n) to indicate membership in an organization of the Department of the Navy that develops and executes military missions involving special operations strategy, doctrine, and tactics
Standard Characters Claimed  
Mark Drawing Code (4) STANDARD CHARACTER MARK
Serial Number 85320305
Filing Date May 13, 2011
Current Filing Basis 1A
Original Filing Basis 1A
Owner (APPLICANT) The Department of the Navy agency of the united states government UNITED STATES 875 N. Randolph Street Arlington VIRGINIA 222031995
Attorney of Record Geoffrey M. McNutt
Prior Registrations 3285473
Type of Mark COLLECTIVE MEMBERSHIP MARK
Register PRINCIPAL
Live/Dead Indicator LIVE

At the time of this posting, no one else has reported this news. 

Here’s a screenshot of the filing from USPTO.gov.

SEAL Team Navy Trademark

[UPDATE May 19th, 2011 05:37 PM EST:  Thanks to MediaPost.  MediaPost Raw is the first major news publication to link to this story.]

[Photo of SEAL trainees via Department of Defense]

Categories
News Trademarks

Will Facebook get its hands on BuywithFriends.com? It’s expired.

Facebook Buy with Friends

In January, Facebook Commerce Product Marketing announced the coming launch of “Buy with Friends”.  A feature that allow users to share that they’ve made an in-app purchase to their stream, writes Inside Facebook.  Developers can use the “buy with friends” feature to make their promotions or deals more effective, says Facebook.

Not that Facebook needs the domain name buywithfriends.com, but it has expired.

According to GoDaddy, the domain name expired on 05/02/2011 and is pending renewal or deletion.

In 2008, Resort Owners Group abandoned its trademark on “buy with friends”.  The company also looks to be abandoning its domain name: buywithfriends.com.  It’s the current registrant, but maybe not for long.

Registrant:
   Resort Owners Group
   219 Dufferin Street
   Suite 100B
   Toronto, Ontario M6K 3J1
   Canada

   Domain Name: BUYWITHFRIENDS.COM
      Created on: 02-May-08
      Expires on: 02-May-11

Though Resort Owners Group might be giving up on “buy with friends”, another company besides Facebook isn’t.  Two days after Facebook announced its “buy with friends” feature, a company called Tazle applied for a trademark for buying clubs.

Facebook also recently launched Facebook Deals, and as Andrew Allemann of Domain Name Wire pointed out in a story about someone else owning the domain besides the company: “the domain name could be used in a way that damages Facebook’s brand, such as an online sweepstakes that looks like it’s part of Facebook. Or a phishing attempt.”