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Disputes National Arbitration Forum News Video Games

Ahead of rumored E3 reveal, Microsoft goes after XboxMusic.com [UPDATED]

Xbox Music E3 reveal

UPDATE 1 July 5, 2012:. Microsoft has won the domain dispute for XboxMusic.com.  A National Arbitration Forum panel has ordered the domain name transferred from Wang Shiguo to Microsoft Corporation.

ORIGINAL STORY:. Last month, The Verge reported that Microsoft will offer a sneak peek at its Zune replacement (codenamed “Woodstock”) during E3 2012.

With E3 right around the corner, it appears Microsoft is somewhat planning ahead of its new Xbox Music service reveal, by filing a complaint (Case Number 1445087) with the National Arbitration Forum over the domain name XboxMusic.com.

The domain name dispute proceedings commenced this week along with a separate case over xbox8.org, xboxcompanion.com, xboxlivetv.com, xboxphone.com, and xboxtablet.com.

Microsoft Corporation also filed another complaint (Case Number: 1445084) against the owner of xbox8.us which currently hosts a Chinese-written blog that even discusses the xbox8.org domain dispute.

Xboxmusic.com (Whois) does not resolve to a web page at the time of this story.

Insiders told The Verge, “Woodstock will be a cross-platform play, available to Windows 8, Android, iOS, and Xbox users — playable from a browser”.

(Image of E3 2011 via Xbox.com)

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News

Facebook registers Studio Edge domains on the same day of Camera App launch

Facebook Studio Edge

Facebook Studio Edge

Facebook just introduced Camera, a new mobile app that makes using Facebook photos faster and easier.  And on the very same day of the announcement, it appears Facebook privately registered Facebook Studio Edge domain names like FacebookStudioEdge.com.

On May 24, 2012, the dotcom, dotnet and dotorg versions of the names were registered through the internet brand protection company MarkMonitor, of which Facebook is a client.

http://whois.domaintools.com/facebookstudioedge.org
http://whois.domaintools.com/facebookstudioedge.net
http://whois.domaintools.com/facebookstudioedge.com

The owner is hidden behind MarkMonitor’s privacy service DNStination, so there is a slight chance Facebook isn’t behind the names.  But considering MarkMonitor’s trackrecord with Facebook, it is unlikely anyone else.

At the time of this story’s posting, none of the domains resolve to a web page and Facebook has made no official announcement about Facebook Studio Edge.

Last year, Facebook launched a stand-alone website called Facebook Studio (facebook-studio.com), a platform aimed at agencies, PR firms and media strategy companies.

Update:  Robin Wauters has done a little digging and discovered Facebook Studio Edge is nothing more a than day long course in best-practice marketing on Facebook.

Talking about this story: The Next Web, Marketing Land and All Facebook

(Image of camera app via fb.com)

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Disputes National Arbitration Forum News Video Games

Microsoft wants XboxPhone.com, XboxTablet.com, more; files dispute [UPDATED]

Halo 4

Who knows what the future holds for the Xbox, but a recent complaint (Case Number: 1445083) filed with the National Arbitration Forum (NAF), may hint at things to come down the road.

The domain dispute appeared on NAF’s website today and includes xbox8.org, xboxcompanion.com, xboxlivetv.com, xboxphone.com, and xboxtablet.com.

All of the names are owned by a resident of China who goes by the name “cheng juan”.

According to UDRP rules, if more than one domain being disputed is held by the same respondent, all of the names may be included in the same complaint. Rule 3(b)(vi).

At the time of this story, xbox8.org resolves to a Go Daddy parked page, xboxcompanion.com, xboxtablet.com and xboxlivetv.com are listed for sale, and xboxphone.com redirects visitors to a different site.

Microsoft released an Xbox Companion app for Windows Phone users in late 2011.

It’s also been rumored Xbox Live would be coming to other platforms.

Microsoft Corporation has won many of its disputes including two disputes that helped take down fake Halo 4 beta websites.

I wouldn’t expect the outcome in this case to be any different.

Talking about this story: VG247, Videogameszone, NeoGAF, Eurogamer España and GameZone

UPDATE:. Microsoft has won the dispute for xbox8.org, xboxcompanion.com, xboxlivetv.com, xboxphone.com, and xboxtablet.com.  All domains have been ordered transferred.

(Image of Halo 4 Concept art)

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News Video Games

Bethesda unveils Dishonored “Weapons of Revenge” site, lets you kill plagued rats

Weapons of Revenge

Late last month, WeaponsofRevenge.com and RevengeatHand.com transferred to internet brand protection agency Corporation Service Company.  Both names were first registered by ROKKAN, a digital design firm that often acquires names secretly on behalf of ZeniMax Media.

Weaponsofrevenge.com originally redirected visitors to Bethesda’s home page on www.bethsoft.com.

There was no new website activity on WeaponsofRevenge.com until this week.

A website has now been unveiled that lets you kill two rats and the aftermath is graphic (as shown in the image above).  However, if you choose to spare the plagued rats, the website rewards you with a Dishonored screensaver that you can download for the Mac or PC.

Bethesda has not officially announced the website, as the Kill Count which appears after you kill the rats, only stands at about 50 (of which several are mine) at the time of this story.

I discovered the website after checking the web address earlier today to see if anything had changed.  The Spanish version of the website is available at www.armasdevenganza.com.

The launch date for Dishonored was revealed earlier this month.  The video game will be released on October 9th, 2012, for the PC, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360.

Talking about this story: VG247

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News Video Games

Square Enix registers Just Cause 4 domains; Just Cause 3 not yet released

Just Cause 4

Aside from 2011 rumors of a Just Cause 3 video game in development and a movie, there hasn’t been a whole lot of news lately about Just Cause.

That may be about to change as Square Enix has registered a slew of Just Cause 4 domain names on May 18, 2012, like JustCause4.com (Whois) and JustCause4.fr (Whois).

Through the internet brand protection firm Corporation Service Company, Square Enix not only picked up the dot-com, but also registered the same name in different country code extensions, as well as JustCause3.it.

The list of Just Cause 4 domains includes: JustCause4.com, JustCause4.fr, JustCause4.co.uk, JustCause4.de, and JustCause4.it.

As of today, there has been no official announcement by Square Enix regarding Just Cause 4.  Then again, Just Cause 3 hasn’t even been released.

The latest registrations hint that “official” Just Cause news may be imminent, and as a defensive measure, Square Enix registered the Just Cause 4 names.

Talking about this story: Game Informer, Computerandvideogames.com, Gamespot, PC Gamer Magazine, Joystiq, Digital Spy, Playstation Universe, Gaming Examiner, IGN, MCV, IncGamers, Complex.com, games.on.net, Blue’s News, HeyUGuys.co.uk, TheSixthAxis, Spieletipps.de, Cinema Blend, VG247, Eurogamer España, GameZone, Eurogamer.de, GameDynamo, Gamesaktuell.de, PC Games, Eurogamer.se, DemoNews, PC Games Hardware, GameStar, Videogameszone, Inside Gaming Daily, Game Rant and PSX Extreme