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Featured News Video Games

Disney registers DisneyConsole.com domain name through brand protection agency

Disney Console

It may be something.  Or it may be nothing.  What is for sure is that Disney Enterprises, Inc. has registered the domain DisneyConsole.com (WHOIS).

The domain was registered this week through Corporation Service Company (CSC), a company that helps businesses protect their brands.

In January 2013, the internet was abuzz with rumors about Disney possibly working with Apple on a video game console after the tech blog Patently Apple uncovered a patent application.

The company released its sandbox video game Infinity in August 2013.  This week, Disney Interactive announced that Disney Infinity has already sold 1,000,000 of its $75 starter packs.

DisneyConsole.com may be nothing more than a defensive registration tied to Disney Infinity, either way, it’s just speculation for now.

As of today, DisneyConsole.com redirects users to Go.com, the landing page for Disney content (operated by the Walt Disney Internet Group).

Talking about this story: Patently Apple, GameZone, Spieletester.com Magazin, gameswelt.de, play3.de, playm.de, Gaming Everything, SegmentNext News and NeoGAF

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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

Categories
News Trademarks Video Games

Disney’s Playdom developing ‘City of Warfare’ game? Trademarks filed

City of Might

According to four trademark filings with the United States Patent and Trademark Office, it appears Disney’s Playdom is developing a new social game called ‘City of Warfare’ to expand upon its City-franchise.

If it’s anything like Playdom’s other games, which includes ‘City of Wonder’, chances are players will build armies in ‘City of Warfare’ and battle other cities. 

Oddly enough, Playdom has developed a game called ‘City of Might’ which has been in closed BETA since March.  Based on the game titles alone, it sounds like ‘City of Might’ and ‘City of Warfare’ are a lot alike.  Playdom even describes City of Might as, “a game where you build a mighty city and defeat your enemies in epic battles.” 

It’s quite possible City of Might is being rebranded as City of Warfare, as no trademark applications are on file for City of Might.

All four trademark applications for City of Warfare (Serial Numbers: 85457270, 85457272, 85457274, and 85457277) were filed on October 26, 2011, by Disney and involve an online virtual community, online social networking services, and entertainment and education services.

The ‘Goods and Services’ are nearly identical to its Gnome Town filings.  I wrote about the Gnome Town trademark applications in late July and days later Playdom officially launched the game to everyone on Facebook.

Here’s a more detailed look at each of the trademark filings:

Serial Number 85457277, Goods and Services
IC 009. US 021 023 026 036 038. G & S: Apparatus for recording, transmission or reproduction of sound or images; audio books; audio recordings; audio and visual recordings; video game software; computer programs and software; consumer electronics and accessories therefor; hand-held units for playing electronic games for use with an external display screen or monitor; eyeglasses and sunglasses and accessories therefor; binoculars; decorative magnets; graduated rulers; computer software, namely, computer game software; electronic games and game software that may be downloaded via global computer networks and electronic communication networks for use in connection with computers, mobile computers, media players, cellular phones, wireless devices and portable and handheld digital electronic devices

Serial Number 85457274, Goods and Services
IC 041. US 100 101 107. G & S: Entertainment and education services; providing online computer games, online enhancements for computer games, and providing online games; providing information relating to computer games and game enhancements via global computer networks and electronic communication networks for use in connection with computers, mobile computers, media players, cellular phones, wireless devices and portable and handheld digital electronic devices; providing an online entertainment information service featuring information regarding computer games, enhancements for computer games, online games, and game applications via global computer networks and electronic communication networks for use in connection with computers, mobile computers, media players, cellular phones, wireless devices and portable and handheld digital electronic devices; providing temporary use of non-downloadable computer games; providing temporary use of non-downloadable software for playing computer games; providing temporary use of non-downloadable software to enable playing and otherwise providing computer games

Serial Number 85457272, Goods and Services
IC 045. US 100 101. G & S: Online social networking services

Serial Number 85457270, Goods and Services
IC 042. US 100 101. G & S: Computer services, namely, creating an online virtual community for registered users to participate in and hold competitions, showcase their skills, improve their talent, participate in incentive award programs, get feedback from their peers, form virtual communities, trade, buy and sell virtual goods, conduct virtual tours, facilitate interaction among users, rank users, engage in social networking, and participate in on-line discussion boards; providing temporary use of non-downloadable software to enable viewing, previewing, sharing, manipulating, and creating blogs regarding computer games via global computer networks and electronic communication networks for use in connection with computers, mobile computers, media players, cellular phones, wireless devices and portable and handheld digital electronic devices; providing temporary use of non-downloadable software to enable viewing, previewing, sharing, manipulating, enhancements for computer games, online games, and game applications and information relating to computer games and game enhancements via global computer networks and electronic communication networks for use in connection with computers, mobile computers, media players, cellular phones, wireless devices and portable and handheld digital electronic devices

Discussion: Games.com News (blog) and Inside Social Games

Categories
News

Disney Enterprises acquires domain names for Katie Couric’s ABC talk show

Katie Couric

After settling on a name for Katie Couric’s upcoming ABC talk show which will be called “Katie”, Disney Enterprises has acquired a handful of domain names as it begins to market the show.

Disney Enterprises, Inc. acquired four domain names in total such as KatieKatie.com.

Here’s a look at the domains which are a mix bag of names that had expired, were registered for the first time or had been acquired from their previous owner.

http://whois.domaintools.com/katie-couric.com 
http://whois.domaintools.com/katiekatie.com 
http://whois.domaintools.com/katietoday.com 
http://whois.domaintools.com/kcouric.com

(Photo of Katie Couric at The Heart Truth’s Red Dress Collection Fashion Show via The Heart Truth)

Discussion: Media Bistro

Categories
News Trademarks Video Games

Disney files trademarks for Gnome Town for online social networking services

Gnome Town

Disney Enterprises has filed 4 trademarks with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) for “Gnome Town”.

With the sleeper cartoon movie hit Gnomeo & Juliet so far earning $189,967,670 worldwide, according to Box Office Mojo, it’s no wonder Disney is taking the film based on William Shakespeare’s play Romeo and Juliet online.

According to the USPTO, 4 trademarks were filed by Disney Enterprises on July 19 and cover a wide range of services including social networking, an online virtual community, online computer games and more.

Here’s a look at each trademark application:

Word Mark  GNOME TOWN [85374891] 
Goods and Services IC 045. US 100 101. G & S: Online social networking services

Word Mark  GNOME TOWN [85374901] 
Goods and Services IC 042. US 100 101. G & S: Computer services, namely, creating an online virtual community for registered users to participate in and hold competitions, showcase their skills, improve their talent, participate in incentive award programs, get feedback from their peers, form virtual communities, trade, buy and sell virtual goods, conduct virtual tours, facilitate interaction among users, rank users, engage in social networking, and participate in on-line discussion boards; providing temporary use of non-downloadable software to enable viewing, previewing, sharing, manipulating, and creating blogs regarding computer games via global computer networks and electronic communication networks for use in connection with computers, mobile computers, media players, cellular phones, wireless devices and portable and handheld digital electronic devices; providing temporary use of non-downloadable software to enable viewing, previewing, sharing, manipulating, enhancements for computer games, online games, and game applications and information relating to computer games and game enhancements via global computer networks and electronic communication networks for use in connection with computers, mobile computers, media players, cellular phones, wireless devices and portable and handheld digital electronic devices

Word Mark  GNOME TOWN [85374915] 
Goods and Services IC 041. US 100 101 107. G & S: Entertainment and education services; providing online computer games, online enhancements for computer games, and providing online games; providing information relating to computer games and game enhancements via global computer networks and electronic communication networks for use in connection with computers, mobile computers, media players, cellular phones, wireless devices and portable and handheld digital electronic devices; providing an online entertainment information service featuring information regarding computer games, enhancements for computer games, online games, and game applications via global computer networks and electronic communication networks for use in connection with computers, mobile computers, media players, cellular phones, wireless devices and portable and handheld digital electronic devices; providing temporary use of non-downloadable computer games; providing temporary use of non downloadable software for playing computer games; providing temporary use of non downloadable software to enable playing and otherwise providing computer games

Word Mark  GNOME TOWN [85374926]
Goods and Services IC 009. US 021 023 026 036 038. G & S: Audio recordings; video recordings; audio and visual recordings; video game cartridges, discs and software; computer game cartridges and discs; consumer electronics and accessories therefor; eyeglasses and sunglasses and accessories therefor; decorative refrigerator magnets; graduated rulers for office and stationery; hand-held units for playing electronic games for use with an external display screen or monitor; computer software, namely, computer game software; electronic games and game software that may be downloaded via global computer networks and electronic communication networks for use in connection with computers, mobile computers, media players, cellular phones, wireless devices and portable and handheld digital electronic devices

So who owns the domain name gnometown.com? Not Disney apparently. The web address has been registered for years.

This past February, Disney acquired Togetherville, a social network for kids 10 years of age or younger.

At the time of this story, Disney has not officially announced the venture.