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News Video Games

Ubisoft registers “Might and Magic Heroes Online” domain names

Might & Magic Heroes Online

Might & Magic Heroes Online

Could Ubisoft be planning to launch the next installment in the Heroes of Might and Magic series as a free-to-play online game?

According to several domain name registrations this week by Ubisoft, the possibility looks very good.  On July 27, 2012, the videogame publisher registered mightandmagicheroesonline.com (Whois), mmheroesonline.com (Whois), and mm-heroesonline.com (Whois).

It was reported earlier this week that Ubisoft will unveil new free-to-play titles at this year’s Gamescom taking place in August in Cologne.  The company is expected to hold a press conference on August 15 where it will announce the new free-to-play titles.

Given the timing of the registrations, it appears “Might and Magic Heroes Online” will be among the list of games.

Talking about this story: Kotaku, HardGamers, tweakers.net and VG247

(Image via Might and Magic Heroes VI trailer)

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News Trademarks Video Games

Reign of Fear video game trademark filed by Sony Online Entertainment

Sony Online Entertainment files "Reign of Fear" trademark

Sony Online Entertainment, known for its massively-multiplayer online games, has filed a trademark this week for “Reign of Fear” (Serial Number: 85683830).

The goods and services within the filing cover, “Computer game software and video game software; providing downloadable multiplayer, role playing, real time computer and video game software via an online website for entertainment purposes” and “Entertainment services, namely, operating a multiplayer, role playing, real time game for others via the Internet and local area computer networks”.

Not much is known about “Reign of Fear” beyond the trademark filing.

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Sony’s plans may not be too ambitious though.

A quick search across major social networks and domain names shows that Sony hasn’t bothered registering any of the matching names.

Given the nature of the name, it doesn’t sound like a kid’s game.

Earlier this week, SOE released the full length PlanetSide 2 Death is No Excuse trailer.  It’s unknown whether “Reign of Fear” has anything to do with Planetside 2’s upcoming release.

UPDATE: Shortly after my story came out, a resident of North Carolina registered the domain ReignofFear.com (Whois).

Talking about this story: VG247, Joystiq, Blue’s News, Shack News and JeuxOnLine

(Image of PlanetSide 2 via planetside2.com)

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Disputes News Technology WIPO

iPad3.com domain quickly turned over to Apple’s IP lawyers following complaint

iPad3

iPad3

The domain iPad3.com is now in the hands of Apple’s IP lawyers at Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton.  It appears the previous name’s owner didn’t even want to wait for an arbitration panel to issue the inevitable decision, and has instead decided to quickly transfer the domain following a complaint that was filed with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) at the end of June.

In the last 24 hours, the Whois record for iPad3.com was updated to reflect the change in ownership from Global Access to Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton, a law firm that has represented the company in several patent and trademark infringement cases.

Given the speed of the domain transfer from the time the dispute was filed until now, it’s safe to assume a WIPO panel hadn’t even issued a ruling for Case Number D2012-1319, as the entire process can takes weeks and months.  The case will end up being terminated, just as the cases for iPhone5.com and UsedMacs.com were terminated.

Ultimately, the next step is for the name to be transferred from Apple’s lawyers to Apple, as it was likely bleeding traffic when people typed www.ipad3.com into their web browser looking for “The new iPad” only to find themselves on a parked page filled with links.

Chances are Apple will not change a thing when it comes to marketing “The new iPad” and will simply forward the name to its iPad page on Apple.com.

At the time of this story, iPad3.com still redirects to a variety of different parking services with Above.com.

[UPDATE 3 July 12:. Apple has begun forwarding iPad3.com to its web site. DNW reports Apple is tracking the traffic it gets from this domain using a tracking code.]

[UPDATE 2 July 6:. Case Number D2012-1319 has now been terminated at WIPO.]

[UPDATE 1 July 5:. iPad3.com has been transferred from Above.com’s name servers to Apple’s name servers.]

Talking about this story:  Techmeme, The Next Web, CNET, PC Magazine, GameZone, Macworld UK, Australian Macworld, SlashGear, GMA News, MacRumors, Network World, iDownloadblog.com, ITProPortal, Marketing Land, WebProNews, mediabistro.com, 36kr.com, maclife.de, iJailbreak.com, Memeburn and ZDNet

(Image of the new iPad via Apple.com)

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Disputes National Arbitration Forum News Video Games

Microsoft Corporation secures rights to pair of “Xbox 8” names at arbitration

Xbox 8

Microsoft Corporation has won two disputes filed in May with the National Arbitration Forum over a batch of Xbox-related domains owned by a resident of China who goes by the name “Cheng Juan”.

The disputed names include XboxPhone.com, XboxTablet.com, XboxLiveTV.com, XboxCompanion.com, Xbox8.us and Xbox8.org.

While Microsoft’s interest in securing names like XboxLiveTV.com and XboxTablet.com is understandable, the “Xbox 8” names are a little more puzzling.  That is, unless of course, Microsoft has plans for the names beyond just defensively protecting its intellectual property.

At this point, it’s unknown whether Microsoft has any plans to name a future Xbox the “Xbox 8”, but this isn’t the first time speculation has surfaced online that the upcoming Xbox may be called the “Xbox 8” instead of the “Xbox 720”.  Earlier gaming articles discussed whether the next-gen Xbox would be named the XBOX 8 and why Xbox 8 not 720 is a good name.

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In late June, the domains listed in the disputes were ordered transferred after two separate panels found the names were identical to the XBOX marks, that the respondent had no rights or legitimate interests in the domains, and that the domains had been registered and are being used in bad faith.

Microsoft has been busy filing complaints and has a number of pending cases against the owners of Xboxliverewards.com, Xboxsports.com, Xboxsmartglass.com, and Xboxmusic.com.

As of today, no complaint has been filed against the owner of Xbox8.com, which also appears to be registered to a resident of China according to Whois.

Full details of the decisions handed down are available online.

Microsoft Corporation v. cheng juan Claim Number: FA1205001445083

Microsoft Corporation v. cheng juan Claim Number: FA1205001445084

Talking about this story:  The Guardian, Adrenaline, BGR, CNN, CNN México.com, Complex.com, ComputerAndVideoGames.com, ComputerBase, CSICON, Digital Spy, Eurogamer.net, Game Guru, Gaming Examiner, Geek, IGN, In Entertainment, International Business Times, iTech Post, ITProPortal, Gadgetsteria, Gamers.fr, GameRanx, GameZone, GamerZona, GamingBolt, G4 TV, Game Informer, Game Rant, Gaming Target, Gematsu, God is a Geek, Here is the City, Joystiq, Kotaku, Kotaku Australia, MCV, Meristation, Metro, msnbc.com, NDTV, Neoseeker, Overclockers Club, PC Magazine, Ping! Zine, RedOrbit, Shacknews, Side Mission, Tech2, Tech Source, TechnoBuffalo, TheSixthAxis, TheGamersHub, The Droid Guy, The Tech Report, LLC, This is Xbox, TweakTown, Xbox 360 Achievements, Xbox 360: The Official Xbox Magazine, Ubergizmo, Video Game Writers, VG247, VR-Zone, WebNews, WebProNews, WinFuture, WinBeta and ZoKnowsGaming

(Image of Xbox Logo; image modified by Fusible)

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News

What is “LucasArts Play”? Domains registered via brand protection company

LucasArts Play

UPDATE: Superannuation suspects “LucasArts Play” may be a casual games effort or cross-game online platform, as recent Lucas job listings have mentioned both.

ORIGINAL STORY: LucasArts grabbed the attention of many at E3 2012 with the announcement of Star Wars 1313.   There was speculation early about Star Wars 1313 after domain name registrations were spotted in early May through the brand protection agency Corporation Service Company.

Now, LucasArts appears to be up to something, though at the moment it’s unknown what the company could be developing.

On June 28, 2012, LucasArts apparently registered the domain names LucasArtsplay.com (Whois), LucasArtsplay.net (Whois) and LucasArtsplay.org (Whois).

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All three names were registered through Corporation Service Company.

However, unlike the Star Wars 1313 domains, the “LucasArts Play” names have been privately registered, indicating that the company wants to keep “LucasArts Play” quiet for now.

At the time of this story, the domains resolve to a blank web page.