Microsoft has filed a complaint (Case Number 1473274) with the National Arbitration Forum (NAF) over the domain names XboxFitness.com and XboxFitness.net.
So, is this domain dispute nothing more than the company trying to protect its intellectual property? Or, could Microsoft be looking to launch a new service beyond its Kinect Fitness line of products which haven’t received the best reviews over the years?
It appears plans are in the works to launch a new service as Microsoft filed a European Community trademark application earlier last month (trade mark no 011333705) for Xbox Fitness that covers, “Telecommunication services, namely, providing electronic transmission of video over the Internet.”
Throughout the past year, the company has filed a number of complaints with NAF, some of which became new services and others that have yet to materialize.
In May, Microsoft went after the domain XboxMusic.com and won. Xbox Music was launched on October 16, 2012. In another case, Microsoft filed a complaint (Case Number 1446970) over XboxSmartGlass.com, and also launched the service in late October.
The domain name dispute proceedings commenced this week. Microsoft also filed a separate complaint (Case No. 1473913) over the names microsoftapproval.com, xboxsafety.com and xboxaccount.com.
Currently, XboxFitness.com (WHOIS) and XboxFitness.net (WHOIS) redirect visitors to xbf.co, and are owned by a resident of Canada.
Microsoft has a lot of success with its domain disputes, so the newest cases will likely go in their favor.
At the time of this story being published, Microsoft has made no official announcement regarding Xbox Fitness.
UPDATE:. Microsoft has won the dispute for XboxFitness.com and .net. Both domains have been ordered transferred.
Talking about this story: NowGamer
(Image via Xbox.com)