Tag: Microsoft domains

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Featured News Video Games

Microsoft continues “Xbox Gold” domain buying spree following news of interest in name

Xbox Gold Concept Art

Since it was first reported Saturday that Microsoft had been obtaining “Xbox Gold” domains, the company has gone on the offensive registering a slew of “Xbox Gold” domains on Monday, including several international names.

The newest domain registrations include XboxGold.biz, XboxGold.com.co, XboxGold.us, XboxGold.at, XboxGold.ch, XboxGold.jp, XboxGold.mx, XboxGold.ru, XboxGold.tw and XboxGold.fr.

These latest names are just a sampling of what Microsoft has been buying up, at a time when rumors of the next-generation Xbox being officially announced to the public within the next several weeks.

The newest registrations all took place on February 25, two days after news broke that the company had been taking an interest in “Xbox Gold” domains.

Microsoft has yet to confirm the name of its next-gen Xbox, but it’s widely speculated possible names include the Xbox 720, Xbox Infinity, Xbox 8, Xbox Durango, and Xbox Next.

Despite the unusual amount of “Xbox Gold” activity, last week and this week, it’s unknown where “Xbox Gold” ultimately fits in.

Is “Xbox LIVE Gold” being rebranded? Is “Xbox Gold” a new service? The speculation is swirling.

“Xbox Gold & Entertainment” was mentioned in an internal event agenda over the weekend, that was originally posted on the NeoGAF forum.

As promised, I did reach out to the previous owner of XboxGold.com (which Microsoft acquired last week) to find out more details about the transaction and find out if Microsoft opened up their checkbook, but have not received a response.

According to WHOIS records, Microsoft also took ownership of FreeXbox.net from the same Australian resident, so it’s possible lawyers were involved and not cash.  Considering the company has won dozens of domain disputes dating back to 2003 that involved names like HackingXbox.com, it would be hard to imagine that it paid a large sum of money, unless of course, they were looking to expedite the transaction.

Disputes can often takes weeks, if not months, to decide.  And it’s possible, Microsoft wants to position itself with the matching domain — something neither Sony nor Nintendo were able to do.  Nintendo finally did file a complaint over Wiiu.com last week on the same day the name was to head to private auction.

Talking about this story:  VG247, Gameranx, Strategy Informer, Softpedia, GameZone, Anime News Network, MeriStation, Multiplayer.it, iNSIDE, Xbox 360: The Official Xbox Magazine and Computerandvideogames.com

(Image of next-generation Xbox concept art via Yanko Design)

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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)

Categories
Disputes National Arbitration Forum News Technology Video Games

Microsoft files complaint against owner of XboxSmartGlass.com, wants domain [UPDATED]

Xbox SmartGlass

Xbox SmartGlass

Xbox SmartGlass was officially unveiled earlier this week at the E3 convention in Los Angeles.  Days before the big event, rumors had swirled that Microsoft would reveal SmartGlass, prompting the company to register a slew of domains with “SmartGlass” in the name like XboxSmartGlass.net.

One name noticeably missing from the list was XboxSmartGlass.com (Whois).  That’s because Microsoft wasn’t quick enough to register the name.  It was registered by a resident of China who goes by “Haiyue Tang” on the very same day Microsoft moved to secure its “SmartGlass” domains.

Microsoft may have been slow to secure the domain, but it still intends to get it.

Microsoft has now filed a complaint (Case Number 1446970) with the National Arbitration Forum over the domain name XboxSmartGlass.com.

The domain name dispute proceedings commenced this week and also involve windowsphonebar.com.

At the time of this story, XboxSmartGlass.com is a blog written in Chinese that claims to be a non-profit with the purpose of introducing people to the smart glass industry.  Yeah, it’s a stretch.  In one of the first posts on the site, the owner tries to explain the origin of “Xbox SmartGlass” with no mention of Microsoft.

Based on the track record of Microsoft in domain disputes and the fact the company filed a SmartGlass trademark back in January, it should be an open and shut case in Microsoft’s favor.

Talking about this story: Kotaku

UPDATE:. Microsoft has won the dispute for XboxSmartGlass.com and WindowsPhoneBar.com.  Both domains have been ordered transferred.

(Image of Xbox SmartGlass presentation at E3 via Engadget)

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News Technology Video Games

Microsoft registers “Xbox Smart Glass” domains amid E3 rumors [UPDATED]

Xbox Smart Glass

UPDATE 2: Microsoft has unveiled Xbox SmartGlass.  Engadget writes, “SmartGlass brings Airplay-style wireless technology to Xbox and Windows 8 by letting you send video from your tablet or phone to your TV.  It then turns that second screen into an information window giving you data of the content you’re watching.”

UPDATE 1:  Microsoft also registered microsoftsmartglass.at, microsoftsmartglass.ch, microsoftsmartglass.mx, microsoftsmartglass.in, microsoftsmartglass.pl, microsoftsmartglass.tw, smartglass.ch, smartglass.tw, xboxsmartglass.at, xboxsmartglass.in, xboxsmartglass.jp, xboxsmartglass.mx, xboxsmartglass.pl, and xboxsmartglass.tw.

ORIGINAL STORY: According to the Examiner in a story that appeared on Friday, June 1, Microsoft is rumored to be revealing its “Xbox Smart Glass” tablet at the E3 convention in Los Angeles this coming week.

With all the news swirling around the alleged “reveal”, Microsoft Corporation has registered a slew of domains with “Smart Glass” in the name like MicrosoftSmartGlass.com (Whois) and XboxSmartGlass.net (Whois).  The registrations took place on the same day as the big news began to spread, but not before a resident of China beat Microsoft to XboxSmartGlass.com (Whois).

Microsoft registered many more names through the brand protection company MarkMonitor. Here’s a sample of the domains:

microsoftsmartglass.net
microsoftsmartglass.biz
microsoftsmartglass.org
microsoftsmartglass.us
microsoftsmartglass.info
microsoftsmartglass.co
microsoftsmartglass.co.uk
microsoftsmartglass.tv
microsoftsmartglass.mobi
xboxsmartglass.net
xboxsmartglass.biz
xboxsmartglass.org
xboxsmartglass.us
xboxsmartglass.info
xboxsmartglass.co
xboxsmartglass.co.uk
xboxsmartglass.tv
xboxsmartglass.mobi

Currently, the domains redirect visitors to Bing.

Talking about this story: Engadget, PCWorld, Geeky Gadgets, redOrbit, The Verge, GeekWire, Electronista, Joystiq, Geekosystem and VentureBeat

(Image of Xbox Smart Glass via Examiner.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)