Tag: microsoft

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Featured News Video Games

Will Microsoft call its next generation console the Xbox Fusion? Domain names point to yes

Xbox Fusion

If Microsoft has learned anything from its previous mistakes with launching a product without the matching domains — then it’s quite possible that the company’s next generation console will be called the “Xbox Fusion”.

Microsoft owns the name in a variety of different extensions and it has for years.

Speculation about the name being called “Xbox Fusion” isn’t anything new.  But what separates “Xbox Fusion” and only a few other names from the rest of the list, is that not only does Microsoft own the dot-com (WHOIS), it owns a slew of other domains like XboxFusion.info, XboxFusion.biz, XboxFusion.de, XboxFusion.co.uk – the list goes on and on.

Speculation of the next gen console’s name has gone wild, fueled lately by the recent leak on Reddit of what may be the logo.

Names being kicked around include the Xbox 720, Xbox Infinity, Xbox Infinite, Xbox Gold, Xbox 8, Xbox Durango, Xbox Next, and more.

Domain investor Andy Booth – who knows a thing or two about domains with names like samurai.com – dropped me an email out of the blue saying he believes Microsoft will go with “Xbox Fusion” based on the number of names the company has registered and that the “infinity” symbol is also interpreted as “fusion”.

In case you haven’t been keeping a score card of Microsoft’s matching domains, here’s a look:

Xbox720.com (WHOIS) – Microsoft does not own the domain.

XboxInfinity.com (WHOIS) – Microsoft does not own the domain.

Xbox8.com (WHOIS) -Microsoft does not own the domain.

XboxDurango.com (WHOIS) – Microsoft does not own the domain.

XboxInfinite.com (WHOIS) – Microsoft does not own the domain.

XboxFusion.com (WHOIS) – Microsoft owns the domain.

XboxNext.com (WHOIS) – Microsoft owns the domain.

XboxGold.com (WHOIS) – Microsoft owns the domain.

So will Microsoft go with a name it doesn’t currently own? Or with a name already in its portfolio?

We should know in late May.

For those of you who don’t remember, Microsoft got off to a somewhat embarrassing start with the initial release of the Xbox console back in 2001 by not even owning the trademark to Xbox.  Although it eventually acquired the mark, Microsoft, like many big companies and their worst kept secrets, has often failed to secure the domain name ahead of time before the product was announced or launched. Halo 4 and Kinect.com are just two examples.

Currently, XboxFusion.com redirects visitors to Xbox.com, while XboxNext and XboxGold redirect users to Bing.

Talking about this story: SlashGear, IGN, Joystiq, Game Informer, NowGamer, MCV, Neowin, Softpedia, Games.com, VG247, Gameranx, GamingBolt, Den of Geek, BeefJack, Game Rant, WinBeta, Connected Digital World, Ping! Zine Web Tech Magazine, This is Xbox, iDigitalTimes, iTech Post, Gamers.fr, GameZone, 411mania.com, Game Guru, Gameblog, GameStar, Digital Spy, Digital Trends, Shacknews, TechRadar UK, Xbox 360 – The Official Magazine, Ubergizmo, PC Games, PC INpact, Vandal, Eurogamer.it, WinFuture, Gaming Everything, Geekets, International Business Times, Game7, Gamenguide, Gadget Insiders, GameDynamo, gamona.de, Jeux Video.fr, jeuxvideo24.com, GameFly, playm.de, Bitbag, Develop, WebProNews, TechnoBuffalo, Xboxygen, Warp Zoned, The Slanted and NeoGAF

(Image of next-generation Xbox logo via Reddit)

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Disputes Featured National Arbitration Forum News Video Games

Microsoft takes ownership of XboxGold.org domain as rumored reveal date nears

Xbox Gold Concept Art

In no surprise, Microsoft has taken ownership of the domain XboxGold.org, weeks after filing a complaint (Case Number: 1483759) with the National Arbitration Forum.

While no official ruling has been announced online, the name was transferred to Microsoft this week, according to WHOIS records.

There is now only one more active case involving an ‘Xbox Gold’ name, though it may be decided soon.  The dispute over Xbox-Gold.com (Case Number: 1484502) was submitted a day after the XboxGold.org case.

The name of the next-generation Xbox has been the subject of much speculation, with reports of possible names like the Xbox 720, Xbox Infinity, Xbox 8, Xbox Durango, Xbox Next and others.

In February, Microsoft quietly acquired Xbox Gold domain names (including XboxGold.com) and registered even more.

The Xbox name debate may finally be settled in April, when it’s rumored that the next-generation console will officially be unveiled.

UPDATE:  Seeing as the domain’s previous owner handed over the name to Microsoft before a ruling was made, the complaint was officially withdrawn.

Talking about this story:  NowGamer and This is Xbox

Categories
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 Video Games

Next-generation Xbox may be called Xbox Gold, according to recent domain activity [UPDATED]

Xbox Gold

As we get closer to Microsoft revealing its next-generation Xbox console, there will be a lot more talk about the name. Over the years, people have been suggesting possible names like the Xbox 720, Xbox Infinity, Xbox 8, Xbox Next, and the list goes on and on.

Given all the information already known about the next-gen console, here’s another name to throw into the ring: Xbox Gold.

Now before you say to yourself, “No way it will be called this”, this speculation isn’t entirely from left field, as Microsoft has left a new trail of domain bread crumbs recently involving the name “Xbox Gold”.

Trail of domain clues

The first clue that Microsoft may have plans to use “Xbox Gold” came two weeks ago when the company filed a complaint (Case Number: 1483759) with the National Arbitration Forum over the domain XboxGold.org. A day later, Microsoft followed up that complaint, with another over Xbox-Gold.com (Case Number: 1484502).

Then, this week, the company acquired the name XboxGold.com from its previous owner, according to WHOIS records.

And that’s not all: over the last several days, as rumors of Microsoft preparing an Xbox event in April have been swirling around the internet, the company has been quietly acquiring and purchasing other “Xbox Gold” domain names like XboxGold.cn, XboxGold.es, XboxGold.eu, XboxGold.in, XboxGold.com.au, and XboxGold.asia.

Since Microsoft first filed its domain disputes earlier this month, I’ve been doing quite a bit of monitoring of Xbox Gold domains and have tracked the activity, which has led me to speculate on the next-gen console’s name.

Protecting IP or aligning next-gen console’s name with an already existing service?

You could argue Microsoft is doing nothing more than protecting its intellectual property, particularly its Xbox LIVE Gold subscription service.

It’s a possibility the company is simply defending its IP, but it’s also a possibility that the console could be named “identically to one of already existing services”, as was one of many rumors last October.

Users often refer to Xbox LIVE Gold as Xbox Gold, and if Microsoft decides to couple the next-gen console’s name with one of its already existing services, what better name than “Xbox Gold”?

While “Xbox Gold” hasn’t been one of the next-gen console names being tossed around the internet before, with all the recent steps the company has been taking to secure domain names this month, it’s a candidate.

Xbox LIVE Gold has been around for a number of years, so why start “defensively” acquiring and purchasing related names to the service a month before the rumored big reveal of the next-gen Xbox? Microsoft could have gone after the names a long time ago.

Microsoft’s report card on matching Xbox next-gen domains

The company’s report card on owning matching Xbox next-gen domain names is mixed.

Which name Microsoft goes with, may depend on what they already own.

Here’s a look.

Xbox720.com (WHOIS) – Microsoft does not own the domain.  The web address made news last year after the owner redirected it to Sony’s Playstation 3 site.  Today, the name sends visitors to a website called eGusta.

XboxInfinity.com (WHOIS) – Microsoft does not own the domain.  It is currently owned by a resident of China who registered the name after it expired in late 2012.  The domain points a parked web page monetized with ads.

Xbox8.com (WHOIS) -Microsoft does not own the domain.  It is also owned by a resident of China.  The domain name does not resolve to a web site at the time of this story being published.

XboxDurango.com (WHOIS) – Microsoft does not own the domain.  It’s parked at Go Daddy and registered to a resident of California.

XboxNext.com (WHOIS) – Microsoft does own this domain, which it uses to redirect visitors to Bing.  The company has owned the domain for more than 10 years, but has never put it to use.

XboxGold.com (WHOIS) – You already know the story. Microsoft acquired the name earlier this week, but it’s unknown whether the company opened up its wallet to acquire the name, or if it threatened legal action in order to obtain it.

What next?

With regards to the XboxGold.org and Xbox-Gold.com domain disputes, the cases are still pending.  It may be weeks before we know the outcome.Last July, Microsoft’s won two Xbox 8-related names at NAF.

In 2013 alone, the company has won or filed complaints over a number of names like XboxFitness.com, XboxFitness.net, XboxAccount.com, XboxSafety.com and more.

I’ve reached out to XboxGold.com’s previous owner to inquire about the transaction, and will update this post if I hear anything back.

UPDATE 1:. “Xbox Gold & Entertainment” is mentioned in this internal Microsoft event agenda that was leaked.   It does have a “services” ring to it… via: Gamechup  source: NeoGAF

Internal Event Agenda (Microsoft Xbox) March 2013

Talking about this story: NeoGAF, Anime News Network, OnlineWelten.com, NowGamer, PC Games Hardware, PC Games, GameZone and We Got This Covered

Readers: What do you think? Is “Xbox Gold” a long shot?

(Image of next Xbox concept art via designer Joseph Dumary)

Categories
Disputes National Arbitration Forum News Video Games

Microsoft disputes XboxFitness.com, files European Community trademark [UPDATED]

Xbox Fitness

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)