Tag: microsoft

Microsoft files trademark for “Avatar Famestar” for video game services

Post author By J.B.
Post date February 18, 2012

It appears Microsoft is working on something new for the Xbox called “Avatar Famestar” according to a recent trademark filing with the United States Patent and Trademark Office.

On February 13, 2012, filed to trademark “Avatar Famestar”.

The goods and services covered in the trademark filing (Serial Number: 85541451) cover “Downloadable software for video game services” and “Providing an online portal for video game services and social networking”.

As of today, Microsoft has made no announcement as to its plans for “Avatar Famestar”.

Last year, Microsoft released Avatar Kinect, which lets your personalized avatar interact with or hang out with up to seven other friends in 24 virtual stages ranging from a late-night talk show set to outer space to a sports tailgate party.

[Update 1 on Feb. 18, 2012 5:41am: A resident of China is cybersquatting on the domain name AvatarFamestar.com. The name was registered shortly after this story went online.]

Discussion: Joystiq

Tags Avatar, Avatar Famestar, Avatar Kinect, Avatars, featured, kinect, microsoft, Microsoft Corporation, Microsoft trademarks, uspto, xbox, Xbox 360, Xbox 720

News Trademarks

Microsoft files trademark for “People Powered Stories”, more Google bashing?

Post author By J.B.
Post date February 5, 2012
1 Comment on Microsoft files trademark for “People Powered Stories”, more Google bashing?

Since Google announced changes to its privacy policies, it has come under an onslaught of criticism from all directions including rivals.

Microsoft has already taken aim at Google with its “Putting People First” advertising campaign and a YouTube video called “Gmail Man”.

Now it looks like Microsoft may have something more in store for Google in the coming days, something that is powered by everyday people.

On January 31, 2012, Microsoft Corporation filed a trademark application (Serial Number: 85530034) for “People Powered Stories”. And as the phrase and trademark description suggest, Microsoft may launch an advertising campaign that is supplied by user-generated content.

The goods and services covered by the trademark filing cover two categories:

Advertising and marketing services; Advertising consultation; Providing information in the field of advertising

Providing online, non-downloadable software and tools for creating advertisements that include user-generated feedback and content

As of today, Microsoft has made no announcement as to its plans for “People Powered Stories” and no website exists.

One thing also to note with the filing is there no first-use date reported, indicating that Microsoft has not started using the mark.

[Update 2 on Feb. 14, 2012:. Microsoft officially announced People Powered Stories, a new social advertising solution.]

[Update 1 on Feb. 5, 2012:. A resident of China registered the domain name peoplepoweredstories.com (Whois) shortly after this story ran.]

Discussion: The Next Web, Simply Zesty, Marketing Land and Neowin.net

Tags Gmail man, google, Google privacy, Google privacy policies, Google rivals, microsoft, Microsoft Corporation, Microsoft trademark, Microsoft trademarks, Putting People First, united states patent and trademark office, uspto, youtube

News Trademarks

Microsoft to launch new publication? Company files trademark for Latinzine

Post author By J.B.
Post date February 1, 2012

It looks like Microsoft may have something in the works for a new publication, focusing perhaps on Latin America.

On January 24, 2012, Microsoft filed a trademark application (Serial Number: 85524272) with the United States Patent and Trademark Office for “Latinzine”.

The goods and services listed in the application include “streaming of video material via the Internet and mobile networks” and “providing on-line magazines accessible via the Internet and mobile networks in the fields of lifestyle, news, entertainment and sports; On-line journals, namely, blogs featuring content in the fields of lifestyle, news, entertainment and sports“.

Microsoft has opened two major technology centers in Latin America in the past six months.

In January, the company inaugurated a major technology center in Sao Paulo, Brazil. In October 2011, it inaugurated its first Latin America MTC in Mexico City.

At the time of this story, Microsoft has made no announcement about Latinzine.

Tags Latin America, Latin zine, Latinzine, Major Technology Center, microsoft, Microsoft Latin America, Microsoft Latinzine, Microsoft trademarks, MTC, trademark, trademarks, uspto

Disputes National Arbitration Forum News Video Games

Microsoft files complaint over another fake Halo 4 Beta site [UPDATED]

Post author By J.B.
Post date January 28, 2012
9 Comments on Microsoft files complaint over another fake Halo 4 Beta site [UPDATED]

[Update 2 on March 7, 2012:. Microsoft Corporation won the rights to Halo4Beta.net. On March 6, 2012, a single-member panel ordered the domain name transferred from Edward Lee (the respondent) to Microsoft (the complainant).]

[Update 1 on March 5, 2012:. Microsoft is going after another phony Halo 4 Beta site. A complaint has now been filed (Case Number: 1432610) with the National Arbitration Forum over Halo4Beta.biz (screenshot) The domain name is owned by a resident of Illinois according to Whois records. I’ve reached out the owner for more information and will update this post if I hear back.]

Original story on January 28, 2012:. Nearly two weeks ago, David Ellis of 343 Industries, the company that is developing Halo 4, warned Halo fans through Twitter that if you see a site claiming to allow you to sign up for a Halo 4 beta it’s a fake.

The site in question was hosted at Halo4beta.net (pictured above), and now Microsoft’s legal team is taking action by going after the domain name.

A complaint (Case No. 1426106) has officially been filed with the National Arbitration Forum.

Apparently wanting to avoid legal troubles after gaming sites went abuzz with David Ellis’ warning, the operator of Halo4beta.net took the website down, but that’s not going to be enough for Microsoft.

Microsoft can fully expect to have the National Arbitration Panel order the name be transferred, in what should be an open-and-shut case.

Stay tuned as I’ll be posting the details of the decision as soon as they’re available, likely no more than a few weeks from now.

Halo 4 has a holiday season 2012 release date.

Last June, Microsoft acquired the domain name Halo4.com for an undisclosed amount of cash, rather than filing a domain dispute. When I asked the seller about the selling price/negotiations with Microsoft, the seller told me via e-mail, “The only term of the agreement that I can disclose is that I can’t disclose any terms of the agreement.”

Discussion: GameSpot, Kotaku, Joystiq, GameSpot, Hard OCP, Game Informer, Eurogamer.net, VentureBeat, Blue’s News, ITProPortal, Game Rant, VG24/7, Digital Spy, Piki Geek, Strategy Informer, The Escapist, Neowin.net, WebProNews and 411mania

Tags 343 Industries, David Ellis, Domain Dispute, domain disputes, featured, Halo, Halo 4, Halo 4 Beta, Halo 4 Beta scam, Halo 4 Beta Signup, microsoft, National Arbitration Forum

News Video Games

Microsoft acquires ClicktoHump.com and other Halo related domain names

Post author By J.B.
Post date January 21, 2012
3 Comments on Microsoft acquires ClicktoHump.com and other Halo related domain names

Microsoft has made some interesting domain name acquisitions this month that might create excitement for Halo fans.

And I’m not talking about names like Halo 13 or Halo Kinect 3D, I’m talking about names like ClicktoHump.com and GetBattleReady.com.

According to Whois records, Microsoft is now the owner of several Halo related domains, that were first registered years ago.

Although the domains may be nothing more than part of the company’s intellectual property strategy to protect its Halo brand, they are certainly interesting.

Here’s a look at the company’s latest Halo related domain acquisitions.

[Update 1 on January 23, 2012: I’ve discovered many more domains acquired by Microsoft via Melbourne IT DBS and added them to the list above like itshumpday.com and ridebrokeback.com.]

Discussion: The Next Web, GeekWire, Business Insider, Neowin.net, MSNBC, halo.bungie.org, @PatrickKlepek and This Is Xbox

(Image of Halo player repeatedly crouching while standing over a dead enemy via Halo Wikia)

Tags Click to Hump, featured, Get Battle Ready, Halo career, Halo domains, Halo story, Halo Xbox, Halo zero, John 117, microsoft, Microsoft domains, Microsoft Halo