Categories
News Video Games

Nintendo gains rights to SuperMario.com, more than 25 years after game’s release

Super Mario Bros.

It’s hard to believe it’s been over 25 years since Nintendo released Mario Bros. and Super Mario Bros.  In 2010, Super Mario Bros. celebrated its 25th anniversary.  But in all these years, Nintendo hasn’t owned the matching domain to one of the most beloved games of all time. 

That’s changed for 2011, as Nintendo has finally gained control of the domain name: SuperMario.com.

Back in early August, Nintendo filed a complaint with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO Case Number D2011-1348), however even though the case is still listed as active, it appears the case is closed as SuperMario.com is now registered to Nintendo of America Inc. as of September 25, 2011.

It’s possible WIPO’s online database has not been updated at the time of this story.  It’s also possible that Nintendo reached an agreement with the name’s previous owner before WIPO could review the case.  Of course, it’s even possible the owner fearing legal problems for hosting Super Mario games on the web address, simply turned over the name.

The company still doesn’t own SuperMarioBros.com, SuperMarioBrothers.com, MarioBros.com or MarioBrothers.com, but it does have a win with SuperMario.com.

Here’s a look at the updated Whois record.

Domain Name………. supermario.com
  Creation Date…….. 1996-02-24
  Registration Date…. 2011-09-25
  Expiry Date………. 2013-02-26
  Organisation Name…. Nintendo of America Inc.
  Organisation Address. 4600 150th Ave. N.E.
  Organisation Address.
  Organisation Address. Redmond
  Organisation Address. 98052
  Organisation Address. WA
  Organisation Address. UNITED STATES

Admin Name……….. Web Master
  Admin Address…….. 4600 150th Ave. N.E.
  Admin Address……..
  Admin Address…….. Redmond
  Admin Address…….. 98052
  Admin Address…….. WA
  Admin Address…….. UNITED STATES
  Admin Email……….
  Admin Phone………. +425.8822040
  Admin Fax………… +425.8823585

Discussion: Game Informer, Destructoid and Nintendo Life

Categories
News Video Games

Nintendo registers “Sneak Peek” domains; something new on the way?

The Legend of Zelda Skyward Sword

Nintendo of America Inc, which owns upwards of 3,000 domain names, made two purchase lately which include the words “Sneak Peek”. 

On September 16, 2011, the company registered NintendoSneakPeek.com and NintendoSneakPeak.com (‘sneak peak’ is  a common spelling mistake).

It’s unknown what the company plans for the domains — an event, an unveiling, a web site for special Nintendo gamers? 

At the time of this story, both web addresses resolve to a “Website Coming Soon” page hosted by InMotion Hosting Network, where the names are currently hosted. 

Here’s a look at the Whois record for NintendoSneakPeek.com.

Domain Name………. nintendosneakpeek.com
  Creation Date…….. 2011-09-16
  Registration Date…. 2011-09-16
  Expiry Date………. 2012-09-16
  Organisation Name…. Nintendo of America Inc.
  Organisation Address. 4600 150th Ave. N.E.
  Organisation Address.
  Organisation Address. Redmond
  Organisation Address. 98052
  Organisation Address. WA
  Organisation Address. UNITED STATES

Categories
News Trademarks Video Games

Nintendo finally files trademark applications for Wii U in the U.S.

Nintendo Wii U controller

Nintendo has filed nearly 20 trademark applications (several including images) with the United States Patent and Trademark Office for the word Wii U.

The goods and services cover a broad range of items from consumer video game machines to trading cards.

Filing trademark applications is one thing, but not owning the domain name Wiiu.com is still a problem for Nintendo.   In June, according to a rough estimate provided by the analytics website Compete, traffic to the website was over 3,000 visitors.  Prior to that, wiiu.com, whose owner is hidden behind Whois privacy, registered zero visitors.

Wiiu.com is currently a Shopping.com affiliate site that displays videogame and console ads.

Here’s an abbreviated look at some of the trademark applications all filed on August 9, 2011 by Nintendo with a priority date of June 3, 2011.

Serial Number: 85393202
Issuance of point cards; advertising and publicity services or providing information therefor; issuance of trading stamps or providing information therefor; implementing promotional prize drawings, quiz programs, raffle tickets, questionnaires and games, or providing information therefor;

Serial Number: 85393204
Telecommunication via electronic bulletin boards or providing information therefor; communication via consumer video game machines; providing information on communication via consumer video game machines;

Serial Number: 85393212
Providing images via communication with hand-held game machines with liquid crystal displays; providing images via communication with arcade video game machines; providing images via communication with consumer video game machines;

Serial Number: 85393213
Clothing for domestic pets; bags and the like; pouches and the like; unfitted vanity cases; umbrellas; walking sticks; bags and luggage, namely, shoulder bags, handbags, purses, carry-on bags, carrying cases, tote bags, backpacks, athletic bags, gym bags, traveling bags, duffel bags, satchels, school bags, school book bags;

Serial Number: 85393218
Clothing; waistbands; belts for clothing; shoes and boots; sportswear; shoes for sports other than horse-riding boots; masquerade costumes; clothing, namely, bandanas, coats, infant wear, jackets, jerseys, mufflers, pajamas, pants, scarves, shirts, shorts, sleepwear, socks, sweatshirts, sweat pants, swimwear, T-shirts, tops, underwear, vests, warm-up suits, wrist bands;

Serial Number: 85393191
Card games and their components; hand-held game machines with liquid crystal displays; protective films for liquid crystal display of hand-held game machines; AC adapters for hand-held game machines with liquid crystal displays; parts and fittings for hand-held game machines with liquid crystal displays; other toys; toys for pets; dolls; Go games; Japanese playing cards, also known as Utagaruta;

Serial Number: 85393180
Note books; mechanical pencils; other stationery and study materials; trading cards; magazines (publication); catalogues; pamphlets; other printed matter including books, booklets, manuals, posters regarding video games, calendars, game cards, greeting cards, trading cards, stickers and sticker albums; photographs; photograph stands, namely photo frames; banners of paper; flags of paper; pre-paid value cards and gift cards

Serial Number: 85393173
Consumer video game machines fitted with a camera function; consumer video game machines; programs for consumer video game machines;

Discussion: Kotaku and Nintendo Everything

Categories
News Video Games

Nintendo Wii U announced at E3 without the domain name

Wii U

Nintendo has named its next game console to be released in 2012 the Wii U, but strangely enough, the company announced the successor to the Wii at E3 2011 without owning the domain name.

Up until a couple days ago, wiiu.com was a parked page, but after the announcement the owner of the domain has switched from a parked page to a Shopping.com affiliate site.

The .com domain name was first registered in the late nineties according to Whois history.  Wiiu.net was recently up for sale at Sedo, but has moved to a Parked.com page. 

Nintendowiiu.com was registered June 7th, but it too, isn’t owned by Nintendo.