TLD News
World of Domain Names
Juniper Networks Loses Case for Juniper.tv
Sep 2nd
$15B company loses UDRP case.
Juniper Networks has lost a domain name arbitration case to get the domain juniper.tv. Despite having a market cap of nearly $15 billion, the arbitrator noted that it’s entirely plausible that the registrant of the domain name hadn’t heard of the company because it’s a business-to-business company.
Also working against Juniper Networks is that juniper is a generic term. The registrant had registered other seemingly generic .tv domain names such as atmosphere.tv, lightbulb.tv, and regions.tv. (Of course the latter one is also the name of a bank, and the parked page at the domain currently shows banking ads.) The arbitration panelist wrote: More >
The Truth About NameMedia, Afternic, and BuyDomains
Sep 2nd
Here’s why NameMedia sells more of its own domains than clients’ domains.
Every once in a while I feel like going on a rant. So here goes.
There’s been a lot of talk on both my blog and others about NameMedia, which operates BuyDomains and AfternicDLS.
NameMedia owns its own portfolio of domains which it sells through its platform. It also allows other domain owners (i.e., you) to sell domains via its AfternicDLS system, which then syndicates through its sales network.
Here’s the issue people raise: when NameMedia used to report its weekly sales, most of the domains that sold were NameMedia’s own domains. Why was there not a proportionate number of customer domains selling?
I’ll tell you why. Because NameMedia has a disproportionate amount ofreasonably priced and categorized domains for sale on its premium distribution network. More >
Want to Bid on Sex.com? Deposit $1 Million.
Sep 2nd
If an auction occurs, expect to put your money where your mouth is.
We might never see an auction for Sex.com. But if we do, expect to put up a significant deposit if you wish to bid.
Court documents show that the bankruptcy sales procedure for Sex.com will include three phases.
In the first phase domain broker Sedo will do a worldwide outreach and prequalification of interested parties. The second phase is a negotiation period with qualified parties. The third phase will include further negotiation and, if necessary, a private auction.
This “private sale period” is 90 days long. If it doesn’t result in a sale at a minimum specified price, Sedo will hold a public auction within 30 days of the end of the private sale period. More >
World Trademark Review Conducting Survey About New TLDs
Sep 2nd
Survey seeks opinions on new top level domain names.
World Trademark Review is currently running a survey to understand attitudes and plans around the launch of new top level domain names.
The survey is targeted to three groups: In-house trademark lawyers, private practice trademark lawyers, and marketing, web, and communications professionals. Each group receives slightly different questions on the survey.
For example, in-house trademark lawyers are asked about trademark protection and Uniform Rapid Suspension. Private practice lawyers are asked if new TLDs provide them with a good business opportunity for their practice. Marketing professionals are asked how their company might use a new TLD and which departments within the company have expressed an interest in them.
World Trademark Review claims the survey “will collect opinions from the widest respondent base ever consulted on gTLD strategy. Through canvassing the marketing community in addition to the legal profession, the study will ensure that the views of all interested parties are considered and therefore present a unique viewpoint on new gTLDs.”
DreamHost.co and AOLmail.co Among First .Co Domains Hit with UDRP
Sep 2nd
Trademark owners go after their names on .co.
A dozen companies have filed 13 .co domain name arbitration disputes since the relaunch of .co as a a generic domain name.
The most recent UDRP filing was for Dreamhost.co by the owner of the large web host DreamHost.com. This is a somewhat surprising case given that surely a web host was aware of the release of .co domains.
Other companies have also filed cases. AOL wants aolmail.co and L.A. Fitness is going after lafitness.co. Other companies filing complaints include: More >
T.R.A.F.F.I.C. and Facebook Team up to Solve a Big Problem
Sep 2nd
Many people who want to attend T.R.A.F.F.I.C. conferences want to know who else is coming, so they can meet up and schedule time together. Up until now this was not possbile because of privacy concerns. However,this problem was solved recently. You can now choose if you want people know you are coming to T.R.A.F.F.I.C. , or you can choose not to make that public.
Therefore, if you want to attend the T.R.A.F.F.I.C. conference,you can confirm your attendance on Facebook.
Jerusalem.com sells for $510,000
Sep 2nd
Jerusalem.com domain name was recently sold through Sedo for over half a million dolars. Other interesting sales are:
gartenmoebel.co.uk 3,000 EUR
immobiliare.tv 540 USD
bed-and-breakfast.be 1,300 EUR
leanlogistics.us 1,000 USD More >
T.R.A.F.F.I.C. 2010 Nominations announced
Sep 2nd
Nominations for the 7th annual T.R.A.F.F.I.C. Awards are in. There was a record number of nominees in almost every single category. The nominees are: More >
Arbitrator hands DisneyOffer.com domain name to Disney
Sep 2nd
The National Arbitration Forum announced that a ruling has been issued in favor of Disney ,regarding rights to the Internet domain name DisneyOffer.com. Disney, represented in this case by J. Andrew Coombs, submitted a complaint to the National Arbitration Forum, asserting legal rights to the disputed domain name. The company owns many trademark registrations with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (“USPTO”) for its “DISNEY” mark .Therefore, they contended that the disputed domain name is confusingly similar to its trademark.
Moreover, they contended in the complaint that the respondent registered and used the domain name in bad faith.
“Respondent registered the disputed domain name precisely for its trademark value, rather than in spite of it. Indeed, Respondent is no stranger to registering domain names which appear to infringe well-known trademarks including EBAY and CHEVY among others. ”
“Respondent offered to sell the disputed domain name to Complainant for an unspecified amount. Perhaps more importantly the record shows, and Respondent does not deny that the disputed domain name was publically offered for sale via the registrar’s web-based auction facility.”
The Panel ordered the disputed domain name be transferred from the respondent to the complainant.
You can read the decision here
One- and Two-Character .TRAVEL Domains Coming Soon
Sep 1st
One- and Two-Character .TRAVEL domain names will be released in the near future following ICANN’s approval of the proposal to release all of the domain names.
The .TRAVEL registry is currently deciding a process for releasing the domain names that conform to the proposal submitted to ICANN with a likely release in September 2010.
Registrars and registrants will have ample opportunity to review the terms of the program before the first names are available for registration.
There will also be two new policy changes to go into effect on 20 September 2010 following a 30-day notice period. More >
