Apple Seeks to Gain Control of iPhone5.com Domain

[reedmartin]

Apple has been producing iPhones for several years. This site, iPhone5.com, is actually a discussion site about iPhones, which means that the name was most definitely picked exactly because Apple builds a phone and calls it "iPhone", and because these guys expected that Apple would call the next iPhone model "iPhone 5".

Now I find it a bit annoying that you use the term "waffle" for people mentioning trademark protection. You seem to insinuate that these people don't know what they are talking about. Quite the opposite. The name "iPhone" _is_ indeed protected by a trademark. Which means nobody but Apple can use "iPhone" in the area of mobile phones - which is exactly what this site does. Now if that web site had nothing to do with iPhones and didn't use the name "iPhone5" with the intent to get visits from people looking for information about new iPhones, then things might be different. But that's not the case, so you are engaging in some rather pointless what-ifs.

With all that said, why should Apple buy the domain name? And how much should they pay in your opinion? And who would decide the amount? What if Samsung had bought the name "iPhone5.com", or Apple had bought "www.galaxy.whatever.com"?




Just to make this clear: In the case you quote, Google looks to be even more justified than Apple is, because they are acting against a purely despicable domain squatter.

Yes you are right. But it's the same behavior. Both Google and apple build their brand with hard work, and if someone tries to benefit off their hard work, they should be gone after.

you can google "Google squatters" and see there are other less despicable cases. It's a trademark, Google and apple have every right to do what they do. In this case, the Android users here ignore googles actions...of course.

 

[notabadname]

Time to pay up, or did we change the rules for eminent domain for the internet to be only for large companies.

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When did Apple or any large billion dollar company become the only ones that matter online. iPhone5 is not a trademark its just a description if not how long before we run out of words because of copyrighted madness.

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Because its about scaring the next domain they want. Its all about fear and having some small owner have to go to court and pay out 10 of thousand if not more is in the best interest of Apple and other companies like them. I bet if it was IBM who had the iphone5 we would not even be discussing this ever.

Fear is its own reward.

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Wrong if the entity suing you has the money they will take you to the cleaners and you will pay and pay till you give up. For Apple its all a right off as it should be. Power is its own reward so yes he could loose his URL still, not likely but still possible.

http://blog.domaintools.com/2007/08/generic-domains-owned-by-large-corporations/

http://articles.bplans.com/running-...e-business/domain-names-and-trademark-law/200

This article isn't a about Apple going after URLs like "phone.com" or "smartphone.com". How could any company argue that they are not poaching Apple if they bought up "iPhone5.com" or any other Apple product specific titled URL. It is, in my opinion, laughable of anyone to argue Apple is being unreasonable here, when the URL in question is so specific to Apple's well established branding. If the URL would have been absolutely worthless and unvisited by any hits, we're it not for the market development by the namesake used in the URL, then the poacher's claim is without merit. This URL did not predate the launch of the iPhone. Apple has the absolute right to benefit from their VERY well trademarked iPhone brand. And so does every other business for their respective trademarks, regardless of size or wealth.

 

[Millah]

I don't understand why they feel it's so important to have control of these domains. Clearly, with iPhone4S it was important to control it, but in general...
If I want information on the iPhone, I go to apple.com. Almost everybody knows it's made by Apple, and if they don't they go to Google and type in iPhone.
Just seems a little bit unnecessary to control them, when they probably get something like 1 millionth of their traffic to the iPhone page coming via that route.

It's called protecting your intellectual property. Just because YOU go to Apple.com for iPhone info doesn't mean everyone else does. They're not controlling the domain name because they feel like they'll get a lot of traffic, it's all about protecting your IP and keeping it in your own hands, rather than some random person who could do something like with what happened with iphone4S.com

 

[faroZ06]

Apple is such a big corporate bully!
It has the money and legal clout to do whatever it likes...trampling over anyone who they perceive as a miniscule threat or just because "they can".

=

Actually, I think the owner of iPhone5.com was trying to take advantage of Apple. You know, take a domain that has their product name so they can sell it later. I doubt their site was serious; it's so tiny and obscure.

And why do people always use "corporate" as an insult? My friend was saying that he liked Google because it was "less corporate than Apple".... um... how?

 

[albusseverus]

Nobody expects the next iPhone to be called iPhone 5, but given the build up of rumours about -the next iPhone- not having the "iPhone 5 redesign", i.e. metal or any other back except glass, this would be a good move to bury the notion of a redesigned iPhone for a year or so.

Oh, for a carbon fibre back - something practical and light !

If you've been watching rumours for a while, you can see the pattern - when Apple needs to dominate the news, like day of a Google announcement, mobile phone trade show, etc, all of a sudden, rumours appear…

Last year, when iPhone re-design was reaching fever pitch, suddenly rumours that it wouldn't be redesigned started appearing, taking the sting out of 4S disappointment.

Witness the same thing happening now - no redesign, but a longer screen… taking the heat out of another year with the same heavy, fragile back.

Making iPhone 5 disappear, would help dampen expectations.

So was it a false rumour??

 

[faroZ06]

That's not how these things work.

4 + 1 = 5, we've already covered the fact that Joe Schmoe doesn't know that this is the sixth generation iPhone, only nerds.

I'm in favor of calling it the iPhone 5 then doing 5S and 6 and so on. I would consider the 4S version "4.5" because it was only evolutionary.

If Apple did it by gen number, you realize that they'd only have even-numbered models, right? Wouldn't that look weird?

 

[triceretops]

i5phone.ru

All over Moscow, I saw i5phone.ru painted on the streets.

 

[reedmartin]

Actually, I think the owner of iPhone5.com was trying to take advantage of Apple. You know, take a domain that has their product name so they can sell it later. I doubt their site was serious; it's so tiny and obscure.

And why do people always use "corporate" as an insult? My friend was saying that he liked Google because it was "less corporate than Apple".... um... how?

Because they're ethicaler then Apple or something like that...yeah.

/s

 

[coolfactor]

Working in IT I can tell you people aren't smart enough to go to Apple.com to look at the iPhone, they'll type in things like iPhone.com (or in this case, possibly iPhone5.com).

And what's worse is they'll type this into a Google search field, rather than the browser address bar. It blows my mind how people have come to think that Google **is** the Internet. That's scary.

Google's way of handling this query is to send them to that domain name (iphone5.com), rather than to Apple's site, so this is a big motivator for Apple.

Type in anything into Google, and one of the high-ranking factors is what domain names contain the words typed in, so iPhone5.com would be a top-ranking match for an "iphone5" search. More motivation for Apple.

 

[mrsir2009]

Seriously, who types in a domain to a website they don't know exists these days?

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And what's worse is they'll type this into a Google search field, rather than the browser address bar. It blows my mind how people have come to think that Google **is** the Internet. That's scary.

Google's way of handling this query is to send them to that domain name (iphone5.com), rather than to Apple's site, so this is a big motivator for Apple.

Type in anything into Google, and one of the high-ranking factors is what domain names contain the words typed in, so iPhone5.com would be a top-ranking match for an "iphone5" search. More motivation for Apple.

My mum calls Safari 'Google'. Lol.

 

[Molecule]

Apple has been producing iPhones for several years. This site, iPhone5.com, is actually a discussion site about iPhones

By that logic, perhaps Apple should forcibly acquire Macrumors.com. After all, Apple has been producing Macs for many years now; and this site is, among other things, a discussion site about Macs.

Now I find it a bit annoying that you use the term "waffle" for people mentioning trademark protection. You seem to insinuate that these people don't know what they are talking about.

Well Gnasher729, I'm sorry if I offended you, but that's not actually what I meant. I meant "waffle" as in going on and on about something, typically in an unnecessary level of detail.

you are engaging in some rather pointless what-ifs.

As far as I'm concerned there's no such thing as a pointless what-if

With all that said, why should Apple buy the domain name?

Because they want it.

And how much should they pay in your opinion?

Whatever they think it's worth.

And who would decide the amount?

The buyer and the seller. Just like in any other transaction.

What if Samsung had bought the name "iPhone5.com",

More power to them.

or Apple had bought "www.galaxy.whatever.com"?

Ditto.

 

[lgtw]

I just don't get why a 6th-generation iPhone would be called the iPhone FIVE. Just my two cents.

 

[justperry]

Has anyone claimed thenewiphone.com yet?

If I go to that site I get this.

Is Google the owner here?

(Why the hell doesn't flickr sharing doesn't show up the picture here, attachment below.)

I just don't get why a 6th-generation iPhone would be called the iPhone FIVE. Just my two cents.

Oh stop it.
What comes after 4?
And that's how the majority of people (non geeks) will expect it to be.

But since the ipad is just called The new ipad it's probably going to be The new iPhone.

 

[gnasher729]

By that logic, perhaps Apple should forcibly acquire Macrumors.com. After all, Apple has been producing Macs for many years now; and this site is, among other things, a discussion site about Macs.

Apple doesn't have a product called "macrumors", and this website isn't called "www.macs.com". If the website had called itself "www.iphone5rumors.com" then Apple would have very little chance to get their name (depending on the content of the site).

 

[Bodycalming]

Has anyone claimed thenewiphone.com yet?

Already under construction see below.

http://thenewi-phone.com/

 

[hvfsl]

Apple is such a big corporate bully!
It has the money and legal clout to do whatever it likes...trampling over anyone who they perceive as a miniscule threat or just because "they can".

=

I don't agree. Apple has every right to ask for this domain. I know companies that have had terrible trouble with people registering variations on their name and then using it to host porn etc.

 

[the8thark]

But with "iPhone 5" having been the name informally attached to Apple's next iPhone form factor redesign for nearly two years now and still in popular use, the company apparently believes that it should have some control over the name's usage.

iPad (3rd Gen)
iPhone (5th Gem)

I like the sound of that. Because an iPhone 12 or something would just be silly. Apple realised this with the iPad and should realise this with the iPhone too.

 

[MRU]

My personal feature requests from the new iPhone...and I appreciate some of these are software/OS developments, but bear with me:


5. HDMI out, or ability to get a cheap dongle to do this, also standard VGA, DVI, and composite cable capable would be nice.

You mean like this ?

http://store.apple.com/us/product/MD098ZM/A

Or this

http://store.apple.com/us/product/MC552ZM/B?fnode=MTc0MjU4NjE

And finally

http://store.apple.com/us/product/MC748ZM/A?fnode=MTc0MjU4NjE

Well... I hate to tell you they already exist!

 

[Konrad]

I don't agree. Apple has every right to ask for this domain. I know companies that have had terrible trouble with people registering variations on their name and then using it to host porn etc.

I would speculate for porn sites to be (globally) far more popular than iPhone's. In fact they already complement one another, thus there is no real reason to specifically underline sex as a detriment. Frankly, if anything, the sterile-like apple could finally use a bit of it.

 

[linuxcooldude]

I would speculate for porn sites to be (globally) far more popular than iPhone's. In fact they already complement one another, thus there is no real reason to specifically underline sex as a detriment. Frankly, if anything, the sterile-like apple could finally use a bit of it.

So many porn sites on the internet, that they will do anything to put themselves ahead of their competition. Everyone knows who Apple is about and their products, so of course these porn sites will try to associate themselves with Apple to get noticed.

Frankly, if anything, the sterile-like apple could finally use a bit of it

Yep, great for kids looking for the latest Apple gadget to stumble on to one of these sites by accident.

 

[Piggie]

And what about this one?

http://www.apple.co.uk



.

 

[dannys1]

My personal feature requests from the new iPhone...and I appreciate some of these are software/OS developments, but bear with me:

1. Bigger screen...I hope at least an inch diagonal larger.

Not at all bothered by a bigger screen, the S2 screen is ridiculous, I have a tablet for a big screen. If they make it 4 inches longer with same width and thus 16:9 ill accept, otherwise very happy with current screen. Updating all the apps for a different screen size again would be ridiculous too.

2. Switch to super amoled plus (or some such non-pentile oled) display, so we can actually read outside.

No.

3. More durable (the glass on both sides is just far too fragile).

Its the same glass on every other Smartphone out there. Steve was responsible for Corning bring the Gorilla Glass concept back from a 30 year slumber. (I had to laugh the other day when someone on Facebook broke their iPhone screen and someone replied "get a Galaxy S2 it has Gorilla Glass, best smartphone you can get" - every iPhone since the first has had the same glass. Although Corning have supposedly made to advances in making it stronger so maybe it will be a bit tougher this year...

4. LTE

I can't even get a 3G signal in most places in the UK, even when LTE launches I expect to get it no where. I also do so little internet on 3G when I do have a signal its not really something that would affect my life what so ever. I know a lot of people do want it though and to be honest its pretty much a given - though as I said, I don't except to access LTE in the UK outside of London for at least another year.

5. HDMI out, or ability to get a cheap dongle to do this, also standard VGA, DVI, and composite cable capable would be nice.

What do you think this is a Nokia? Use Airplay! Never understand why people want to be plugging HDMI cables into their TV from their phone…

6. Stereo speakers on the phone.

No thanks, kids make enough noise with phones as it is - and you'd never be able to hear a stereo spectrum coming from the base of a phone anyway. Put your bloody headphones on.

7. Longer battery life, a couple days without a charge should be here by now!

Says you! You obviously know more than Apple engineers don't you. You want more power, bigger screen, LTE, stereo speakers - and a battery that last a couple of days because "it should be here by now" - you haven't got a clue.

8. USB 3.0 support for syncing.

No, Apple don't support USB 3.0 on anything + automatic Wifi syncing overnight while you sleep is far more useful.

9. Printing support that actually supports more than a handful of licensed printers.

Nothing wrong with printing support now - you can run an app on your Mac to make incompatible computers AirPrint compatible. Also what a stupid thing to ask for - just think about it for a minute as I can't even be bothered to explain.

10. Incorporation of a stylus for jotting notes.

NO!

11. Support for wifi streaming to platforms like xbox, roku, etc.

What are you streaming to your xbox from your phone son? You do realise Apple have their own eco-system, you can stream whatever you want to the Apple TV. Why would they suddenly change an entire business model to suit other suppliers?

12. Ability to block calls (you have to jailbreak for this today)

I'll give you this - although networks around the world should be responsible for this part, it should be blocked at network level. They can still call from a private/another number though so always thought it largely useless to block anyone who's mental enough to be hassling you anyway.

13. Fix buggy wifi syncing.

Works fine for me, unless iTunes mucks up - this is an iTunes issue not a new phone model.

14. Led to blink for missed calls

I don't want an LED anywhere on my iPhone thanks.

15. VOIP calling.

Have you downloaded Skype?

16. Built in IR port for universal remote.

Really? So we can go around changing other peoples TV channels. I don't think I've been excited by a "universal remote" being built into something since those watches in the 80's…

17. Laser pointer.

What?

18. Pico projector.

Ok now you're being ridiculous.

19. Optical character recognition for snapped docs.

This would be a software implementation not a hardware thing. Ive never looked as I don't scan documents had found OCR terrible in the past but id be surprised if there isn't an OCR app in the app store.

20. Access to the file system.

You can already do this with iPhone Explorer, without a jailbreak. There are also apps which let you navigate a finder style browser on the iPhone and drag and drop files (wirelessly) to the device which you can access on the move. Anything past this and you're back into Nokia territory not Apple world.

21. NFC.

Finally a sensible and useful suggestion.

Other than that, what a load of drivel.

 

[rgravell]

My personal feature requests from the new iPhone...and I appreciate some of these are software/OS developments, but bear with me:

1. Bigger screen...I hope at least an inch diagonal larger.
2. Switch to super amoled plus (or some such non-pentile oled) display, so we can actually read outside.
3. More durable (the glass on both sides is just far too fragile).
4. LTE
5. HDMI out, or ability to get a cheap dongle to do this, also standard VGA, DVI, and composite cable capable would be nice.
6. Stereo speakers on the phone.
7. Longer battery life, a couple days without a charge should be here by now!
8. USB 3.0 support for syncing.
9. Printing support that actually supports more than a handful of licensed printers.
10. Incorporation of a stylus for jotting notes.
11. Support for wifi streaming to platforms like xbox, roku, etc.
12. Ability to block calls (you have to jailbreak for this today)
13. Fix buggy wifi syncing.
14. Led to blink for missed calls
15. VOIP calling.
16. Built in IR port for universal remote.
17. Laser pointer.
18. Pico projector.
19. Optical character recognition for snapped docs.
20. Access to the file system.
21. NFC.

Obviously, few of these will be considered...but almost all could be (battery tech simply isn't here yet)

And to the extent other phone makers do incorporate these features will make their products all the more compelling.

sounds like you want to switch sides.

 

[mytdave]

Apple is weird

Apple's behavior in this regard makes no logical sense to me. You would think any company with a modicum of forethought would obtain the domains for all possible product names several years in advance.

For example, Apple really should have obtained the domain names for "iPhone1.com" thru "iPhone20.com" plus the "s" monikers as well, over 5 years ago.

This does not mean that they will release a product with any specific name, it just provides coverage for most of the likely possibilities. Parking domain names is cheap, especially for a multi-billion dollar company. Common sense, amazing isn't it?

 

[JHankwitz]

Well we know there will be another model of the iPhone, and we know Apple likes to gobble up domains to prevent people from profiting from their IP. So is this really news? I don't think it tells us anything about what the next iPhone's name will be -- and who cares anyway.

Chupa is so right. But you see the number of posters to this forum that get so bent out of shape when products aren't totally redesigned every year. Some people really get bent over the small unimportant stuff.