Apple wins 'aplestore.com' domain, still seeks 'itunes.net' & others
Apple has won ownership over the domain name "aplestore.com" through arbitration, though the company still hopes to take control of many other domains, most prominently "itunes.net."
The "aplestore.com" domain is one of a number that Apple hopes to seize to prevent users from mistakenly entering the wrong URL and being taken to a potentially nefarious or misleading website. Ownership of "aplestore.com" was granted to Apple through an arbitration process at the World Intellectual Property Organization, as noted by Domain Name Wire on Thursday.
The domain name was originally registered to a man in Poland who used it to display a website filled with advertisements.
Apple's victory was the first domain name the company won in a dispute so far this year. Last month, Apple earned ownership of "iphone5.com" through the WIPO, but that resolution did not require arbitration through the Uniform Domain Dispute Resolution Policy.
Apple also gained control of "applle.com," "applecom.com," and "appleprinters.com" this year after filing cases. All of those domains were also handed over by the original owners without a need for arbitration.
Apple currently has 13 total domains pending as cases with the organization, most notably "itunes.net." Apple already owns "itunes.com" and appropriately forwards users to its official iTunes download page, but "itunes.net" is currently home to advertisements on a site that proclaims to offer "what you need, when you need it."
That same tagline is used by Information.com, an organization that is widely known for being a "cybersquatter," taking ownership of domain names associated with brands and products it does not own.
Other domain names still pending with the organization include "applestor.com," "wwwitune.com," "wwwipodlounge.com," "apple-9.com," and various potential misspellings of "applemusic.com."
The "aplestore.com" domain is one of a number that Apple hopes to seize to prevent users from mistakenly entering the wrong URL and being taken to a potentially nefarious or misleading website. Ownership of "aplestore.com" was granted to Apple through an arbitration process at the World Intellectual Property Organization, as noted by Domain Name Wire on Thursday.
The domain name was originally registered to a man in Poland who used it to display a website filled with advertisements.
Apple's victory was the first domain name the company won in a dispute so far this year. Last month, Apple earned ownership of "iphone5.com" through the WIPO, but that resolution did not require arbitration through the Uniform Domain Dispute Resolution Policy.
Apple also gained control of "applle.com," "applecom.com," and "appleprinters.com" this year after filing cases. All of those domains were also handed over by the original owners without a need for arbitration.
Apple currently has 13 total domains pending as cases with the organization, most notably "itunes.net." Apple already owns "itunes.com" and appropriately forwards users to its official iTunes download page, but "itunes.net" is currently home to advertisements on a site that proclaims to offer "what you need, when you need it."
That same tagline is used by Information.com, an organization that is widely known for being a "cybersquatter," taking ownership of domain names associated with brands and products it does not own.
Other domain names still pending with the organization include "applestor.com," "wwwitune.com," "wwwipodlounge.com," "apple-9.com," and various potential misspellings of "applemusic.com."
Comments
Quote:
Other domain names still pending with teh organization include "applestor.com," "wwwitune.com," "wwwipodlounge.com," "apple-9.com," and various potential misspellings of "applemusic.com."
Quote:
appleprinters.com
Guh, I was right. They're bringing back the LaserWriter…
Soon it will be anything that is www.a****.com and later it will be anything that is www.*****.com
I knew it wouldn't take long for the trolls to appear to claim that Apple is too heavy handed.
How could anyone object to them taking 'aplestore.com' to avoid confusion?
Quote:
Originally Posted by lamewing
Soon it will be anything that is www.a****.com and later it will be anything that is www.*****.com
No one should ever be allowed to protect their brand from misrepresentation nor their customers from fraud.
They take everything, are they going to take my website apestore.com too???
Quote:
Originally Posted by jfly1977
They take everything, are they going to take my website apestore.com too???
The one you don't own, you mean?
No, that's sufficiently different as to prevent confusion.
Just great, Apple ruins everything... again.
iTunes.net used to be my home page. Now where am I supposed to find "what I need, when I need it"?
I love Apple products, But iDon't think they should have the right to take over other web site names similar to theirs, I mean come on when you go to one of the web sites you can tell it's not the real deal, and if you cannot tell then maybe you should not own a computer.
Quote:
Originally Posted by eacumm
I love Apple products, But iDon't think they should have the right to take over other web site names similar to theirs…
You don't think they have the right to protect their intellectual property?
Quote:
…I mean come on when you go to one of the web sites you can tell it's not the real deal, and if you cannot tell then maybe you should not own a computer.
And this is the part of the show where I link you to a perfect* copy of AppleInsider, indistinguishable from the real website in both layout and URL (by using a Cyrillic capital A). Then you'll log in, only to find that it doesn't redirect you properly. It takes you to a blank page with a single sentence: "Thank you for your cooperation in this phishing exercise."
You've given me your legitimate login information. I log in as you, change your password, and post horrible things in your name.
This happens all the time. With many legitimate companies. Apple is preempting it.
*I would never do this. As someone with web design experience, I would be forced subconsciously to fix all the problems Huddler has added with formatting and layout. But create a fake web page to prove a point? Sure. I just wouldn't steal the information, obviously.