Microgaming seize "microgaming" domain names

[GCG]

If you have "microgaming" in your domain name you have to hand these over to microgaming software systems ?:

I assume you are the registrant of the domain name ‘microgamingxx.com’.

Please rest assured that you are not the only registrant that we have contacted as part of our client’s brand protection activities, which are wide ranging.

In order to achieve a speedy resolution of this matter, please kindly:

ˇ Provide us with the authorisation code and confirmation that the domain name has been unlocked, so that my client may transfer the domain name to its name; and

ˇ Sign, date and return to us the undertakings enclosed with our letter.

I look forward to hearing from you and your earliest convenience.

Yours sincerely,

[Boone]

Is this all that they mail?

Seem like bullshit to me. Like a scammer trying to acquire your domain.

[baldidiot]

Oh man, I've literally just bought one today.

[GCG]

No this is the real thing IMO

letter of all trademark infringments etc from D Young lawyers.

[baldidiot]

No this is the real thing IMO

letter of all trademark infringments etc from D Young lawyers.

A quick google search brings up a bunch of cases: http://www.wipo.int/amc/en/domains/s...ase=d2010-1596

I'm kicking myself now. Doh!

[GCG]

the playtechs the rtgs and wagerworks etc will follow suit soon to protect "what is theirs"

[grem]

Lawyers tend to make these decisions but it usually backfires when they are trying to take away domains from people who have worked for years promoting their product. You can imagine now that if anyone loses a domain of this they will spend time and energy doing the opposite of promoting.

An interesting argument is why hasn't paypal not been able to take down or acquire the domain paypalsucks.com?

http://forums.digitalpoint.com/showthread.php?t=2093751

http://www.expertlaw.com/forums/showthread.php?t=66553

[deanimus]

that http://www.wipo.int/ site is quite interesting to browse, good to research what domains are successfully being seized

[GCG]

They threatened me with a lawsuit today so handed over the domain.

Looks like Microgaming has some new greedy owners.

To me microgaming lost its authority for being nice.....it is just a scam like all others pretending not to be one.

[grem]

microgamingsucks.com is already taken
microgamingwarning.com is available

[MichaelCorfman]

For the poll-of-the-week I started a thread about domain names such as those discussed in this thread that contain a brand name as part of the domain name:

Do you own domain names containing brand names or trademarks of others?

Michael

[Caruso]

Does this count as a Microgaming domain?

http://online_casino_news.hundredper...icensee-in.htm

Yeah yeah OK, I just wanted to take the opportunity to remind people what a pile of trash Microgaming is.

[GCG]

Yeah yeah OK, I just wanted to take the opportunity to remind people what a pile of trash Microgaming is.

For the future they will become even a bigger pile of smelly trash.

[allfreechips]

I think you can make a domain a humor site with satire about the company and freely use the name, or a complaint site.

Either way I would ask for a check before anything else.

[padovan]

I think if you want to register a domain and not do business with the company whose brand is in it, then there is not much they can do about it. However, if you want to promote that company you need to hand it over when they ask, otherwise they can just close your affiliate account. Or if you decide not to hand it over, you need to be prepared to promote someone else on the site(s) instead.

[rak]

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damn it.. I have a domain with 888 in it.. I hope they don't come hunting for it.

yah know I bought it.. cause of the whole chinese 888 angle.
It's meant to be luckiest number combination in chinese numerology.

If they ever come after my domain, I'll recommend mainland china to try and take over 888

lol

[slotmad]

I think if you want to register a domain and not do business with the company whose brand is in it, then there is not much they can do about it. However, if you want to promote that company you need to hand it over when they ask, otherwise they can just close your affiliate account. Or if you decide not to hand it over, you need to be prepared to promote someone else on the site(s) instead.

Well, if that is true, and it seems unlikely, that could backfire quite badly then.
Dear Microgaming,
I will no longer be promoting Microgaming products at microgamingxx.com. I will now dedicate the site to enlightening people about Net Entertainment or Playtech's superiority and will promote them instead.

[EugeneK]

awful cases.

[PingPong]

Expect companies asking to remove their brands from the use in URLs?
Potentially use of company names/brands in affiliate websites URL harm their SERP so nice area to explore and rank above affiliates.

[Bahounek]

I agree. Had a situation with fulltilt domains and I have been asked to hand domains over to them. Simply changed the partner to poker* and case solved (well that was at the time Fulltilt was fully operational)