Bodog regains control of Bodog.com

[The Buzz]

Numerous Web sites are reporting that online casino Bodog has assumed ownership of its original domain name, Bodog.com.

Bodog had lost that domain as part of a patent infingement lawsuit in 2007. It had been using the domain Bodoglife.com.

From Poker News Daily:

At the time of writing, Bodog.com and BodogLife.com continue to operate as independent domain names; one does not forward to the other. According to a press release distributed by Morris Mohawk, which owns the rights to market Bodog in North America, “This settlement ends the series of 1st Technology's lawsuits addressing the alleged use of patents in the 1st Technology portfolio. The settlement also resolves 1st Technology's judgment collection efforts.” Patents for what the press release calls “advanced media products” are included in the settlement and deal with transmission of data through mediums such as telephones, WiFi, and cable.

Point-Spreads.com also has an interview with Bodog founder Calvin Ayre, conducted hours after yesterday's news.

[Chips]

Currently, bodog.com is set up on a redirect to bodoglife.com. Hopefully we wont have the task of changing our links...

[LiveCasinoPartners]

In that article Calvin wrote,

CALVIN AYRE: Well, it’s public knowledge that Bodog of Antigua left the US market after the passing of the UIGEA in the US, just like the UK public companies. Instead of just abandoning the market, though, it sold some of its infrastructure to the MMGG and then entered into a brand license agreement with them, which allowed the MMGG to use the Bodog brand to promote their online gaming services in the US. As part of the arrangement, I agreed with Alwyn to do some transitional media relations for a period after Bodog withdrew, but at that point I was already committed to retiring for a while to recharge after a great but exhausting run.

So the affiliates were told about this. That's a big deal to affiliates. That would explain why there have been complaints from the affiliate side of things during the last few years.

[The Buzz]

An update on the story from Casino City:

Online casino Bodog has reacquired the bodog.com domain name after settling a patent infringement lawsuit with 1st Technology LLC this week. The Morris Mohawk Gaming Group (MMGG), which operates the Bodog brand in North America, negotiated deal with 1st Technology.

"We are absolutely thrilled to be able to return the Bodog experience to its rightful home - the reaction of staff and key suppliers has been thunderous," said Alwyn Morris, CEO of the MMGG in a statement in announcing the deal.

The settlement also ends the long-running patent dispute between 1st Technology and Bodog and covers the use of core multimedia patents for advanced gaming products.

In the original lawsuit, 1st Technology alleged the online gaming company was illegally using a "method and system for interactively transmitting multimedia information over a network which requires a reduced bandwidth," according to court documents.

Bodog lost most of its Bodog.com domain names in August of 2007 after failing to appear in court to defend itself or challenge the $48 million judgment ordered by Judge Roger L. Hunt.

Bodog has been operating under the bodoglife.com domain since September of that year.

The return of the bodog.com domain promises to have a significant impact on Bodog's worldwide business, Morris added in his statement.

"We will be transitioning the MMGG site to this domain over the coming weeks," Morris explained in his statement. "Moreover, we have only just this morning inked a deal with Bodog Antigua, from whom we license the Bodog brand. Under this contract, outside of our brand license territory, the www.bodog.com domain will be redirected to the other brand licensees' sites, as appropriate. One domain, worldwide."

Keith McDonnell, managing director of Bodog Europe, was also pleased with the settlement.

"As the 'Bodog' brand licensee for Europe, we are ecstatic to see the return of www.bodog.com," he said. "Working with the MMGG and the other licensees, geo-targeting will be used to ensure visitors outside of the MMGG's territory are directed to the correct site, including ours (www.bodoglife.co.uk). This way, the marketing efforts of every licensee to promote www.bodog.com benefit us all, ultimately reinforcing and strengthening the global brand. It will absolutely be a win-win-win solution."

[LiveCasinoPartners]

I'm glad they got the domain name back. It's too bad the the litigation was so easy for the patent trolls to take it from them the in the first place.

[CasinoCityRebecca]

Hey everyone- I was up in Montreal last week to an exclusive interview with Alwyn Morris and to hear about his plans for the Mohawk Morris Gaming Group...enjoy it!

Bodog.com is back...and Alwyn Morris is ready for the ride. Morris Mohawk Gaming Group style.

online.casinocity.com/article/bodog-com-is-back-and-alwyn-morris-is-ready-for-the-ride-morris-mohawk-gaming-group-style-84463

[casinojack]

I'm glad they got the domain name back. It's too bad the the litigation was so easy for the patent trolls to take it from them the in the first place.

well yes and no

The issues was they did a no show at court thinking they were fine...Had they showed up, they might not have lost it....Of course, I am not sure how the notifications went down either...

[casinojack]

Dupe, sorry

[Bently]

Just goes to show how important a name can be.

In the UK William Hill had to use the domain WillHill.com for a number of years before they were able to aquire WilliamHill.com.

I remember it used to be a pain in the **** typing in williamhill.com by mistake and ending up on a site for fine wine.

[raphnix]

Just goes to show how important a name can be.

In the UK William Hill had to use the domain WillHill.com for a number of years before they were able to aquire WilliamHill.com.

I remember it used to be a pain in the **** typing in williamhill.com by mistake and ending up on a site for fine wine.

The sudden change of domain can also hurt the promotional campaign especially the SEO process. It's like changing or competing with your two different website hoping the other new one will emerge from the old one. Too difficult indeed.

[Bently]

I would normally agree but with well-known brands I would say it’s absolutely essential to own the domain for that brand, I would imagine Hills paid a pretty penny to acquire the domain; and its probably why Bodog thought it was worth the effort to re-gain "their" domain.

[wagerprofits]

As ever a great interview....

Maybe one day you can interview me.

Also great news for the Bodog the domain back, also Bodog team thanks for the pizza next time maybe we can eat when i dont have jet lag as I almost went face first into pizza about 5 times.

Shaun

Hey everyone- I was up in Montreal last week to an exclusive interview with Alwyn Morris and to hear about his plans for the Mohawk Morris Gaming Group...enjoy it!

Bodog.com is back...and Alwyn Morris is ready for the ride. Morris Mohawk Gaming Group style.

online.casinocity.com/article/bodog-com-is-back-and-alwyn-morris-is-ready-for-the-ride-morris-mohawk-gaming-group-style-84463

[VegasBaby]

yay for Bodog! i never did get used to "Bodoglife". glad to see things are back to normal