08/05/2012 by Sam Laird on Mashable
Will the next generation iPhone be officially known as the iPhone 5? That’s what a recent complaint Apple filed with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) hints at.
WIPO is a United Nations agency that protects intellectual property including instances of alleged cybersquatting. Apple’s claim, first reported by Fusible, concerns the iphone5.com domain.
The iphone5.com domain name was registered in Feb. 2008 through a registrar based in Australia. The site currently hosts smartphone advertisements and iPhone-related message boards.
One thread, started Sunday afternoon, urges iphone5.com visitors to help prevent an Apple takeover. A user called Morphius writes:
Yes, You as the community can play a huge part in all this. we as members here before the 4s was even released at iphone5.com should stand our ground against Apple. We have every right to be a fan of the iPhone and to talk and discuss about it. THEY WIILL NOT SHUT US DOWN!!!!!
Call Corporate Of Apple and tell them to stop there persuit!! Blow up there phones, Spam there emails, call there Administration! Do something to get our point across.[sic]
Another thread contains a poll asking whether Apple should take be able to take control of the domain. At time of writing, 23 votes split 60-40 in Apple’s favor.
Speculation about what Apple’s next iPhone will look like and feature has been rampant in recent weeks. Many bloggers and Apple fans have simply taken to calling it the iPhone 5, although no official name has been announced.
Whether iPhone 5 will end up being the device’s official title or not, Apple’s play for the domain name makes sense given the level of buzz online. Rumors indicate the new version will feature a larger screen and be made of a futuristic material known as LiquidMetal.
Apple is not new to jumping on what it sees as infringing web domains. In late 2011, the company won claims to iphone4s.com, as well as several other iPhone-related properties.
Earlier last year, the company won rights to the domain iPods.com.
Do you think iphone5.com should be handed over to Apple or left with those who registered it in 2008? Let us know in the comments.
Source: Mashable
