Yahoo Moves To Trademark Y.com

[msgraph]

Noticed a recent filing from Yahoo for Y.com over at USPTO.gov. For those who don't know, IANA has most all single-character domain names reserved for "infrastructure stability".

1.) Some miraculous deal was reached because Yahoo was able to pulls some strings and will therefore be given Y.com in the near future. 2.) Yahoo is just covering some extra bases to prevent anyone else from attempting to trademark Y.com. Simply because they have Y! trademarked, and since IANA may never release Y.com or any other single-character domains, Yahoo is just going to take their chance on trademarking it. Or if IANA ever releases these domains, Yahoo may attempt to stake their claim on Y.com through the trademark.

For now, I'd say #2. Others have currently or previously filed for trademarks on other single-character domain names.

Words Only: Y.COM

Filing Date August 22, 2005

(APPLICANT) Yahoo! Inc. CORPORATION DELAWARE 701 First Avenue Sunnyvale CALIFORNIA 94089



Goods and Services

IC 009. US 021 023 026 036 038. G & S: Computer hardware and software; computer peripherals; computer accessories; electronic products; sound and video recordings
IC 035. US 100 101 102. G & S: Advertising and promotional services; business services; marketing services; business referral services; online shopping services; online comparison shopping services; online auction services; online directory services; computerized database management; business consulting services; employment information services

IC 036. US 100 101 102. G & S: Insurance services; financial services; electronic commerce services; real estate services

IC 038. US 100 101 104. G & S: Communications services; telecommunications services; broadcasting services; electronic mail services; Internet access services; providing multiple-user access to computer networks; electronic transmission of data, messages, images, and documents

IC 041. US 100 101 107. G & S: Education and entertainment services; online photography services

IC 042. US 100 101. G & S: Computer services; online computer services; search engine services

IC 045. US 100 101. G & S: Providing information regarding dating; dating services; matchmaking services; computer security services; online calendar services; providing information regarding astrology and horoscopes

[rustybrick]

Gary adds (http://blog.searchenginewatch.com/blog/050913-162153) that three days after they filed this request, they also requested to trademark and Oval near an ! as well. http://www.seroundtable.com/archives/oval%21.gif Wowweee... :eek:

[mcanerin]

Don't _ou think m_ writing will look even more sill_ if I can't use the letter _? I'm so mad I could _ell at _ahoo :mad:

Now I need to change from m_ qwert_ ke_board to a dvorak one instead...

Ian

PS Maybe I'm gonna trademark "oo" watch G__gle and _ah__ deal with that! :p

[Robert_Charlton]

For those who don't know, IANA has most all single-character domain names reserved for "infrastructure stability".

I thought that "Sesame Street" had them all. ;)

(Ian, _ou're a hard act to follow).

[rustybrick]

Too funny Ian.

[andrewgoodman]

So other than Y.com and two or three others, the whole rest of the alphabet is unavailable (locked by ICANN or IANA or IATA or whatnot).

I say - I should be able to go thru the same application process as Yahoo to get one of those available letters.

(When I say "I" - I mean "any company" - likely some well funded startup would be interested...)

It seems mighty arbitrary the way the single letters have been handed out, and if Yahoo gets its Y, that arbitrariness continues...

[msgraph]

Well, looks like they might have their chance at getting it.

Agency Weighs Single-Letter Web Addresses (http://wireservice.wired.com/wired/story.asp?section=Technology&storyId=1123189)