System would make it easy to register domains based on current events such as oil spills, earthquakes, etc.
The Go Daddy Group has filed two concurrent patent applications for a system of generating domain name ideas based on current events. In the applications, the company notes that a number of people register domain names related to current events, such as earthquakes. Although one of its examples (below) is someone registering a domain for good purposes, it seems that most current event registrations are from people just trying to capitalize on others’ misery. The application mentions that current event domains may have higher resale values.
Here’s an example from one of the applications (pdf):
Applicant has noticed that Internet users often wish to register domain names that relate to current events, such as an event reported in the news. For example, if an earthquake occurred in Scottsdale, Ariz., an Internet user may wish to register the domain name arizonaearthquake.com to develop a fundraising and charity website for earthquake victims. Applicant also has noticed that domain names that are relevant to current events may have a higher resale value on secondary domain name markets, such as GODADDY.COM’s GODADDY AUCTIONS service.
One embodiment of the system could parse news articles to figure out which keywords may be worth registering:
Once text from the information source is obtained (Step 200), it may be parsed into a plurality of keywords (Step 210). Parsing is the process of analyzing a sequence of tokens to determine its grammatical structure with respect to a given formal grammar. Parsing transforms input text into a data structure, such as the keywords used here. As a non-limiting example, if a news website contains an article entitled “Serious Earthquake Occurs in Scottsdale, Ariz.”, “No Aftershocks Reported” software and/or scripts running on the server may parse the article title into, among others, the keywords arizona, serious, scottsdale, aftershocks, and/or earthquake. Alternatively, the text of the article (rather than merely the title) may be parsed.
The process for using the system could include clicking a button titled “Generate domain name based on current events” or a list of current events could be provided on the website.
The applications were filed in December 2008 but just published today.
Louise says
Where’s the part how Go Daddy makes these names available for general registration? It doesn’t. This is a sample of Registrars getting in on the auction action that puts the little guy at a disadvantage to hand register decent domains. It fits Verisign’s mission to arm Registrars with tools to snap up valuable domains before they ever go to market.
Thank you for alerting us, Andrew. It’s on my list to warn the USPTO against approving this and other Go Daddy applications!
Andrew Allemann says
@ Louise – they wouldn’t do this for themselves. They would offer it to customers to spur more domain name registrations.
domain guy says
what we see here is a major registar using their insights of domain applicants to corner a market.this is a big deal haitiearthquake.org for fund raising. what this patent accomplishes is combine the speculation of domain registration with a legal tool to orginate intellectual property…a powerful application..it controls future domain registrations that are going to be worth money.this patent should be opposed by an ip attorney but i bet no ip attorney will oppose this application because the ip attorney is not getting paid 300 an hour.this patent also eleminates a domainer tactic mentioned on dnn.com more than 3 yrs ago.
steve says
I have a patent that grabs all expired domains and keeps only the 100 best.
My lawyer is getting ready to sue everyone.
I expect to be very rich.
OMB says
Point is that domain registrants have been doing this for years. How can GoDaddy patent something that has been so patently obvious to the entire domain industry since day one? It’s a ridiculous patent on something that GoDaddy didn’t invent, innovate, or spur in any way shape or form.
Steve M says
Sorry, but one can’t prevent a patent from issuing for an invention merely because someone (or many someones) don’t think it’s “right” to be able to do so.
For anyone who’s interested in paying the $180 fee to do so, however, any examples of printed prior art (i.e. earlier patents and applications; magazine, newspaper, and web articles, etc) may be placed into the patent application’s file for the examiner to review and consider.
You must, however, file this info withing 2 months of the application being published (best to use certified mail), and there are other specific requirements as detailed in 37 CFR § 1.99.
You can also call and try to talk to the examiner and/or patent office about your “concerns” ; though they don’t have to pay any attention to you or to what you say.
As I am not an attorney, this is of course not legal advice. You should speak w/an IP attorney for more information if you want to pursue this.
DomainersChoice says
Just becuase they might get a patent, doesn’t mean you cannot register these domain anywhere else. It only decribes a system to automatically generate domain names. Nothing wrong with this application.