Company that is looking to assert its patents files two more applications.
The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office published to patent applications yesterday that were filed by Verisign. Both applications were filed in 2011.
Application 13/339466 (pdf) is titled “Methods and Systems for Creating New Domains”:
Systems and methods for creating a new domain, such as a top-level domain or a second-level domain, make use of a Domain Manager that enables a user to enter data that is necessary or optional to implement the creation of a new domain. Systems such as, for example, a Registry and one or more Registrars, may use the data defined by the Domain Manager to create a new domain.
Application 13/341099 (pdf) is titled Method for Administering a Top-Level Domain:
A method for administering a top-level domain by analyzing domain name registrations for requests for suspicious or malicious domain names. A request to register a domain name is received. The requested domain name’s information may be stored in a registry database. The requested domain name may also be conditionally stored in the domain name system (DNS) zone. The requested domain name is compared to a list of botnet domain names stored in a watch list database. If the requested domain name corresponds to one of the botnet domain names, the requested domain name is prevented from being added to the DNS zone or is removed from the DNS zone, if it has already been stored there. The information regarding the requested domain name is stored in the registry database, even if the domain name does not ultimately stay in the DNS zone.
The second patent application may become important as ICANN requires registries to better police their domains.
Verisign recently started evaluating ways to make money from its patent portfolio.
I don’t like patents for the most part. Especially for things as simple and obvious as “domain management”. However, this is a novel idea and a good protection for the world. It is also a nice plus for VeriSign versus other registries – and will hopefully keep .com and .net cleaner than all the other .junk coming out very soon.
Patents kill innovation. Just typical of a company what’s monopoly.