Patent describes method of generating made up words that can be pronounced.
.Com registry Verisign has obtained U.S. patent number 9,218,334 for “Pronounceable domain names”.
The patent describes a method of generating domain names that can be pronounced. Verisign explains that while many short domain names are registered, there are still short domains that can be pronounced that can be registered:
Short domain names are popular because they can be catchy and easier to remember than longer domain names. However, when seeking to register a new domain name, many people argue that the .COM zone is full, and that there are no good domain names left. This is far from the truth. Although many domain names that contain dictionary words may be registered, statistically there remain a large number of unregistered and available domain names of different character lengths, many of which may be pronounceable. While some of these unregistered domain names may be nonsensical strings of characters, many of them may be easy to use and potentially could be popular and successful domain names if someone were to put marketing and brand name behind them. One example of this is Google.com. While the word google was not previously a word, it has now become a word.
One goal of short domain names may be to be memorable and communicable. That is, when viewing the domain name, individuals should be able to pronounce the domain name, remember the domain name, and, when telling the domain name to others, the other individuals should be able to remember and easily find the domain name. For example, if fifteen people were to look at a domain name (that is not a dictionary word) and ten to fifteen of those people were able to pronounce the domain name the same way and tell it to theft (sic) friends who could then easily find and visit the domain, the domain name may be a good choice, despite not being a real word.
In other words, domain names that pass the radio test.
Verisign filed a provisional patent application in 2011 and the actual patent application in 2012.
Joseph Peterson says
Similar algorithms have been in use for years. I have 1 of my own.
John T O'Farrell says
As soon as I began reading this, I thought “google’ which was then mentioned a moment later. There are plenty of very strong brands out there that are either made up words or a family name (e.g. Merrell shoes) or a particular thing that has nothing to do with the actual product (e.g. Chevron oil). At the end of the day it comes down to good marketing and sales (and a good product/service!)