Posted by adsada
http://www.xperiablog.net/201[....]es-us-to-close-xperiablog-net/
I am pretty shocked and disgusted my SE on this, and really annoyed. This website provided great news on SE and kept fans up to date with things regarding the company
"It is with great sadness that we have to bring you the news that this will be the last post on this website. Sony Ericsson has filed a formal complaint about the use of the trademarked ‘Xperia’ name in our domain name and have requested that the domain names, including that of XperiaX10.net, be transferred to them.
Sony Ericsson is alleging that we have used the domain names in “bad faith”. We are stunned and disappointed that Sony Ericsson, a company that we have spent much of our free personal time in promoting, especially the Xperia brand, has decided to take this formal action against us. After all we are just like you, passionate Sony Ericsson users, who have strived to bring the community breaking news and an independent viewpoint.
We do not have the resources to fight Sony Ericsson on this and therefore this is the last you will hear from us. Sony Ericsson has made great strides in its Xperia portfolio, especially in listening to the community. This makes it all the more confusing as to why Sony Ericsson would want to shut us down. We genuinely believe that 2012 could be a bumper year for the company, we just wish we could have been there along for the ride.
All the best.
Tej"
Posted by Mizzle
Trust me, they're quite fond of doing things this way... It's ridiculous.
[ This Message was edited by: Mizzle on 2011-10-19 12:08 ]
Posted by argiriano
On 2011-10-19 13:03:38, Mizzle wrote:
It's ridiculous.
+1 000 000
Posted by smclion102
this sucks...
Are u so Dumb??
Posted by Bonovox
Oh dear me SE
Posted by dika
I can't believe this news...so bad move from SE...maybe worse than Apple which always sues other manufactures..but whatever happen, I'm still like SE..is it too much feeling?
Posted by goldenface
Utter bollocks!!
Do they not understand that they need sites like this to engage with the online community - not everything revolves around facebook etc.
Posted by jplacson
Wow... so sad... this was one of my fav blogs.
Posted by goldenface
All is not lost yet. There must be a way around this, they need to skirt the 'xperia' usage in the blog name and carry on regardless.
Fantastic PR, for a company that doesn't really have that much that is positive to write about right now...
Posted by goldenface
Who developed and paid for the fantastic xperiablog app? I bet it wasn't SE. This is level of commitment to their cause is something they should embrace - not ban.
[ This Message was edited by: goldenface on 2011-10-19 13:20 ]
Posted by Bonovox
When i first seen the title of this my immediate thoughts was cos of possible Sony take over. Then i read the real reason. All manufacturers have forums and sites like this don't they?? In order to take pressure off them they help people with sites like these. The reason is pathetic
_________________
We don't need money to have a good time!!!!
Xperia Ray 
EsatoWorld Papertour *Renewed!
[ This Message was edited by: Bonovox on 2011-10-19 13:24 ]
Posted by Dups!
I am really disgusted by SE on this one! That site was actually helping this stupid company, I only read good and fair reviews or news about SE over there.
Stupid and absolutely clueless!!!
They have just destroyed a very good source of free advertisement for themselves.
Posted by Geezay
SE have quite the talent for shooting themselves in the foot, don't they?
Posted by Bonovox
Can they just not carry on under another name??
Posted by jplacson
@Bonovox, yes they can. I mean, "In bad faith"? It was a fan site, I can understand the whole branding issue... but it wasn't a hate or bashing site. That site probably was responsible for more xperia sales than the marketing dept of
... their latest effort to tap outside devs was great... I think this is a step in the wrong direction. Most companies are now hiring and paying bloggers to get the support of their fan base. Xperiablog was an untapped resource, both the domain and the content. should've just bought them out.
Posted by motvikt
Its obviously some stupid lawyer or something with no knowledge about PR who did this. Make SE know we are pissed on twitter. There is a chat with SE on mobil.se this Friday. I will demand answers then.
They will probably reverse the decision once they know how important the blog is
Posted by hihihans
No need to worry as there won't be any xperia's soon
I'm sure all users are welcome to continue here at Esato
Posted by bronxdude
On 2011-10-19 15:41:27, hihihans wrote:
No need to worry as there won't be any xperia's soon
I'm sure all users are welcome to continue here at Esato
dead @ no more xperias
yes, everyone is more than welcome
Posted by laffen
I am almost sure Sony Ericsson don't want the blog to close down. They probably do not care about its existence. But they want their trademarked name back. If the blog owner change the name of the blog to something else,
won't bother him anymore. I think this happened to another fan site some time ago.
Posted by goldenface
Which one laffen? Why didn't they close xperia blog down earlier do you think?
Posted by laffen
I do not remember which site it was. I only know it happen several years ago. Before the Xperia brand was created. I have no idea why
didn't do anything about the Xperia blogs before now. But it should not be a problem if they followed Bonovoxs advice and continue doing what they do using another domain name?
You might have noticed that both xperiablog.net and xperia10.net has received formal complaints about the use of the trademark "Xperia". Both blogs which are operated by the same guy are ahead of the official Sony Ericsson blog when searching for "xperia blog" using Google. According to the latest post on these sites, Sony Ericsson claims that they have used the domain names in "bad faith". That is probably true. The domain names has most likely been one reasons why visitors interested in Xperia has clicked on the link when listed in search results. The blogs has therefore earned its reputation because it has been using Sony Ericsson trademarks.
Sony Ericsson is most likely using this paragraph when complaining about the xperia**.net domain usage:
by using the domain name, you have intentionally attempted to attract, for commercial gain, Internet users to your web site or other on-line location, by creating a likelihood of confusion with the complainant's mark as to the source, sponsorship, affiliation, or endorsement of your web site or location or of a product or service on your web site or location
Posted by Bonovox
I have not noticed but does
Posted by laffen
Three blogs:
- Greenheart blog
- Developer blog
- Product blog
http://blogs.sonyericsson.com/
Posted by adsada
On 2011-10-19 22:38:15, laffen wrote:
I do not remember which site it was. I only know it happen several years ago. Before the Xperia brand was created. I have no idea why
You might have noticed that both xperiablog.net and xperia10.net has received formal complaints about the use of the trademark "Xperia". Both blogs which are operated by the same guy are ahead of the official Sony Ericsson blog when searching for "xperia blog" using Google. According to the latest post on these sites, Sony Ericsson claims that they have used the domain names in "bad faith". That is probably true. The domain names has most likely been one reasons why visitors interested in Xperia has clicked on the link when listed in search results. The blogs has therefore earned its reputation because it has been using Sony Ericsson trademarks.
True, but someone who is searching for an official blog from SE would they really search 'xperia blog'? Surely they would go for something like 'sony ericsson blog' which then has SE's official one at the top, and the Xperia blog doesn't even appear. People searching for xperia blog would surely be the ones who have heard of this unofficial blog and how good it is as providing information?
But as many have said why not just change the domain that would solve the issue, unless SE is using the domain as it's their only legal position and they are just no happy with the content the blog is creating? Having a look through old posts though most look pretty advantageous for SE, so I don't know.
@bono Yeah its http://blogs.sonyericsson.com/products/ but since the main blogger has left, it has become pretty crap with no real decent information.
Posted by Bonovox
Ah ok cool I never noticed that on
Posted by semo
I think SE didn't realize what is going on. Why would a company want to offend their own biggest fans like this?
Moreover this blog is really popular among other SE supporters, the same ones who promote SE in other blogs and forums and among friends.
Probably if people at SE realize what is going on, they will reverse their decision.
@Laffen
Wouldn't it be a good idea to put this post in the Esato's news?
We could help, afterall Esato is respected by SE a lot.
In the past my phones all had the Esato web site preinstalled in their browsers.
I am surprised that, right now, in their struggle for survival they have people who care about trademarks and copyrights.
In the next firing campaign I hope those will be the sacked ones and not the people at the R&D department.[ This Message was edited by: semo on 2011-10-19 22:18 ]
Posted by semo
The whole story reminds me a bit of the SonyInsider site which helped Sony a lot in the beginning and then, when Sony decided to make their own blog, things went down.
Although Sony never went directly against them with the law tools. Not the way SE is doing now.
Posted by goldenface
So, Sony Ericsson thinks the domain might have been used in "bad faith"[ This Message was edited by: goldenface on 2011-10-20 00:58 ]
Posted by masseur
many multi-national companies, and even smaller companies, use the regulations to claim ownership of domains that they should probably own by using the "bad faith" claim or other legal reasoning or terminology such as "name jacking".
But mostly, even if they then don't use that reclaimed domain, the whole process is to protect the use of their trademarks by persons outside of their control (and yes, this sounds very much like the Apple vs everyone/everyone vs Apple issues)
this is how the domain name registries work and this Sony Ericsson case is by far not unique and happens every day, but I guess in a Sony Ericsson strong forum its going to get more notice than many other domains.
its sad for a popular blog but in this day and age, such blog owners must surely know the risk they take when they choose names for their domain.
Posted by goldenface
When the names were chosen a long time ago? Does it make it right?
Posted by masseur
sadly, probably, no. but unfortunately domain name registration started long before the realisation of the abuse that can be made of registering domains in the names of know companies and trademarks of such companies, and this is why now this issue is covered by legislation
Posted by goldenface
Cool! Let's all think about 'legislation' before we strike up a fan blog!
Posted by NightBlade
On 2011-10-19 13:03:38, Mizzle wrote:
Trust me, they're quite fond of doing things this way... It's ridiculous.[ This Message was edited by: Mizzle on 2011-10-19 12:08 ]
So I remember.
Posted by masseur
On 2011-10-20 02:15:52, goldenface wrote:
Cool! Let's all think about 'legislation' before we strike up a fan blog!
I get where you're coming from but..
probably any online venture should be giving serious consideration before "jumping in" these days? and certainly there is enough history in this arena for site owners/web masters etc to know that they should beware of domain/site names that infringe trademarks or copyright as plenty of sites have already gone under for exactly these reasons.
this is the way the world works these days...
Posted by c96sthl
the legal team at SE seem rigid...with no flexibility by looking into the site is not affecting their business but helping
to me this look like some stupidity inherit from Sony since Sony is the dumb entity in the industry which for the last 10yrs or more failed to exploit their huge content to be integrated to their electronics gadget sold in the market.
they let company like Apple/ Amazon hammer them everyday with all this copyright and trademark plus other legal road block....remember how tough it is to get music into a sony walkman with all the DRM etc stuff..... so this action have no surprises.
Posted by goldenface
I think the word's 'these days' says it all really.
So, no-one is allowed to type the words 'sony ericsson' or 'xperia' into google these days unless it leads to an official site, blog or, ...anything that is not officially sanctioned by the great white powers that be? Anything else should be wiped off the internet map?
I completely understand the legalistic view but come on? How can they reach out to developers in one breath and sideline and ban the very same people that work hard to keep the brand alive and kicking?
Posted by masseur
I think this extends far beyond blog sites and is really just the reality of these modern online times given the financial implications far beyond fan sites, and this needs to be accepted "these days"
"reaching out to developers" is obviously an official way of making some sites acceptable within their own rules though I suspect that even that (without actually reading their T&C's) is specifically accounted for...
I'm not a conformist but I am a realist... (who said that?... oh... I did
Posted by tranced
I must say I don't recognize
Posted by masseur
for your first point, I'm sorry but what is "underground" when it is openly visible to the www?
secondly, there may not be any obvious implications but in any legal protection (pre or post internet), there is always a presumption by a trademark holder that there may, at some point, be influences outside their control that may actually affect their financial position on the stock markets or elsewhere
bloggers generally have an enthusiast point of view, which is to be recommended, but when such views allow comments that can negatively impact the value of the company due to their use of URL/domains that easily appear in searches, well that is when they start to protect their interests, if not before...
like I said. This is the real world of economics and it s not a world where all can do as they will, despite possible good intentions
Posted by tranced
So one does harm, and another bears the blame?
Posted by dika
the better way that SE has to do is warned XPERIA blog and suggest change the domain name..not forcing it to close..but I'm wondering that I can access the XPERIA blog until now..does SE ask them to shut the site down? or just ask them to stop posting news?
Posted by jplacson
Xperiablog never pretended to be an official
This isn't the 80's anymore. Companies have to start seeing that blogs are real... both good and bad. They can't control every single blog on the planet. And I would understand if xperiablog was a bashing/negative site... it's NOT! Exercising some common sense on SE's legal dept would've made them applaud xperiablog for helping them sell their brand (since their mktg dept isn't doing that good of a job.. tennis? really? that's their GREAT idea for selling phones????)
Again, I do see the whole side of protecting the brand... but I do not agree with the archaic view of "we must own and control everything". Welcome to the digital age
Guess what
I think THESE guys should be shut down. http://www.xperiasolutions.com/ (This is WAY more misleading than xperiablog. This site even gives the impression that it's an IBM site)
Posted by HxH
One of the most ridiculous move in mobile business this year, again you just FAILED BIG TIME
Posted by razec
So this is the first wave of the upcoming and numerous "Sony-attitude" strikes that the future
Posted by Tsepz_GP
At the end of the day i guess SE have to protect their name either way.
Im guessing the same thing happened to USEB (Unofficial SE Blog) by Mizzle? Havent seen that mentioned anywhere in a long time.
Posted by mediar
^^
http://sonyericssonblog.wordpress.com/
Posted by jplacson
Well, I think it was easy as well since Xperiablog was based in the UK, and that's where
Posted by Dups!
On 2011-10-20 09:02:30, razec wrote:
So this is the first wave of the upcoming and numerous "Sony-attitude" strikes that the future
That's the feeling I get as well.
@Tsepz_GP
I agree that one should protect oneself against one's patents and/or trademarks but the problem here is what the blog has been doing, it really has been promoting SE in the most objective and advantageous manner. I feel SE could've used this to their advantage and get free useful and much needed fruitful promotion.
Posted by laffen
Current case is marked as active over at WIPO
It's not the fist time Sony Ericsson has claimed domain names to be trasferred
sonyericssonunlock.com - transferred 2009
sontericsson.com - transferred (2006)
sontericsson.com - transferred (2008) again
sony-ericsson.org - transferred (2006)
sonyeriksson.com, sonyerisson.com, sonyericson.com, sonyerricsson.com - all transferred (2002)
There is a long list of cases pending or decided. I do not think xperiablog.net should have much hope in keeping the domains. Most of the domains are obvious created in "bad faith" such as verzion.com, appleoslion.com, apple-downloads.com, wwitunes.com, blackberrytablet.com, blackberrybing.com, lgturkiye.com, armanisamsung.com, nokiabooks.com, lgtron.com, iphoneonverizon.info
Posted by adsada
Good news, Tej (the one behind Xperia Blog) says "We expect further discussions with SE this week that hopefully will resolve this situation!"