According to the APC Mag website, the popular xpmediacentre.com.au community site, managed to grab windows7.com.au, while Gavin Howard from IT training agency Which Training was quick off the mark to snatch up Windows7.net.au. Howard told APCmag.com that he was "probably looking to sell off" the domain name in the coming year, saying "I'd love to get $10,000, $15,000 or even $20,000 for it".
While I doubt that Microsoft is losing any sleep over the many, many name variations for Windows7 domains on offer around the world, the case of Vista Windows Pty Ltd springs to mind; the company was "allowed" to continue using the domain because it was registered way before Microsoft decided on Vista for its latest version of Windows, as far back as 1999.
Microsoft Windows enthusiasts have in the past started their websites using the trademarked name variants of client (or Server) releases, and eventually, most succumbed to the requests of Microsoft to stop using them, for reward or the threat of legal action. It remains to be seen if customers become confused enough to believe that the Australian variants of the Windows 7 address, warrant any sort of legal action on Microsoft's part in the future.
For now, I wouldn't hold out for that 5 figure compensation, should you find a "forgotten" Windows 7 domain still available for registration somewhere.
16 Comments - Add comment