Did Facebook Quietly Acquire FB.com?
I read an interesting “Tweet” on George Kirikos’ Twitter feed this morning. According to Domaintools’ Whois History tool, the domain name FB.com changed hands on September 3, 2010. Prior to this change, the domain name was registered to the American Farm Bureau Federation. The organization owns FB.org, which might explain their willingness to part with FB.com.
FB.com is currently registered to DNStination Inc., and it is registered at Mark Monitor, the same corporate registrar used by Facebook for their Facebook.com registration. Could Facebook have stealthily acquired FB.com? The domain name does not currently resolve anywhere, but it would seem to be a good domain name for them to own, especially with the popularity of url shorteners.
Ironically enough, there is a page on Facebook called “Petition to make www.fb.com an official link to facebook is on Facebook.” The group currently has 75 members. Perhaps they were on to something.
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Comments (7)
Okan Yildirim
September 30th, 2010 at 2:43 pm
It is a very possible forecast. As you wrote, this is possible enough especially with the popularity of url shorteners.
George Kirikos
September 30th, 2010 at 9:09 pm
I think FaceBook is likely the buyer (99% chance). But, I just realized that FOXBusiness.com is also registered at MarkMonitor. Perhaps Rupert Murdoch made the acquisition, as their arch enemy CNBC has a much shorter URL?
Joseph Slabaugh
October 3rd, 2010 at 7:49 am
Prosecution History
# Date History Text Due Date
7 05/21/2010 SUSPENDED
6 05/21/2010 STIP TO SUSPEND PEND SETTLEMENT NEGOTNS
5 12/01/2009 SUSPENDED
4 12/01/2009 STIP TO SUSPEND PEND SETTLEMENT NEGOTNS
3 11/30/2009 PENDING, INSTITUTED
2 11/30/2009 NOTICE AND TRIAL DATES SENT; ANSWER DUE: 01/09/2010
1 11/30/2009 FILED AND FEE
So they may have settled…
http://ttabvue.uspto.gov/ttabvue/v?pno=91192839&pty=OPP
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