AmericanIdol.com sold.......

[Dnforumadmin]

Hey all,

This is a question out of sheer curiosity......last season on american idol, they used to advertise it as idolonfox.com, and this year it's americaidol.com. I've searched for a UDRP etc....however I can't find anything, which leads me to belive the domain was sold.......does anyone know for how much? Again, I'm just very curious to see how much fox would pay.....thanks for any info.

Regards,
Susan

[zouzas]

the owner looks like they just leasing it to them it just points to there old site idolonfox.com ,,,,,,and whois is still in old owners for sometime now.

must be pretty good lease

[Dnforumadmin]

I didn't even bother checking the who is info for it, I automatically assumed, it sold or fox took it......wow I really wonder how much fox is dishing out for this domain......

[007]

Wow... if I were Fox I would have bought this outright... That person is one lucky domain owner.

Fox should be able to get it from them though if they really want to.

[zouzas]

where idolonfox.com only about 7k with extension

with extension overture
Searches done in January 2006
Count Search Term
35683 americanidol.com

nice monthly check

[Adam Dicker]

I had a chance to buy this a few years ago, but I thought his price was too high or they would go after a trademark.

I guess I shouldn't have passed.

-=DCG=-

[zouzas]

i sent him a few emails trying to get some info on his deal but no avail must be under bigtime nda

maybe a job for duke!

[financialtraffic]

It's not out of the question that he/she is forwarding the domain to avoid an assured C&D and or UDRP...

Think about it...how else would you hold on to ownership of this domain? Wait until the series has ended and then you'll have a much easier time monetizing it. As a super-pervasive brand right now, it would be very easy for Fox to obtain the domain in my opinion. So why would they fork over a large sum to redirect it?

[Dnforumadmin]

True, but at the same time, why give him ownership of the domain at all, even after the series ends?
It just seems odd, because IMO I would think this is a trademark, and fox would have no problem getting this domain......but why let him retain ownership, and then do what he will with it after series ends? It just doens't make sense to me.......you would think Fox would right out take it from him.......just weird!

It's not out of the question that he/she is forwarding the domain to avoid an assured C&D and or UDRP...

Think about it...how else would you hold on to ownership of this domain? Wait until the series has ended and then you'll have a much easier time monetizing it. As a super-pervasive brand right now, it would be very easy for Fox to obtain the domain in my opinion. So why would they fork over a large sum to redirect it?

[Bender]

the domain was regged on 2002-02-09, probably before Fox's idea?

[financialtraffic]

Yes, I now believe that Fox missed the workmark by only a couple of months. The domain owner appears to have beaten them to the punch.

Therefore, Fox might recognize that they don't have much legal leverage in this case and they may indeed be compensating the domain owner.

Which brings us back to square one in terms of: How much?


word mark info

[SouthernTn]

Isn't this Season 4? Its possible the guy beat them to it.. I mean, it was in the UK before it hit the US. Have no idea though

[zouzas]

hes not just pointing it in fear of a cd,, fox is airing the url as well in adds on tv,, they defintly have a deal of some sort....

and fox im sure doesn;t want any bad PR as the big bully suing for it....

[j8jweb]

This used to belong to Steve Rumney. Was this reverse hijacked at some point? I notice it belongs to Robert Dodds now...

[zymic]

I mean, it was in the UK before it hit the US.

It was called "Pop Idol" in the UK and then later launched in the US as "American Idol".

[SouthernTn]

Thats my point.. If I seen "Pop Idol" before American Idol, I would have logged on just to get AmericanIdol.com .. Because it sounds good

[DNjet]

a little insite I found :

New Fox "American Idol" Deal Has Substantial Web, Wireless Component [by staci] : The settlement of a legal dispute between "American Idol" celeb Simon Cowell and series owner 19 Entertainment, owned by CKX, has paved the way for a deal that could keep the show on the air for six more seasons. The deal between 19 Entertainment, Fox, FremantleMedia, Cowell and Sony BMG calls for four more seasons with an option for two more, all at higher licensing fees; Cowell's presence would be guaranteed for five seasons. As part of the agreement, the production companies will feed content to a new Fox-financed web site already in the works. Intriguing language in the press release: "19 Entertainment, FremantleMedia and FOX will work together to develop content for the website, and will share the revenue generated under an agreed upon formula. 19 Entertainment and FremantleMedia, however, retain the exclusive right to develop and offer premium services on the website."
Fox gets wireless rights including show-related or inspired ringtones, realtones and video, also on a revenue-sharing basis. Press release.
This erases some major wrinkles in the News Corp. plan to use "Idol" as a web/wireless linchpin. Look for serious cross-promotion and content interweaving with MySpace.com and the other newly acquired FIM sites.

Update: The press release says the site will be at americanidol.com but as far as I can tell, that domain is registered to Robert Dodds, managing director of UK agency Freedom Media. The organization is listed as "musicinnovations."

[carlton]

... Fox might recognize that they don't have much legal leverage ...

I believe this is the case with the present registrant of AmericanIdol.com having acquired the name prior to the show's use of it. They probably have a lease arrangement with some options attached to the agreement.

[Infoproliferati]

Anyone have any info on whether americanidol.com is still being leased to FOX? Or was the name acquired?

[Gerry]

Well, its a five year old thread. I can't see them leasing their own product.