jinxed

msg:4546544 | 6:31 pm on Feb 18, 2013 (gmt 0) |
Bizarre...
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Andy Langton

msg:4546545 | 6:33 pm on Feb 18, 2013 (gmt 0) |
I believe the name well known in Japan, and they are looking to consolidate branding. But an interesting discussion! They have other one-word domains that I imagine may get similar treatment.
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HuskyPup

msg:4546553 | 7:11 pm on Feb 18, 2013 (gmt 0) |
In the UK they own play.com but their site always shows Rakuten play.com I'd have a bet they're going to consolidate with their brand name and then try and sell the others for huge money.
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Leosghost

msg:4546558 | 7:20 pm on Feb 18, 2013 (gmt 0) |
Deja Foo [webmasterworld.com...] ..
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martinibuster

msg:4546561 | 7:31 pm on Feb 18, 2013 (gmt 0) |
Probably an SEO told them that Google prefers brand names... --> :P
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jmccormac

msg:4546572 | 7:51 pm on Feb 18, 2013 (gmt 0) |
It looks like a global brand play. Buy.com might be a great generic but it is just that and the company may not own it in all the markets in which it wants to operate. A trademarked brand is far easier to market. Naturally this logic gets lost in the domaining arguments about the values of generic domains. Regards...jmcc
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martinibuster

msg:4546613 | 10:52 pm on Feb 18, 2013 (gmt 0) |
| Buy.com might be a great generic but it is just that and the company may not own it in all the markets in which it wants to operate. |
| That's a good point that hasn't been considered yet. That could present a problem. | A trademarked brand is far easier to market. |
| Depends. Rakatmatakat might be a good brand name in Japan but it sounds less good in the USA, and probably sounds as bad in European tongues as well. Nova was a good brand in the USA but meant "Doesn't Run" in Spanish. A trademarked brand isn't necessarily easier to market, which is why some brands have different names across borders, like Exxon and Esso. Esso is easier to pronounce in Spanish than the less sensible Exxon. Consolidating brand names globally, particularly a name like Ratakakatat, might not be a good solution.
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Leosghost

msg:4546619 | 11:11 pm on Feb 18, 2013 (gmt 0) |
Rakuten Depends. Rakatmatakat might be a good brand name in Japan but it sounds less good in the USA, and probably sounds as bad in European tongues as well. Nova was a good brand in the USA but meant "Doesn't Run" in Spanish. A trademarked brand isn't necessarily easier to market, which is why some brands have different names across borders, like Exxon and Esso. Esso is easier to pronounce in Spanish than the less sensible Exxon. Consolidating brand names globally, particularly a name like Ratakakatat, might not be a good solution. |
| Apparently it doesn't "stick" ( isn't too "memorable" ) too well for some English speakers :)..
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cabbie

msg:4549929 | 6:40 pm on Feb 28, 2013 (gmt 0) |
I always thought it funny that none of the nice generic names I have sold were being used. They were bought by big companies and then redirected to their Brand name. Maybe their is method to their madness.
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bill

msg:4550035 | 5:37 am on Mar 1, 2013 (gmt 0) |
Rakuten is a big name in Japan. They're probably seeing a lot of the Korean and Chinese brands entering their domestic markets with their local names intact and have decided this is what they will pursue in their global markets for brand awareness.
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