Webwork - 5:41 pm on Jul 13, 2010 (gmt 0)

File this story under "Oh, the irony!"

Today it was revealed that Microsoft created and patented technology to help companies hunt for squatted typos of their brand name. I guess, by taking this step, Microsmurf is positioning itself to recoup some of the costs it has and continues to incur defending its brands against cybersquatters by offering a "service", i.e., it's software as a service.

Patent here: [patft.uspto.gov...] or here: [domainnamewire.com...]

Of course, the news is posted today, July 13, 2010 and guess what also happens today?

Domain Name: CYBERSQUATTERPATROL.COM
Registrar: DYNADOT, LLC
Whois Server: whois.dynadot.com
Referral URL: [dynadot.com...]
Name Server: NS1.FASTPARK.NET
Name Server: NS2.FASTPARK.NET
Status: clientTransferProhibited
Updated Date: 13-jul-2010
Creation Date: 13-jul-2010
Expiration Date: 13-jul-2011

Wonder how long it will take for Microsoft's new software to discover that the name of its new product . . . has been registered, snapped up, parked, err, maybe even "squatted"?

Tip of the hat to DNW / DomainNameWire.com for breaking the story, here:

[domainnamewire.com...]