Microsoft, Expedia, others file complaint over Google’s domain name ‘land grab’

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Fairsearch.org, a lobbying group whose backers include Microsoft, Expedia, TripAdvisor and Nokia, has filed objections over Google’s attempts to take control of genric top-level domains such as .search, .fly, .map and more than 100 other extensions. Calling it a domain name “land grab,” Farisearch argues in its complaint to the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and… Read More…

This Seattle area startup just raised more than $100M in a huge series A financing

We think Donuts Inc. is baking something different than sweet treats (Photo: Arnold Gatilao)

You don’t see many $100 million series A financing rounds in Seattle — or anywhere for that matter. But that’s how much cash that Donuts Inc. — a domain name registrar startup led by eNom founder Paul Stahura — has raised from the likes of Austin Ventures, Adams Street Partners, Emergence Capital, TL Ventures and Generation… Read More…

Domain purchase fuels speculation of Microsoft-Sony partnership

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Earlier today, we told you about Microsoft’s leak of the Web site Socl.com, which caused all sorts of chatter about the company’s upcoming efforts in social search. But now another domain name purchase by the software giant is fueling a frenzy. Microsoft has purchased the domain names microsoft-sony.com and sony-microsoft.com, according to WinRumors. What does… Read More…

Marchex sells Foodie.com to Glam Media’s Samir Arora

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Prior to getting into the call advertising business, Marchex was a big acquirer of domain names. But that’s no longer the Seattle company’s focus. And, as a result, the Russ Horowitz-led advertising company continues to sell off its old portfolio. One of those transactions occurred last week, and it was a big one. Marchex spokesman… Read More…

Why Microsoft is paying $7.5M for 600,000 IP addresses

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Microsoft is dropping more than a few jaws with the news that it’s spending $7.5 million to acquire 666,624 IP addresses, the behind-the-scenes routing numbers associated with specific devices connected to the Internet. The deal emerged from Nortel Networks’ bankruptcy proceedings. Here’s the word from Dayne Sampson, the corporate vice president for Microsoft Global Foundation… Read More…